Pursued: A Sci-Fi Alien Warrior Romance (Raider Warlords of the Vandar Book 4) by Tana Stone (world best books to read .TXT) 📕

“That is unexpected.”

“Agreed, Raas.” My battle chief stroked a hand along the scar that ran down one cheek. “Unless she is what she said she is.”

I turned and strode to the wall of glass that looked out onto space, leaning one hand on the cool surface. “A female stranded in space in need of rescue?”

“It has happened.”

I twisted to look back at him. “Weren’t you the one who was convinced that the female Kratos took was a danger? Did you not agree that we should watch this female?”

“I was right about Kratos’ Raisa. She was the reason our ship was boarded and then attacked.”

He had a point. “That was no fault of hers.” When Corvak didn’t respond, I continued. “Do you think taking this female poses a danger to our horde?”

He shifted from one foot to the other, resting one hand on the iron hilt of his axe. “This female does not have anyone to miss her or chase after her like the female Kratos took. At least, if her story is true. I do not know how much effort the empire will put into hunting down a single escaped miner.”

“If that is what she is.”

Corvak closed the gap between us and joined me at the floor-to-ceiling window. “I am unused to this, Bron.”

I cut my eyes to him. Even though we were alone in my strategy room, it was not customary for any other raider to call me by my given name. Then again, he had addressed me as Bron for as long as we’d known each other.

“Me being Raas?” I asked.

He blinked at me, then shook his head. “That I am becoming used to. I am unaccustomed to you being the more suspicious one of us.”

I choked back a laugh. “That is unusual.”

“You did not suspect the last female we brought on board.” Corvak eyed me. “Why this one?”

I could not tell him that I needed a reason to put distance between myself and the human. I wanted to discover some treachery or deception that would make it easy to drop her on Ladvok and never look back. Otherwise, I feared the desire that gnawed at my gut would consume me.

“I have not been Raas for long,” I finally said. “I cannot afford mistakes.”

Corvak nodded. “You also cannot afford to second-guess your commands. You are Raas.”

I eyed him. I relied on my battle chief for shrewd war strategy, but had never turned to him for counsel. I was surprised by the wisdom of his words. Before I could tell him so, there was a thumping on the door.

“Vaes,” I called out.

Svar stepped inside when the doors slid open, his gaze moving from me to Corvak and back again.

“Are we still on course to Ladvok?” I asked.

“Affirmative, Raas.” He cleared his throat. “I come to convey a request.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “From?”

“The female.” He set his feet wide as he faced me, his hands clasped in front of him. “She wishes to bathe.”

It took a few moments for the issue with the request to occur to me. The only bathing chambers available to raiders were communal ones with vast showers meant to be used by many at once. Not only that, but the controls for the water were also higher than a human could reach. Clearly, this would not work for the female.

I remembered the sad state of her clothing and her person when we’d found her. It was no wonder she wished to wash all traces of her ordeal from her flesh. My thoughts wandered to her flesh unencumbered by her dirty, loose garments, and desire skimmed across my own skin followed by a tremor of unease.

“Take her to my quarters,” I spat out. “She can use the Raas bathing pools.”

Silence hung in the air, and my two advisors glanced at each other.

Finally, Corvak spoke. “You wish the female to be taken to your quarters?”

“To bathe. Nothing else.” I scowled and gave my head a hard shake. “I have told you before. I am not Kratos. I have no desire to keep this female for myself.”

“It would be your right to take any female prisoner as the spoils of war,” Svar said with a small shrug. “No one would judge you, Raas.”

I studied my battle chief’s stormy expression and doubted that was entirely true. The truth was I didn’t know what I desired. I had not been Raas as long as Kratos had been when he had claimed his female. I could not afford such a dalliance. Still, the thought of depositing the human on an alien planet and never seeing her again made me want to hit something. “I am in no need of a mate or a Raisa, but that does not mean we cannot treat the human well while she is on our warbird. If she truly ran from the empire, then we are on the same side of justice.”

“Of course, Raas.” Svar tapped his heels. “I will have a raider escort her to your quarters. Do you wish her to be guarded?”

I gave Corvak a knowing look. “Not inside the chamber, but I would like to ensure she does not wander beyond it. In case we are not on the same side of justice after all.”

Corvak tipped his head at me. “It is done.”

“Send fresh food and wine to my quarters for her,” I said. “She may still be hungry.”

“Will you join her, Raas?” Svar asked.

I hesitated, thinking of seeing the dark-haired female across from me at the table. It would be enjoyable to share a meal with someone other than Svar and Corvak. Then I remembered the arousal that had fired my blood when I’d touched her.

No. If I had no thoughts of claiming her, I should not tempt myself with her company. I was already playing with fire by bringing her aboard and allowing her into my quarters. At least I would not be there to see her luxuriating in the bathing pools and sipping Vandar