Punished by Tana Stone (best books to read for knowledge .TXT) 📕

from the Vandar ships and toward the hulking bounty hunter cruiser. “He understood.”

“I’m surprised. He doesn’t strike me as a true love kind of guy.”

I stole a quick glance back at the Raas they said was deranged. He didn’t look much different from the Raas’ I knew, although I’d recognized a fury behind his eyes that he might not always be able to control. “He respects our mating marks. They are Vandar tradition.”

Sienna brushed her fingertips across the dark swirls that had appeared on her chest. “Even though I’ve seen them with my own eyes, it’s hard to believe it. These things don’t come off.”

I tilted my head at her. “You wish them to come off?”

“I didn’t say that, but being marked takes a little getting used to.”

I wrapped an arm around her waist. “I never imagined I would see my mating marks on a human female, but now I cannot imagine them on anyone else.”

“At least I don’t have to worry about telling everyone we’re together. The marks do the trick pretty well.”

A possessive growl rumbled deep in my throat. “They tell the universe that you are mine. What did your sister say when she saw them?”

Sienna’s mouth thinned into a tight line. She’d returned to her quarters to pack her meager belongings before our departure and to say her goodbyes. “I didn’t see Juliette or my father. He’s probably drinking with his buddies to celebrate a victory they had no part in, and I don’t know where my sister is. Too afraid to show her face after she betrayed me?”

As a Vandar, I’d been trained to have very little tolerance for duplicity and disloyalty. But I also knew how much Sienna’s younger sister meant to her. “She could not have known what Donal would do with the information she gave him.”

Sienna pulled back and looked askance at me. “Don’t tell me you’re taking her side? Because of her, I was knocked out and tied up. Who knows what that asshole would have done to me if I hadn’t gotten away from him? Even if she didn’t know he would go that far, she still shouldn’t have picked him over me.” Her voice cracked. “I’m her sister, and she betrayed me.”

“You will not see her before we leave? Although we will not fly as far as the hinterlands, I cannot guarantee where the bounties will take us. It could be a while before we pass by Kimithion III again.”

“Then she’ll have time to think about how much she hurt me,” Sienna snapped. “I left her a note telling her that I’m leaving with you and why, but I just can’t see her right now.” She touched a hand to her bandaged wrists. “I’m afraid I’ll say something I’ll regret.”

“Something you will regret more than leaving her without saying goodbye?”

“Yes.” She shifted her gaze to the cave dwellings that were being bathed in the golden light of the setting suns. “In my note, I told her I would come back for her one day, and maybe then she’d be ready to leave. I know she isn’t now. She doesn’t have the courage, and I can’t give it to her.”

I peered over my shoulder, hoping to see the curvy blonde running toward us. But there was nothing but the Vandar packing up to leave, and some stragglers from the village watching the rare sight of alien ships departing from their planet.

“At least we’re leaving the planet with improved defenses and updated communications systems. If the Zagrath so much as glance at Kimithion III, messages will go out on all encrypted frequencies.”

Sienna let out a relieved sigh. “And maybe all the Zagrath who knew about the planet’s unusual properties were eliminated in the attack. The Vandar and bounty hunters did take out a sizable battleship and at least a hundred fighters.”

I made a mental calculation of all the Zagrath battleships the Vandar had destroyed recently. Entire fleets had been taken out when the hordes had worked together, and now we could add another significant blow against the empire’s might. After making small dents in the enemy’s formidable armor for a long time, the momentum finally seemed to be in favor of the resistance.

I took Sienna’s hand in mine and led her to the ramp of the bounty hunter ship. “Then you’re ready to join your new crew?”

She pivoted toward the village one last time, her gaze lingering on the place she’d lived for all her life. I wondered how many good memories were mixed in with the bad.

When she turned back to me, her eyes glistened. “I’m ready.”

Tori poked her head from the ship. “Skirts here says you’re a decent fighter. You interested in joining the security team?”

Sienna’s face lit up. “Do you get to kick ass?”

Tori flashed her a pointy grin. “Hell yeah, we do.” She waved us on board. Come on up. Caro’s itching to take off.”

We walked up the steel ramp as the engines fired up. Footsteps echoed as crew members bustled around, preparing for the imminent departure. Kush met us at the top, clasping my arm with his hand as the ramp slammed shut behind us.

“Welcome to the crew!” Holly called out from one of the corridors that split off the central belly of the vessel.

A small ball of green fur rolled by us, making what sounded like barking noises followed by a loud purr.

“We are more than a crew,” Kush said, squeezing my arm. “Welcome to the family.”

I cut my eyes to Sienna, who was beaming. I was back on a ship with brave warriors, and now I had my mate by my side. It was good to be part of a family again.

Epilogue

Juliette

I hurried across the village square, hoping the darkness would mask me. The strap of my bag dug into my shoulder and I hitched it higher, wishing I hadn’t decided to bring so much with me. Then again, I was leaving for good.

Casting a quick glance back at the stone obelisk in