Page 13 of Vindicated

I nodded, choosing my words carefully. “You know what they say about working with family.”

He frowned. “I do not. In Vandar hordes we often fight alongside brothers and cousins.”

I fought the urge to ask him how well that was working out for him, but Lettie walked up and gave me an excuse to turn away.

“So, this is your fancy ship?” She craned her neck to peer up. “And we’re going to be staying here?”

“Unless you wish to return to Kashara and take your chances with the Zagrath attack.”

Lettie cringed. “Not me, sweetie. You won’t hear me complaining about shacking up with a bunch of hot Vandar.”

She openly ogled a raider walking past, and I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. The Vandar might be experts on fighting off the Zagrath, but I wasn’t sure they were ready for Lettie.

Lorken swept his gaze over the rest of our group, as if just seeming to realize that we were milling about in the hangar bay as raiders rushed by and pilots dismounted from cockpits. Whenanother raider approached, he clapped him on the shoulder. “My first officer, ormajak,will arrange for accommodations for you all.”

The Vandar blinked at him then took in the sight of our motley troupe. “These are the ones who assisted Kolt?” He lowered his voice as he pivoted away from us. “I was unaware the plan was to bring them all aboard, Raas.”

“The plan had to change when the Zagrath started to destroy the city. I could not leave them to be killed after Kolt promised to liberate them.”

The Vandar he’d calledmajaktilted his head. “So, they will stay here…?”

“Until we can relocate them to a safe place.”

The Vandar’s shoulders relaxed at the realization that we would not be permanent residents. “Understood, Raas.” Then he glanced at us again. “I am not sure if we have enough empty quarters.”

“They are colleagues and friends,” Lorken said. “I am sure they will be amenable to sharing quarters.”

Lettie sidled up to themajakand doled out a slow wink. “Some of us would be amenable to sharing with Vandar.”

The raider’s dark brows popped so high I suspected they might leave his face entirely.

“She’s teasing you,” I told him with a grin.

Lettie twitched one shoulder and shamelessly eyed him up and down. “Maybe I am, maybe I’m not.”

Hal cleared his throat and squared his shoulders. “Since I’m the stage manager, I’ll pair us off.” He swung his pointer finger. “Obviously, Ringo and Hatch can share.”

“If I can’t bunk with hot pants here,” Lettie said with a last mournful look at themajak, “I can share with Vern. We shared a room growing up anyway.”

“Anything’s better than prison,” Vern muttered, rubbing his head and gaping at the massive ship teeming with equally massive aliens. “But what about Dell here?”

Hal blinked at the sandy-haired man he clearly hadn’t clocked earlier. “Dell?”

“Friend from prison,” Vern said. “I can bunk with him if we’re pairing off boys with boys.”

“Fine,” Hal continued, “Athena, you and…”

“Athena will not be sharing quarters with the other members of your troupe,” Lorken said loudly enough to make Hal jump.

Hal inclined his head at the warlord. “It’s gracious of you to make allowances for our star, but…”

“I am not making allowances,” Loren interrupted. “She will not be sharing quarters with you because she will be sharing quarters with me.”

Hal’s jaw fell, Lettie sucked in a breath, and even Lorken’smajakstared at him in disbelief.

“Raas,” the raider said slowly, as if selecting his words with great care. “You wish me to take her to your private quarters?”

Lorken didn’t look at his officer when he answered. He looked at me. “Yes, Dawz. That is what Athena and I agreed.”