Page 17 of Vindicated

I shrugged it off. “I guess it makes sense that the boss gets the biggest room, but I still can’t imagine it being opulent.”

Vallia’s mouth quirked. “According to rumors, the quarters of a Vandar Raas also have wild bathrooms with soaking tubs and specially scented water.”

Now that didn’t sound so bad.

“I wish I’d caught the eye of the Raas,” Lettie grumbled. “I would make him glad he’d made me his war bride, that’s for sure.”

I scowled at her. “I didn’t catch his eye. I just happened to be the one who hid Kolt and Skye. That’s why he offered to save me. That’s why we made the deal.”

Lettie nodded but I knew full well she didn’t believe a word I said.

Themajakstopped and pivoted to face us. “The quarters for the females.”

The door was directly on the corridor facing the center of the warbird, and the panel next to it responded instantly when he touched it.

“Not so bad,” Lettie said as she stepped inside the room for two. “Bigger than the rooms for the guys.”

The beds in this room were both low and across from each other with space between them for a low table.

Vallia followed Lettie and sank onto one of the beds, her shoulders sagging, as if the day was catching up to her. “It’s nice.”

“Food will be delivered soon,” the majak said, pausing and sliding has gaze between the women,” although I cannot say the same about new clothing. There are typically no females on a warbird, so we have no clothes ready. I am sure our tailor will be able to make something, though.”

“No kilts then,” I whispered to Vallia, and we both giggled.

“Don’t you worry, hot stuff.” Lettie fluttered her lashes at the Vandar first officer. “We’ll be fine just as we are.”

The Vandar’s cheeks darkened as he grunted and backed away, jerking his head for me to follow him. “Now, I will take you to the Raas’s quarters.”

Lettie hung her head outside the door as I hesitantly left them. “You need anything, hon, you come find me.”

Her offer made my throat squeeze unexpectedly. I was used to taking care of myself, so why did her kindness make tearssting the backs of my eyes? Maybe because I’d been taking care of myself for so long, I thought.

I blinked away tears so I could memorize the route from Lettie and Vallia’s room to where I’d be staying. We walked across another swinging bridge and up one more set of steps before turning down a short corridor with a single door at the end.

“Raas Lorken’s quarters,” hismajakannounced, pressing his hand to the side panel and stepping back as the door swished open. “Food will be sent to you shortly, although I do not know if the Raas himself will join you.”

I barely paid attention to his words. I was too distracted by the room. As Vallia had predicted, it was considerably larger than any other room I’d seen. But that’s where the similarities between Vallia’s descriptions of a typical Raas quarters and this one ceased.

My breath hitched in my throat as I stepped inside and wondered what in the hells I’d gotten myself into.

Chapter 11

Athena

The door slid behind me, clicking in place and sealing me inside the warlord’s quarters. I whirled around, my heart pattering as I realized that themajakhad left me, and I was completely alone. I pressed my hands against the cool metal of the door, the rumbling of the ship’s engines humming through my fingertips and reminding me that I was on a vessel flying through space.

I snatched back my hands quickly. The less I thought about where I was, why, and the deal I’d made, the better.

“It’s only temporary,” I whispered to myself. “None of this is permanent.”

Turning back around to take in the dimly lit space, I dragged in a shuddering breath. The idea of this being my new reality sent a shiver down my spine.

Vallia had told me that Raas quarters were known for being opulent, with big beds, but this large room didn’t appear to have a bed at all. Instead, there was a slightly raised platform along the far wall that was covered with a thick fur rug and piled with cushions of all sizes. Both the shaggy, cream-colored fur and colorful cushions stood in stark contrast to the glossy, ebony floor that seemed to soak up light.

Behind the rug and cushions was a fire inset in the black wall, the flames flickering with artificial precision. Even though it was clearly fake, the flames did cast warm hues across the fur and fabrics. It would have almost seemed cozy if the rest of the place wasn’t so stark.

A wall of glass along the wall to my right overlooked space, the glittering distant stars reminding me that I was no longer on Kashara. In front of the glass wall was low black table that was just as shiny as the floor. Instead of chairs or stools around it, there were more cushions, although these were more like ottomans than the fluffy cushions that topped the fur rug.