Page 3 of Vindicated

My pulse quickened but I plastered on my most seductive smile and sashayed forward. “I’m the leading lady of this production. How can I help you boys?”

The stern Imperial soldiers looked nothing like boys, but I hoped my sugary tone and fluttering eyelashes would soften their expressions. What good was being an actress if I couldn’t pretend to tolerate our oppressors?

The least boy-looking Zagrath scowled at me. “You’re in charge?”

I clocked Lettie and Vallia walking up behind me in solidarity, and I didn’t need to look to know that they were also gracing the soldiers with their most enticing smiles.

“That’s right.” I put my hands on my hips. “I take it you’re not here for tickets to one of our performances? We’d be happy to comp you.”

One of the younger soldiers looked like he wanted to take us up on it, but the Zagrath in command only frowned harder.

“We’re here because we’re looking for the sister of a traitor.” His gaze swept across the actors who’d gathered on the stage, although I was certain just as many had slipped out the back. Not that I blamed them.

My heart raced, and I forced myself not to steal a glance at Lettie. Despite Lettie’s assurances that she didn’t hold Vern’s imprisonment against me, I couldn’t help but feel responsible for what had happened. It had been me who’d given the escaped prisoners sanctuary. It had been me who’d suggested we help them escape. And it had been me who’d come up with the plan that had gotten Skye and Kolt safely through the city and to the shipyard.

In my defense, I’d never suggested that Lettie’s brother commandeer a Zagrath uniform and pose as one of the guards. That had been entirely his idea and the reason he’d been caught. Not that it was much comfort. The sight of the well-meaning Vern being dragged away in shackles made my stomach clench every time I thought about it, which meant my stomach had been in constant knots for days.

“A traitor?” Vallia gasped, her large eyes even more luminous than usual. “And you think their sister is here?”

Murmurs of disbelief and shock rippled through our group, proving, once again, what skilled actors we were. I pivoted ever so subtly, but enough to see that Ringo and Hatch had sidled up to stand in front of Lettie, although her blue bouffant wasn’t entirely hidden.

I shook my head as I made my way down the stairs to the front of the stage where the soldiers stood. “I’m afraid you’ve been given false information. We would never harbor traitors.”

The lead Zagrath looked unsure for the first time. “Our informant said that the traitor who allowed the Vandar to commandeer a ship has a sister in this theatre.”

I crossed my arms to give the soldiers the best view of my cleavage. “Well, do you see anyone here who looks like this traitor?”

I was confident in this statement since curvy Lettie with her towering blue hair looked nothing like her tall, gangly brother.

The Zagrath scanned the group on the stage, and this time Lettie stood between Hatch and Ringo with her hands braced on her hips. I knew her well enough to know that she wanted to tell the Zagrath where they could stuff it for imprisoning her brother, but I also knew she was smart enough not to do it.

“None of them,” one of the younger soldiers muttered to his superior.

The lead officer swiveled his gaze back to me. “That doesn’t mean any of you are innocent. We know the kinds of plays you’ve performed in the past.”

“That’s the past,” I said breezily. “Now we perform only Zagrath-sanctioned plays.”

“We could arrest all of you,” he grumbled.

My palms felt sweaty, and I forced myself to smile brightly. “Do you really want to bother your superiors with all of us?”

He narrowed his gaze at me. “Maybe we’ll just take you since you claim to be in charge.”

Well, shit. I hadn’t exactly planned to join Vern in prison.

“If you take her, you take all of us,” Lettie called from the stage.

“That’s right,” Vallia added, tossing her lavender hair off her shoulder. “If you don’t know who you’re here to arrest, then you should take all of us.”

The officers glanced at the stage, and I could see that they were stating to realize the impracticality of arresting an entire theatre troupe. Then a device on the lead soldier buzzed, and he snatched it off his waist. His eyes went wide, and he began to back away. His fellow officers looked confused, but they followed suit.

“This isn’t over,” he said, although his bark no longer had any bite. “We’ll be back for the traitor.”

Then they stomped off, leaving all of us exhaling and trying to shake it off.

“Thanks, Theenie,” Lettie said when I walked back up onto the stage.

I gave her a quick hug. “No thanks needed. We’re not letting anyone take you.”