Page 9 of Vindicated

She stilled, pulling back and meeting my gaze, as if searching my face for truth.

“If the Zagrath have sent more ships, it is because they are willing to wipe out the city in order to take out some Vandar.” I did not mention that if they had any idea that it was the Demon Raas on the planet, they would unleash every weapon they possessed without hesitation.

Her lips parted in surprise, and my gaze was drawn to them. The tip of my tail quivered as I fought the urge to taste those lips, my cock throbbing with desire.

“You must come with me, Athena,” I rasped over the shouting. “You are the one who saved Kolt and his mate. You must let me save you in return.”

She stopped thrashing and rested a hand on my chest. “On one condition.”

I did not have to hear her condition to know that I would agree to it. I knew, in that moment, I would agree to anything just to possess her.

Chapter 6

Athena

The Vandar did not release my gaze as he held me. “What is your condition?”

My mind whirred as I considered what I wanted from him. There wasn’t time to ask him how he knew who I was or why he was only offering to save me. It hadn’t only been me who’d saved Kolt and Skye, but I’d been around enough men to suspect what he wanted.

Not that I doubted I was in danger or that it would be potentially deadly to remain in a war zone. The continual booming outside the theatre and the faint shrieking told me that the battle was real. I also didn’t doubt he’d been sent by Kolt. That didn’t mean I trusted this Vandar. Especially since I now knew he was one of their warlords. I’d heard plenty aboutthem.

“You want to save me?” I asked, letting my body sink into his in a way that I knew would affect him.

His only response was a guttural, strangled sound.

“I’ll go with you, but I’m not going alone.” I flicked my gaze back toward the rest of the troupe. “You have to save all of us.”

His brow wrinkled. “You want your entire troupe to escape on my warbird?”

I glanced at the group that was still shaking fingers and yelling at the armed Vandar. “Just the ones who are here. I don’t know where the rest are or how to locate them, but all my friends here go, or I don’t go.”

I wasn’t sure why he was intent to me going with him, and there was a good chance that he’d find my demand more trouble than I was worth. If he refused, then I would have sentenced all of us and myself to a very unpleasant future. I held my breath, praying that I hadn’t overplayed my hand. I was usually good at pressing my luck and knowing just how far to take something, but I’d never made a deal with a Vandar warlord before.

“If I agree to save everyone, then you consent to be my war bride.”

I bristled, disliking the sound of it instantly. “War bride? What’s that?”

He loosened his grip and lowered my feet so they touched the floor again. Then he took a step until I was backed into a wall. He pinned me with his body while he ran one hand down my side and his tail curled around my ankles, making it impossible for me to move.

“It’s simply a deal to ensure mutual cooperation,” he purred as he gazed down at me. “You will stay with me on my warbird. In exchange, I will provide protection and safety for you and your friends.”

“Stay with you?” I echoed his words, but they sounded hollow when I said them.

He tilted his head. “As my guest.”

My pulse fluttered, and my brain screamed at me to run. I knew better than to make deals with the devil, and the predatory glint in the Vandar’s eyes told me that he was no one to be trifled with. I couldn’t act or charm my way around this. “War bride sounds like more than a house guest situation.”

He hummed and the sound sent a tremor of unwanted pleasure down my spine. “Then why don’t we consider it a trial? Nothing will be required of you that you do not wish.”

“I’ll be a trial war bride?” My voice trembled. “For how long?”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “Until we can find safe harbor for your friends. Then, if you choose not to remain with me, I will release you.”

That wasn’t so bad. I just had to hang out with a massive, terrifying alien warlord in his giant spaceship until he found a safe place for us to live. Then I could leave and never see him again.

“And I don’t have to…do things with you…or for you?” I said, dropping my voice even though it would have been impossible for my friends to hear me over their unwavering protests.

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Not unless you want to.” He bent lower, and his lips buzzed my ear. “Or unless you wish me to do things to you.”