Page 21 of Claimed By the Condemned Alien

“Possibly.” His gaze shifted back to Kesta, and that almost-smile touched his mouth again. “Record that accurately too.”

The witness did.

He spoke in a formal cadence, naming the basin, the position of the moons, the factions present, Kesta’s name, Dreven’s claim and its stated limits. When the declaration ended, the symbols around Kesta’s wrist changed from ember-red to a steadier copper glow.

The empire’s machine had listened to alien prison law and obeyed it.

Kesta hated that far more than she hated the men laughing around her.

Dreven approached slowly and crouched beside the tether still attached to her wrist. He did not touch her skin. One claw slipped beneath the metal loop instead.

“May I?”

The question surprised her enough that she nodded.

He cut through the tether with a small blade drawn from his belt. The severed length dropped into the dust. When he stood, he extended one large scaled hand.

Kesta looked at it.

Then at him.

“I can stand on my own.”

“I noticed.”

There was no offense in his face when she ignored the hand. He lowered it, but his attention stayed on her long enough for Kesta to feel the weight of his scrutiny again.

The rift stalkers moved closer to the failing blue perimeter. One glow rod flickered twice.

Dreven glanced toward it before returning his eyes to Kesta. “You may dislike me while walking. If you remain here, the stalkers will settle the argument for both of us.”

Kesta almost smiled despite herself. “I don’t know you well enough to dislike you.”

His brows rose slightly. “You have made a promising start.”

This time the laugh escaped before she could stop it.

The split in her lip immediately reminded her why that was a bad idea, and she winced.

Dreven’s expression changed. His gaze fixed on her mouth.

“Who struck you?”

The question was quiet.

Kesta knew without looking that the raider leader was behind her.

She saw the muscles in Dreven’s jaw tighten and the slow stilling of his tail.

“He already lost.”

Dreven’s silver eyes met hers. “That was not my question.”

“It is my answer.”

For several seconds neither moved.

Then Dreven breathed out through his nose and looked away.