That seemed to set her back on her heels, and she looked truly confused. Adorable and confused. He really didn’t understand why he found himself so attracted to this tiny female.
“Your women really have active roles in your society?” She blinked up at him as if unsure of the truth of his words.
“Of course.” What did she think of Jit’suku? That they were as barbaric and backward as her people?
She looked away, peering absently down the corridor before returning her lovely green gaze to him. “I think the gender roles in our respective cultures must be very different. Among humans, anyone can join the military. While it’s true that most women don’t choose to serve, some of us do and some of us even seek out adventure on the front lines.”
“You came here by choice?” Val couldn’t credit her words. Patrolling a dangerous border was the work of a warrior. It was too dangerous to risk a female on such tasks.
“I had to apply three times before I got assigned a fighter patrol. The rim sweep isn’t usually this exciting, but it is important.” Her chin jutted out defensively and Val realized she took pride in her assignment to the dangerous post.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, hoping to change the subject. She’d given him a great deal to contemplate, but first he wanted to be certain she was comfortable. He’d treated her shabbily up to this point, and he wanted to make amends.
“I could eat,” she replied cautiously.
“Then follow me.” He walked more slowly this time, traversing the long hallway in the sector where all his staff were housed. He was looking for one portal in particular.
Raising his hand to the lock plate, he keyed in his command code, opening the door. He stepped back, allowing her to precede him.
She walked in with some hesitation and he wondered if she hadn’t believed him about taking her to guest accommodations. Perhaps she still believed that he would throw her in the brig, or worse. She would soon learn that he was a man of his word. And he didn’t harm females. Not on purpose.
Three
The room was spacious and fitted with high-quality furnishings. The captain might just be telling the truth after all, Lisbet thought, as she took in her surroundings. This didn’t look like any kind of cell she could imagine and there didn’t appear to be anything more sinister than a couch and some chairs placed along one wall.
“Guest quarters,” he announced, moving into the room and making it seem a lot smaller all of a sudden.
Before today, she’d only seen images of Jit’suku warriors. They were all well over six feet tall and built on the brawny side. As big as the biggest human men, they towered over most civilians. But this captain was a good seven and a half feet to her five and three-quarters. And he definitely kept himself in shape. The view she’d gotten of his muscular ass as he’d dragged her along behind him had been epic.
If she’d been in any other position, she might have found herself drawn to the incredibly handsome warrior. As it was, she was his prisoner – though not, perhaps, in as bad a situation as she’d feared. She was certainly a captive, but the conditions didn’t seem too horrible at the moment. She’d remain wary, but something about the way he’d spoken to her made her think he was as unfamiliar with real humans as she was with real Jit’suku.
All she knew was what she’d been told by her commanders and seen in the news media. She’d heard about the many battles along the rim, and knew the death statistics. The war, which had been going on for a long time, was taking a definite toll on both sides. Many men had died. Women too, of course, but the Jit’suku were very careful to only attack military targets, and the few female casualties she was aware of were women soldiers.
Based on what she’d just been told by the captain, she’d bet he hadn’t known before seeing her that women served alongside men in the human armada. She wondered what he’d do when he thought through that scenario. He’d seemed truly upset to discover she was female.
“I will order food for you. It is almost dinner time. If you have no objection, I would like to share the meal with you, so that we may talk more.”
“Interrogation?” She had to ask. It didn’t sound like he really wanted to interrogate her – not in the way she understood the term – but he would be asking questions, she had no doubt.
“Nothing so drastic.” His lips lifted at one corner in a hint of a smile that almost stopped her heart.
Damn, he was sexy when he wasn’t quite so angry. He’d be devastating if he ever decided to turn on the charm.
“I wish to ask more questions of you, but I will not force you to answer. It becomes clear to me that I do not know enough about humans. I had no idea your women served as pilots. I’ll have to rethink my strategy if I am to continue this mission with honor, now that I am aware of this fact.”
That sounded promising. She thought over her options, coming to a quick decision.
“I’ll answer what I can, but I won’t betray my people. I don’t really know enough to do any serious betraying anyway, so you might as well get that thought out of your mind right now.” She took a fortifying breath, watching his handsome face carefully. “But I’ll answer cultural questions if I think they’re safe.
I’d like to know more about your people too, while we’re at it,” she added.
“Then it is agreed.” He moved toward the door. “The sanitation cubicle is beyond the light green portal, in a corner of the attached sleep chamber. I will leave you to refresh yourself for approximately one standard hour. I’ll return when the meal is served.” He paused by the door. “You will be locked in for your own safety. My crew is all male. I do not wish for you to interact with them at present.”
She was okay with that, and merely nodded. Privacy in this luxurious suite was better than being in a cell, or being accosted by a bunch of giant men who hadn’t seen a female in who knew how long. And Captain Sexy would be back in an hour with dinner.
Life had just gotten very interesting, very fast.
The captain returned with a team of men who brought in two floating trolleys loaded down with multiple domed platters. Both of the serving men gave her quizzical looks before departing with a crisp salute, but neither said a word.
Before leaving, the men had set the table and served the main course. The captain waited for her to be seated. So far, the dining rituals seemed very similar to human practices, which surprised Lisbet. She’d heard Jits were barbarians, and had almost expected them to be ripping meat from the bones of some large animal with their teeth.
Instead, she got gleaming, monogrammed silverware and what looked like costly china with the crest of some noble house. Her finger traced over the design on the rim of her plate.
“It is the sigil of my house. The Fedroval crest.” He nodded toward her hand, still fingering the raised golden symbol as she looked up to meet his gaze.
“You said your name was Fedroval. As is the name of your ship. Fedroval’s Legacy, right? So if this is anything like human nobility, you’re some kind of overlord or come from a seriously rich family. Am I right?”
The captain bowed his head slightly, holding her gaze. “I am surprised humans have such things, but yes, to both questions. I am the Liege of House Fedroval, eldest male of the line. And yes, we as a family have more than most. Unfortunately, I am the end of the line for House Fedroval.” His expression turned grim as he busied himself with the snowy white cloth napkin, placing it on his lap.