“That is not our choice to make.” I narrow my eyes at the male, exasperated. “The females cannot be taken. We will not stoop to the level of the Roth. Not now, not ever.”
Dergoz makes a fist, slamming it into his open hand. “The Roth are not the only ones whose numbers dwindle. We must reclaim our place in this galaxy, and the human females are the key. They are not treasured on Earth. Their people sent them here like troblek to slaughter, without a clue of what we intended for them.”
Alvez makes a sound of agreement, and I cock an eyebrow at him. “You agree with this plan? To pillage Earth for females?”
“I agree that their Federation deceived them, and that our mates have been dealt out a great wrong. But I do not think brute force is the correct path to the females.” He puts an extra emphasis on the word, and Dergoz growls, his muscles bunching in irritation.
“Then what is it you think best, gladiator?” Dergoz rasps, challenge inherent in the question.
By the Suevan skies, Having all the warlords together in Edrobaz is volatile. We’re too used to command, to working independently of each other, since our time together in the settlements fighting off the Roth. Not to mention, these males are strung tightly, shedding frustration like so much skin during a youth’s first molt.
Alvez steps closer to Dergoz, menace radiating through him. “This gladiator thinks that we should use our brains. The human females are clearly unused to being treasured. The ones we already have are our greatest lever for the rest of the human females. We lavish our mates with affection and gifts, and they will in turn spread the word back to Earth. Then we can begin offering places to select Earth women here, where we can pair them up with males of our own.”
Dergoz grunts, a calculating expression in his gaze.
“This is not poorly conceived,” I say. “But it does not solve the problem of the Roth.”
Alvez faces the cell once more, and the Roth stares us down, his black hair flaring around his shoulders, buffeted by a nonexistent wind.
Damn energy manipulators.
“No, it does not,” Alvez says. “We need to send a contingent of Suevans to guard the transport.”
“I can send a team,” Dergoz says, his tail slapping against the floor again.
I try not to sigh in annoyance. Dergoz is clearly angling to pair his warriors up with humans first.
Alvez snorts in amusement, one brow raised. He runs a finger across the straps of the weapons slung across his chest. “I can also send warriors.”
“We send warriors from each clan,” I say. “And we send a few southern Suevans, too.”
“They are traitors,” Dergoz’s eyes light up with fury.
“They are Suevan, and we have done wrong by them if they thought to turn to the Roth instead of to us. We must mend this broken bridge between us if we hope to stand strong against the Roth’s eventual assault.”
“The prince will want to send some from his clan,” Alvez says.
I nod my agreement. “We need to find him and his female.”
“I will go,” Dergoz says, and I tilt my chin, considering the male.
“You would leave your mate?”
“Aye.”
“There are Crigomar out there. You would risk yourself and your future?”
Dergoz’s expression grows thunderous. I stand my ground. “Until my mate can understand me, there is no point to putting her in harm’s way.”
Harm’s way? Does he think himself a danger to her?
I shake my head. “It is your choice. If you want to search for Prince Kanuz and the female warrior Gen, then so be it.”
“And the Roth?” Alvez asks.
“Find out what you can,” I say curtly. “I know you are best equipped for dealing with their tricks.” Years of enslavement to the Roth has left Alvez with deep scars, but there is no one with better insight into how the Roth’s mind works, a point we made good use of during the settlement wars.
Alvez nods once, and I turn to leave, Dergoz lagging along in my wake.
I am ready to leave this business for the moment, to turn my mind to more pleasurable pursuits.
Like the surprise I have in store for my precious mate.
Like the pleasure I intend to wring from her supple body afterwards.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
NIKI
I blink into the hot Suevan sun, the humidity settling on my shoulders like a damp towel. Draz isn’t waiting outside, like I thought he would be. Instead, an older Suevan waits for me, her white hair piled high on her head.
“You must be Ni-Kee,” she says, smiling warmly at me.
“That’s me,” I say, pushing back the urge to correct her. Captain Jacks doesn’t exist here, not the same way. There’s no reason to insist she call me by that name, the title that the Federation threw in the garbage. “Where is Draz?”
“He stepped away to tend to some warlord business,” the older woman tells me, a calculating glint in her eyes.
“Right.” Annoyance slips under my skin. Why didn’t he wait for me? He knows I want to lead here, too. Is there something he’s keeping from me? It rankles.
“I’m Cephi,” the Suevan says, still smiling. “Draz told me to take you into the market so that you can pick out new bedding and whatever other things you like to make his myza feel like home.”
“Ah,” I say.
My disappointment and irritation must show in my face, because Cephi laughs, her tail flicking behind her. “You humans are so expressive.”
“Did he say why he isn’t coming with me?” It’s not her fault I’m annoyed with him, feeling lost and small that he hasn’t included me in whatever he’s doing today.
“He did not. He did seem in a hurry to get back to you, though, so I would not be surprised if he meets us at the market. Then I am sure you can ask him as many questions as you see fit regarding his whereabouts.” The Suevan female gives me a knowing look, and I sigh.
I never in a million years thought I’d be what amounts to a kept woman, dressed in next to nothing and sent to shop while the menfolk make all the decisions.
It burns. I hook a finger in the material around my neck, tugging at it like it will help ease the sudden tightness in my throat.
“Come now, Ni-Kee, let us find some fine things. It is a beautiful day, and there is no sense in wasting it.”
Cephi gestures for me to follow her, and I do, letting her chatter wash over me as she leads me through the mostly empty streets.
“Where is everyone?” I ask, and Cephi glances sidelong at me.
“He did not tell you of the troubles our people have faced?”
“Oh, he did. I just expected more Suevans. This city is large.”
“Our numbers dwindle. Where there were once tens of thousands, now we are in the mere hundreds here.” Her pain is visible, her voice seeped in it.
“I’m sorry,” I say softly. “I didn’t intend to upset you.”
“It is not you I am upset with, Ni-Kee.” She sighs, and we round a corner, where a bustling marketplace awaits. Though the street could likely hold hundreds more, it’s still rather full of Suevans going about their business.
The smell of spiced meats mingles with the scent of hundreds of flowers, the colorful bolts of Suevan fabric competing with polished pieces of Suevan armor. One vendor hawks personal comms devices, and another displays delicate jewelry that doubles as weapons. Gen would love that.