claws through the wide stripe of long, thick fur on his head. “I’m not afraid that Svetlana would leave. Fuck, I’d go with her if that were possible. What scares me is that she would try again.”
“She has tried,” Wyck reminded. “She knows she’d die if she tries again.”
“She does.” Vrateus heaved another sigh. “However, the risk of death wouldn’t stop her, I’m afraid. Svetlana is a scholar, with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. She is willing to risk her life in the quest for more knowledge, in the name of research.”
Still a week ago, the meaning of this would’ve been lost on Wyck. Now, he realized he understood it well. Moreover, he could relate to Svetlana. He, too, had developed a thirst for knowledge, looking forward to every new chapter and each new book. He asked questions and searched for answers. Except that so far, he’d been able to find answers to most of his questions. How far would he go to get answers to the yet unanswered ones?
Vrateus shifted his weight to his other foot. “If Svetlana learns about a human ship crashing here, with significantly more advanced technology—”
“They didn’t crash,” he blurted out.
“What do you mean?”
“It was a controlled landing,” he explained, there was no point in holding this information back now. “They planned to eventually take off and leave.”
“Leave? They thought they could do that?”
“That’s what Nadia says. Yes.”
The captain huffed a sad laugh.
“They might have planned it. Doesn’t mean they would’ve succeeded.” Vrateus furrowed his brow. “More reasons not to tell Svetlana about it. I’m worried she would be tempted to test their theories.”
“So, how long are you planning to keep the new ship a secret from her?”
The human vessel had landed at the very edge of the habitable sector, at the end of the corridor past the gardens. There might never be a reason for Svetlana to wander that way. The crew rarely spoke to her—the possibility of someone telling her about it was low. Unless she somehow accidentally discovered the cut-out, she could remain ignorant about its presence for a very long time.
“Will you ever tell her?” Wyck asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe. One day.” The captain flashed him a warning look. “Don’t you dare tell her yourself.”
“I won’t,” he promised. He hardly ever spoke to Svetlana himself. Keeping her informed was not on the list of his duties. “Thanks for this.” He swung the holster on the belt the captain’s way.
“Take good care of it,” Vrateus said, on his way back to his room and to his woman. “And take good care of your female.”
Your female. Wyck loved the sound of it, and he no longer needed the captain’s orders to care for Nadia.
Chapter 14
“READY?” WYCK WALKED into my room.
I knew it was time for my next performance. But I was not ready.
I had changed into a new outfit with a floor-length, purple gown for the top layer. I’d put on a pair of golden sandals I’d found in the trunk under the clothing rack. I had been standing in front of the door for a few minutes now, waiting for Wyck to take me to the mess hall.
But I was not ready to go through with it after what had happened the last time.
“Yes,” I said, pressing the tablet with my music to my chest. “Let’s get it over with.”
Because it would be over soon. Tomorrow morning, we’d be having breakfast together. And I wouldn’t have to dread taking my clothes off in front of a wild crowd for another week.
“Nadia.” He placed his large hands on my shoulders, peering into my eyes.
I nodded quickly. “I know. They’ll want me completely naked this time.”
They’d made their preferences very clear last week. My artful half-disrobing hadn’t been enough for them.
His fingers flexed on my shoulders, digging in to the point of pain.
“This is the last time, I swear,” he gritted through his teeth.
I winced, and he eased his hold on me.
“I’ve made sure you’ll be safe.”
“I know.” I nodded again, my voice clipped from nerves. “I trust you.”
I did. I trusted Wyck. Last week as I’d been surrounded by the crowd of lust-crazy males, he stood out as the largest and the most intimidating of them. Yet I had run to him for safety. Instinctively, I’d known then that he would rescue me from them. I believed he would protect me tonight, too, if it came down to it.
“We’ll be fine.” I patted his hand on my shoulder, trailing my fingers over the