It was the same expression Zamek himself often saw when he looked in the mirror.
He placed a hand upon the Verrsuan male’s shoulder. “I will take you on as an honorary member of my crew until we reach planet Kall. If we come across any Bexxanians—and I assure you, we will be searching—you may join us in the fight. I’ll spar with you myself to help you prepare, and if we are able to board one of the Bexxanian warbirds, you will be free to kill as many Bexxanians as you can.”
Amorrga nodded his thanks and settled back down on the table where he was being treated by the Tammusha’s most skilled doctor.
Zamek departed the medical bay, a sense of purpose in his step. He might not know what to do with the human female he’d acquired, but he knew exactly what to do about the Bexxanians. Kill as many as he could.
As for Layla, he would visit her soon.
And he would bring the leather strap.
Chapter 6
Why hadn’t he returned?
Why hadn’t he followed through with his promise to make her suffer?
Judging by the number of meals she’d been served since her arrival, over fifteen days had passed since General Zamek had brought her to this cell. That was the other thing—he wasn’t starving her. Not in the least. Though she had no way of keeping time, she was pretty sure she was being served three meals a day. The quality of the food was good, too. She wasn’t being given scraps or rotten food.
She paced the cell back and forth rapidly, not because she was trying to work off nervous energy, but because she wished to stay fit and keep up her strength. Also, the constant movement kept her warm. At least the cells in a Kall brig weren’t small and she had plenty of walking room.
In addition to being spacious, the cell also contained a toilet, a shower, a sink, and a clothing refresher. She’d heard the Kall usually kept most prisoners in chains with little access to bathing facilities, so the conditions of her captivity surprised her. She made a point to shower once a day and toss her clothing into the refresher at the same time, if only because it gave her a slight sense of normalcy.
Once she finished walking, she started on a round of jumping jacks. In addition to staying fit, her daily exercise routine served as a welcome distraction. There wasn’t anything else to do inside this cell, other than sleep or stare at the walls or the ceiling.
She hadn’t spoken to anyone aboard this ship since the day General Zamek left her here. Her meals were delivered through a slot in the back wall. Someone pushed them through. She had no idea who. When she tried to speak to the person, they never replied. Sometimes she caught a glimpse of large red hands, but that was it.
Despite her efforts to remain sane, if she were being honest, the solitude was starting to get to her. A couple of times she’d caught herself speaking aloud, reenacting a conversation she’d had with someone long ago as her thoughts wandered into the past. And the loneliness made her want to cry sometimes.
She finished her jumping jacks and moved on to a set of push-ups. Yesterday she’d managed forty-five without stopping. Maybe today she would reach fifty. Yes, she was definitely starting to lose her mind. The old Layla had never cared this much about fitness.
A clanging noise at the end of the corridor had her scrambling to her feet. She backed up into the corner near the bed, the instinct to hide taking over. Even though she was lonely, that didn’t mean she wanted the general’s company. Not if he intended to hurt her. A shiver rushed through her as heavy footsteps approached.
General Zamak appeared outside her cell. When his steely gaze collided with hers, she found herself unable to look away. His jaw was clenched tight, and his eyes blazed with a determination that made her shudder.
Whatever his reason for visiting her today, she had a feeling it wouldn’t go well for her.
Had he finally decided to torture her?
She glanced at his waist, searching for a sword or battle-ax, but didn’t see a weapon at all. She didn’t see any knives protruding from his boots either. His hands were clasped behind his back, but when he stepped closer and his arms fell to his sides, her stomach rolled. Oh God.
He was holding a thick leather