In Enemy Territory - Shannon West Page 0,55

hand shot out and slapped his away.

“Leave it alone. You’ll wear it until tonight at least, and then I’ll see how it is. Now stop it.”

They glared at each other until Pax cleared his throat with a little smile playing around his lips, and they both glanced over at him. “Oh, sorry,” Kylon said. “What were we talking about? Oh yes, the plan.” He stood up and stretched, looking over at Pax. “Walk with me,” he said. “I feel the need of some exercise.”

The two of them got up and began to stroll around the yard, Kylon’s bright head leaning in toward Pax’s.

Rasc glanced over at Setin in disbelief. “What the fuck? Did you see that? He just cut me out of the plan making.”

“I guess it might have looked a little odd if all three of you went strolling around arm in arm.”

“Arm in arm?” He glanced back and sure enough, the asshole had his arm through Pax’s, looking like they were in a deep and intimate conversation. He couldn’t have stopped the little growl that came from his throat if he’d wanted to.

“What does he think he’s doing?”

“Looks like he’s getting to know the pirate a little better, Rasc.”

He shot Setin a dirty look. “Come on. Let’s go over to our own group. They’re looking over here.” They moved to Egam’s spot he’d chosen for them by the fence, a good distance from the guards, and leaned back against it next to Egam.

Egam leaned in eagerly to speak to him. “Who that? The red hair one?”

“He’s my new cell mate.”

Egam raised his eyebrows. “Ah, you lucky. Handsome. I hear about him. I saw some last night, but there was much going on. Tell me, friend. Was that him making sex noises in your cell then? We all listen.”

“None of your business.”

He chuckled knowingly. Setin leaned across Rasc, probably to correct Egam’s wrong impression, but Rasc grabbed the front of his shirt. “Shut up. This does not require your input.”

Setin wisely leaned back where he was, as they all stared across the yard at Bonnett and the pirate, still walking up and down, deep in conversation. It was at least ten excruciating minutes before they stopped in front of Pax’s table again, nodded at each other, and Bonnett looked around the yard. Spotting Rasc, he strode confidently over to him and stopped in front of him and the others.

“Pax had some good ideas.”

“Huh. I thought you said you couldn’t trust him because he might have made a better deal somewheere else.”

“That’s not exactly what I said, but what’s wrong with you? Why are you looking at me like that? Where’s all this hostility coming from anyway?”

“I don’t like being edged out. I’ve put a lot of time and effort into making these contacts for you to just waltz in and leave me out of things.”

“What is ‘waltz?’ And what do you mean, left out? I don’t understand…wait. Oh four hells, are you jealous?”

“What? No.”

“I think you are.”

“Don’t be stupid.”

He grinned and settled himself on the fence beside Rasc. “I’ll tell you what we talked about when we get back to our cell.”

“Whatever.”

He shook his head and laughed. The guard closest to them turned to look at them and motioned for them to move out into the yard.

“What?” Rasc yelled back at the guard, drawing the attention of two more Gatifreyans, who raised their disruptors and pointed them almost casually in Rasc’s direction. Kylon pulled sharply on his arm.

“What?” he said, shouting down in Kylon’s face. “We can’t just stand here at the fence? Everybody else is just sitting around. Why are they picking on us? We’re not doing anything.”

“Rasc, shut up now, damn you,” Kylon growled at him, dragging him away from the fence and out in the yard, smiling and waving a conciliatory hand at the guards.

“You’ve already got one arm in a sling. Are you trying for two?”

Grudgingly, Rasc allowed Kylon to move him farther away and over to one of the tables. He could almost feel the steady, hostile regard of the Gatifreyans on his back.

“What’s wrong with you?” Kylon whispered fiercely in his ear. “You’re going to get yourself killed.”

“I hate those assholes.”

“Calm the fuck down.” He leaned closer. “Yes. Pax and I have made a plan. It needs refining, but he’s had a basic idea, and I think it’s a good one.”

“Well, I guess you don’t need me then, do you? Not if Pax and you already have a…oof!” He doubled over as Bonnett’s