start locking down each sector until they sweep it.”
“The Slasu? There was the half-breed, and...”
“No,” she said, even more impatient. Her hands moved over his chest with the med pack from the wall, then she placed it over the wound and set it. It didn’t work. EJ smacked the thing a couple of times before trying again. It started up, though grudgingly, and a healing green glow spread over his scales. The Earther scrubbed her hands over her face, sounding far too tired. “The attack. The guards were talking about a takeover. It’s the Slasu; it’s got to be. They’re using the gen ship to farm slaves. That’s why it’s half poor farmers and half prisoners that no one cares about. They’ll drag the ship out to an auction and sell everyone, would be my guess.”
A roaring filled Nokx’s ears, over and beyond the hum of the medic pack. “Izyk said a fleet approached in formation. They didn’t identify the type of ship, but...”
“Who else would it be?” EJ sat back on her heels but didn’t look at him, an unfamiliar hardness in her face.
“Could be more pirates,” he said, though he believed her explanation more than his own. His comms device pinged with incoming messages; he tried to answer, then groaned as moving his arm reignited the overwhelming pain. “Harzt and Faros will know by now. They may still be in range.”
“What, they won’t leave you behind? Must be nice.” Her voice twisted with bitterness and his hearts twisted to match.
“EJ...” he started. “I tried to...”
She made a sharp gesture with her hand to cut him off, and as her hard gaze turned to him, Nokx started to believe that she could have committed some of the crimes that showed up in her file. EJ removed the med pack from his half-healed chest and put it over his leg. Her voice remained low. “Don’t bother.”
He caught her arm before she could move away and yanked her down so her nose was just an inch from his. He bared his teeth and growled, desperate to convince her of his feelings. “Listen to me. I fought the captain to keep you. I did everything I could to prevent him from turning you over.”
“You didn’t do enough,” she said, and her voice broke. Her hand wrapped around his wrist, pulling herself free of his weakening grip. EJ’s eyes shone but her anger didn’t lessen. “Because look at where we are. Look at what you’ve caused.”
“I came for you,” he said. Nokx grimaced at the med pack working over his leg and clenched his jaw. He had to convince her, had to make her see. “I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have allowed Faros to contact this ship, regardless of the cost. I was an idiot, and I’m sorry. I’m here to take you back, to get you off this ship. We can start over somewhere else, find a new...”
“We?” she asked. Her pale eyebrows rose. “What ‘we’?”
He understood her anger. He hadn’t protected her as a male should protect his mate, and it would eat at him the rest of his days. Nokx caught her hand again and pressed her fragile fingers between his palms. “I will make it up to you, EJ. I will get us off this ship, and then I will take you wherever you want to go.”
Her eyes narrowed as she studied him, weighing his words, and he held his breath as he waited for her response. Loud voices outside the door stole what time they had. EJ covered his mouth and turned off the med pack, keeping most of her attention on the door as she backed away. She gestured for him to follow her toward the corner. Nokx hesitated. He’d rather remain near the door so he could immediately attack whoever came through. Hiding in the corner went against everything a Xaravian warrior stood for.
EJ scowled and hissed, “Trust me,” as she gestured for him to retreat from the door.
He wanted to fight, to spill blood, to prove how much he valued her. But him dying meant she was alone and unlikely to be rescued by the Sraibur. Nokx pushed to his feet and limped after her, holding his injured arm close to his side. EJ handed him some of the comms equipment and the med pack, then shoved her arm into what looked like a narrow vent.
Something pounded on the door and more voices rose out in the corridor. His hearts beat faster as the