smiled tightly at him before turning and walking toward our ship. His tail was still around Inara’s waist and she had no choice but to go with him, taking his hand when he held it out to her.
“It was good to see you again, Gwandole,” I said.
“Hmm,” he said.
I made a short bow before turning toward Ellis. “Go, Ellis.”
She walked quickly up the ramp, joining Krey and Inara in the cargo hold as I bowed again before walking up the ramp and closing the hold. The door closed with a heavy thunk and Krey backed Inara up against the wall of the ship.
“Are you all right, human?” His tail squeezed around her waist and he cupped her face, rubbing his thumb along her jawline as his gaze dipped to her breasts.
“I-I’m fine,” Inara whispered. “Thank you for, um, not letting them take me.”
Krey rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip, his nostrils flaring when her lips parted. “You are welcome, little female.”
“Krey,” I said. “We must leave.”
He raked a hand through his dark hair before unwrapping his tail from Inara’s waist and stepping back. His erection was obvious against his pants, and he reached down and adjusted his crotch without shame. A smile crossed his face when Inara’s face turned red and she pulled nervously at her hair.
“I like your hair, little female,” Krey said.
“Th-thank you,” Inara said.
“Krey,” I said.
“I know.” He walked past us, and I made a come on motion to Ellis and Inara.
They followed us out of the cargo hold and as Krey disappeared into the cockpit, I pointed to the chairs that were bolted to the floor in the main cabin of the ship. “Sit down.”
They sat beside each other and Inara took Ellis’s hand as I joined Krey in the cockpit. I eased into the co-pilot seat, ignoring the nausea in my stomach as Krey steered the ship out of the Emiran’s cargo hold and blasted into space.
I let out my breath in a soft rush. “Krono, Krey, I thought you were going to murder all of the Emirans in the cargo hold.”
He grinned at me, his hands gripping the controls loosely. “It would have been too easy.”
“And stupid,” I said.
“The Emirans offer us nothing and I will gut every last one of them before I give them one of our females,” Krey said. “I do not know why Quill even helps them with their ridiculous wars against the Cillades.”
I shrugged. “Probably because his father did before him. Plus, the Cillades are dickheads.”
Krey laughed. “Look at you, using the Earth’s curse words.”
I didn’t reply and Krey glanced over at me. “Go and speak with her, Galan.”
“I have nothing to say to her.”
“Bullshit,” Krey said.
I scowled at him and stood. “She lied to me.”
“She did,” he said.
I rubbed my forehead, my tail banging against the seat before I turned and stepped out of the cockpit. Ellis and Inara were sitting where I’d left them. Ellis stared at the floor but Inara stood up as I approached.
“Do you have any gallberry juice? Ellis’s head is still bleeding, and I think she might have a concussion.”
“Not on the ship,” I said. “We will give her some when we are home.”
“How did the Emirans know to contact you guys?” Inara said.
“They recognized the royal seal on the ship you stole as Quill’s,” I said. “Ellis, we need to talk.”
“So talk,” she said.
I glanced at Inara who squeezed Ellis’s hand. She glanced at the cockpit, her face flushing, before she said, “I’ll, um, I’ll go over here.”
She walked away to the far end of the room, standing near the row of storage lockers and staring at the side of the ship.
“Why did you do it, Ellis?” I said.
“You know why,” she said.
“Look at me.”
She sighed and glanced up. Her eyes were bloodshot, her face was pale, and blood still trickled out of her scalp. “I’m sorry I lied to you, Galan. But I had to leave, okay? I won’t survive a week in Earth’s prison. When I heard the king talk about the temporary peace treaty, I knew it was my only chance.”
“Why did you bring Inara with you?”
“Her sister is in trouble on Earth. Her uncle has her and he’s a bad guy. He’s going to sell her to some other really bad men in exchange for juice. Inara told me what was going on and I convinced her to come with me so she could help her sister.”
“You put her life in danger,” I said. “If she had