Cavas (The Vorge Crew Book 5) Read online

  “Not you.”

  Nara held his brother’s gaze without even flinching at his harsh tone. “Let’s be honest. Midgel would freak.” She glanced at the cook. “No offense. It would be hell for you to be led around by a collar.” She motioned to the female with long hair on Dovis’s lap. “Mari is the most docile of us humans, but she’s not a fighter. It would be her and Cavas alone down there. She’d be horrible backup.” This time, she glanced at Mari. “No offense. And Lilly could put up a decent fight if they got into trouble, but she’s been throwing up. Therefore, it’s me.”

  Raff growled, staring at his female. “You’re sick?”

  She shrugged. “My stomach has been upset a few times. It’s no big deal. I can do it.” She stared at Cathian. “I owe you guys my life. I’m in if you need me.”

  “No!” Raff snarled. “I’m taking you to see the android.”

  “Nara is right about one thing,” Mari suddenly said. “I was raised as a slave. I’m the best one of us to pull this off. You should take me, Cavas.”

  Dovis snarled. “You are submissive. What if there’s a battle?”

  All the couples began to argue loudly, while Midgel got up and fled the room.

  Cavas simply watched them, feeling a headache coming on. It was nice that most of the females were willing to risk their lives to attempt a rescue of his littermate. Too bad their males were all having a fit.

  Chapter Four

  Jill sat quietly, watching the crew. Some of the women were yelling at their husbands, arguing why they should be the one to go. Then she glanced at Cavas. He stood there with his eyes closed, a pained expression on his handsome alien face. It was clear he wasn’t happy to ask one of the women to volunteer to put themselves in danger.

  She looked around again, studying the alien men facing off against their wives. All of them appeared worried, upset, fearful—and that’s when it sank in.

  They must honestly love those women.

  She bit her lip…then found herself standing. She put two fingers in her mouth and gave a shrill whistle.

  Everyone went quiet, gawking at her.

  She pulled her fingers from her mouth and turned to Nara. “I’ll do it.”

  Nara shook her head. “No.”

  “I’m not married, certainly not pregnant or sick, and you said I should help out on this ship when it’s needed. Technically it’s not on the ship, but it’s the same, right?” She glanced around at everyone else. “You guys saved my life. I owe you. I just spent almost a month wearing a collar on that damn planet. I was trained on how to act by another slave. I don’t have any skills for use on a spaceship, but I’m good at keeping my shit together under pressure. I also won’t hesitate to fight to protect myself. I’ve survived this long by doing so. Let me do it.”

  Nara stepped closer. “You just got free, Jill. You’re emotionally in a bad place right now. None of us would be.”

  “I’m a little screwed up in the head after all I’ve been through. I’m not denying that. You also made it clear we need to rescue Crath in order to keep this ship and crew safe. I was listening, Nara. It’s important that we find him, and I owe him for getting me out of that cage. He tried to take me to his shuttle. I want to go after him. It’s only right.”

  Jill turned to Cavas. His eyes were open, and he was staring at her with a scowl. “I don’t have great fighting skills, but I’m not helpless. I can take orders, keep my mouth shut, and I was instructed on how to act if I was ever escorted to that arena. I’m your best bet.”

  Cavas hesitated. “We don’t know you.”

  “What he means,” one of the white little aliens stated, “is that he’s not sure if you’ll be motivated enough to do what is necessary to get Crath out of there. You could try to flee out of distrust of us, since you’re new.” The Pod studied her, going silent. Then he turned to Cavas. “She understands what’s at stake, and trusts what Nara and Sara have said to her. She feels her best chance at survival is to stay with us. You can trust her. She’s sufficiently motivated.”

  Jill felt slightly violated since her mind had just been read, but she understood. She stared at the white alien, thinking questions at it, curious to know if it would hear her.

  “My name is One,” it stated. “We were sold by our own people to criminals who used our mind-reading abilities to harm others. We not only read thoughts, but we feel pain if someone is being tortured if we’re linked to them at the time. Our captors did that often. It was hellish, a term you understand. This crew saved us and now they keep us safe from being used in that way again. None of them would harm us or you. You can trust them.”

  The pod next to him spoke. “I’m Three. If you are captured, this crew will come for Cavas and you. They would risk their lives for yours. Each one of them thinks of you as a part of this crew now. Your life is valued.”

  Jill took a deep breath and blew it out, turning back to Cavas. “I’m the one you need to take with you. If a woman must go down there and put her butt on the line, it should be me. I owe you guys, and I’m not married. I owe your brother. And I’m all about paying my debts.”

  “She means that,” one of the Pods stated.

  “We didn’t rescue you to put you back in danger,” Dovis growled.

  He did appear scary, even in skin. She tried to image him looking like a werewolf but failed. “I appreciate that, but let’s be real. None of you really know me.” She returned her attention to Cavas. “You saved me once. I trust you to get me out of there again if shit hits the fan. But if you have to send one of us women into danger, and the worst happens, losing me will hurt the least.”

  He didn’t look pleased at that, but he nodded. “It’s the logical choice.”

  There were some loud protests.

  Cavas snarled louder. “Enough. Jill has volunteered. I’ve accepted.” He shot a look at his brother. “None of your crew want their females in danger. This is the best solution. I’m without a life-lock. Jill is without one, too. Our losses will be the easiest on everyone if we fail.”

  “No loss is acceptable,” Cathian stated emotionally.

  “Agreed.” Cavas hesitated before looking at Nara. “Can you help her find something suitable to wear and replicate the collar she once wore? I’ll dress to fit the part. The drones have taken images of the wealthy slavers getting off those private shuttles. We’ll meet in half an hour in front of the cargo bay. Since some of them have recently arrived, a fight must be taking place soon. We need to get down there as quickly as possible.” He turned to Cathian. “I’ll do my best to bring our littermate and Jill back safely.”

  Jill walked quickly toward the door, assuming Nara would follow. She just wanted out of that room and away from all those emotions. Including her own. She’d lost her mind to volunteer, but it did make the most sense. She owed these people her life. They could have left her in that cell. She’d have died there, or faced a horrible future at the hands of another slave owner if she’d recovered from her injuries.

  “Wait up. Where are you going?”

  She turned to force a smile for Nara. “Sorry.”

  “You don’t have to do this.”

  “I do.”

  “You literally just got free today! No one would expect you to go back down there like this. It was brave and gutsy. Hell, I’m impressed, but I should be the one to go. I’m responsible for the humans on this ship.”

  “I’m doing this, Nara.”

  Nara stepped closer, peering deeply into her eyes. “But you’re scared.”

  “I’d be an idiot if I weren’t.”

  That caused the woman to smile. “True.” Then she sobered. “Are you sure about this?”

  “No, but I’m still going to do it.”

  Nara studied her silently.

  “Do you want to know what I saw in that room?”

  Her question seemed to surprise Nara. “What?”

  “Guys who actually love their women. They weren’t grabbing hold of you and being abusive