Cavas (The Vorge Crew Book 5) Read online

  “I’m very skilled with combat and I’m a first-rate pilot. Not only shuttles. I can fly almost anything. Enemy vessels included.” He paused. “I’ve led countless dangerous missions on alien worlds.”

  “That makes me feel better.”

  “Just follow my lead. I’m experienced at adjusting to situations to fit in with other cultures. Even the criminal element. I’ve gone undercover often to seek out and arrest dangerous enemies or rescue captives. Sometimes both at the same time.”

  “Have you ever had to play a slaver before?”

  He hesitated. “No. I did, however, once pretend to be a pirate captain with a crew of murderers. They were my men, on a pirate vessel we commandeered. We had to go to a station that had been overtaken, kill those in charge, and free the four-hundred-plus hostages. That mission was successful.”

  “How many bad guys did you have to take out? How many of your men helped?”

  He thought for a moment. “There were eight of us in total against seventy-six pirates.”

  She grew silent. He wasn’t sure if that comforted her or not. He didn’t have time to check. They were coming up on Flax Colony and some air traffic.

  Cavas flew toward the surface. The shuttle vibrated once they reached the atmosphere, and he adjusted the gravity stabilizers to make it a smoother transition for his passenger. She wasn’t used to space flight.

  Once they were at two thousand feet and well below any monitoring devices from the colony, he changed course, flying even lower, heading away from it and toward their target. There was no certainty that Cavas was being held at the arena, but it was the most likely probability with the information they’d learned. It was a secure location, one he’d have chosen if he were Yorlian Trevis.

  He needed to think like the enemy.

  Chapter Five

  Jill felt more afraid after the shuttle landed than when she’d first gotten aboard. They had arrived on Flax Colony. Her first trip to the planet had been against her will as a slave. The second time was by choice to play a role. It was time to put her game face on.

  The big lion alien stood, striding toward her.

  The outfit Cavas wore showed off his muscular body. The open front of the shirt proved his abs had abs. He had to be the most fit man ever. Cathian had also been really fit, but the blue-eyed brother had been thinner. He’d also worn baggy clothing that hid a lot of his shape.

  Cavas’s skin was tanned to a golden bronze and the thin white material over his bulging arms seemed at risk of splitting apart if he flexed his biceps. He paused before her, and his golden eyes peered into hers. They truly were striking and beautiful, in a predatory way. She hated noticing all of that about him. She felt bad for crushing a little on her alien savior. He’d shown no interest in her.

  “Take some deep breaths.” He wrinkled his nose. “You smell of fear.”

  His words and disgusted look killed any thoughts she might have of him feeling any chemistry between them. She unbuckled from the seat and carefully took hold of the long chain that was attached to the thick collar at her throat. It had a quick release on the back that her hair covered, unlike the last one she’d worn. As she stood, Jill once again felt small compared to Cavas. He towered over her by a good foot.

  “Fear is normal. A slave would be afraid of her master.”

  “I’d never harm you.”

  “I know that. I just don’t want to end up actually being a slave again or killed if we’re caught.”

  He gave her a slight nod and spoke with a firm, reassuring voice. “We will be fine.”

  She hoped so. He got points for confidence. It was sexy. She tried to think of the important things she’d been told about slaves as she offered him the handle of the leash. Having wayward thoughts about him would only distract her from their mission. “Okay, slave lessons that I learned from Cia. Ready?”

  “You have my full attention.”

  “I follow you, and I’m not allowed to speak until spoken to. When you stop, I stop behind you. When you take a seat, I sit at your feet. You’re supposed to indicate to me where you want me. You never let go of my leash in public.” She offered it to him again.

  He hesitated but finally took it. A scowl confirmed his immense displeasure.

  “I’m to do whatever you say immediately, without hesitation, or slaves are punished. Cia said it could be a strike with a fist or an open palm to the face, shoulders, back, or chest. Some masters are known to kick their slaves to make them fall.”

  Anger glinted in his eyes. “I won’t be doing any of that.”

  “If I mess up and there’s witnesses, strike me with your open palm on the back of my head. I’ll pretend it hurts way more than it does. This is important, Cavas. Just avoid hitting the back of my neck if possible. This collar isn’t the real deal. You might accidentally open the latch and make it fall off.”

  “I will not strike you.” He appeared pissed.

  She frowned up at him. “We both have roles to play if we want to pull this off.” She waved her hand, gesturing to the length of him. “Master.” She pointed at herself. “Slave. Cia was clear that masters are all vicious and mean. It will draw attention if you don’t treat me like shit. I’m not saying I want you to hit me. I really don’t. But I can take some slaps if it keeps anyone from arresting us. Got it?”

  His mouth tightened and his golden eyes flashed annoyance. “We agree.”

  “Good. I won’t take it personally. I promise. Cia also mentioned our master had a box in the arena, set up high. There’s food present or brought to you. Our master liked his feet rubbed.” She shuddered. “All four of them, apparently. There’re trays of oils next to the chairs, and she said he’d bare his feet and indicate what oil he wanted his slave to rub with.”

  “I’m not having you massage my feet!”

  She sighed. “We have to fit in, right? To act like we belong? From what she shared, that was one of the least horrific things that take place at the arena.”

  He sighed. “Do I even want to ask?”

  “No. Most of it was degrading sex stuff.”

  He snarled before turning, walking toward the doors.

  She rushed after him to avoid being choked by the chain. He opened the shuttle doors and the ramp automatically slid to the ground. The planet looked like a barren desert, with only that huge round structure next to the mountain. No other structures were in sight. Heat blasted inside the shuttle with the breeze.

  Cavas walked forward, pulling out a small device from a hidden pocket in his pants. She followed. Once they were on the densely packed sand, he paused, pushed a button on the remote, and the ramp drew up, the doors on the shuttle closing and an electric-blue shell appeared to activate around the surface.

  “Wow. Is that like a car alarm?”

  “I don’t know what a car alarm is. It’s a shield. No one will be able to damage or enter the shuttle. Let’s go. We’ve already drawn attention.”

  She hurried after him, which wasn’t easy in her flimsy footwear. The sand was hot but not burning as her feet sank into the loose grains. Two armed guards were stationed in front of the large open doors leading into the tall arena behind them.

  “Sir,” one of the stated. “Name?”

  “Garligon Press,” Cavas huffed. “I was personally invited by Yorlian Trevis. He asked me to view his little sport. He’s attempting to lure me into moving here.” He grunted. “I’m not impressed so far. Yorl didn’t tell you I was coming?”

  “Um, no sir.”

  “That’s an unforgivable insult,” Cavas snarled. “Do you know who I am? I am one of the founding fifteen families on Tryleskian. I’m the firstborn of the first litter! I could easily buy a hundred dust planets larger than this one. Yorl should treat me better. I’m superior to him.”

  Jill was shocked—and suddenly glad to be standing close behind Cavas to prevent the guards from seeing that her mouth had dropped open. She snapped it closed. Cavas sounded like a mega-asshole, his tone haughty