York (The Vorge Crew Book 3) Read online

  York reached over to cup her thigh, his fingers wrapping around her leg. “I’d never let anyone take you from me, my heart,” he whispered.

  She forced a smile. “I know.”

  “Do you havzz my female ready to transsssport?”

  The hissy voice sent more shivers down her spine. The prince sounded like a snake. It would have been horrible if she’d been delivered to him, if the Relon police hadn’t saved her. She didn’t even want to consider what kind of horrors she’d have faced.

  “You must be Prince Azerba. I’m Ambassador Cathian Vellar. We do have the human. Come on over to get her.”

  “No. Sssend a transssport to my ssship.”

  “We can’t do that,” Cathian lied. “We didn’t expect this to happen. Our shuttle is down for routine repairs. You’re going to have come get her or wait a few days until the engine gets put back together.”

  The alien prince hissed and glared at Cathian. “I’ll sssend my troopsss.”

  “Your what?” Cathian leaned forward in his chair. “That didn’t translate.”

  “My men.” Prince Azerba flashed rows of crooked, greenish teeth in what she guessed was irritation. “They getzzz my female.”

  Dovis stepped forward to stand behind Cathian. It had shocked Sara when she’d finally seen him in full fur. He really did resemble Earth’s version of a werewolf, the horror movie kind that walked on two legs instead of four. His eyes were pitch black when he was in shift.

  She glanced at the prince to see how he reacted to all that fur and the sharp claws. She was pretty sure that was fear she saw flashing on his saggy-skinned features.

  “I’m Dovis, head of security and protocols.” He made a slight bow. “I’m afraid you personally must sign for the human female. The Tryleskian officials have demanded proof that we’ve turned her over to you. We don’t want any issues to arise. I believe you made a deal with them?”

  “You did offer to open trade negotiations in exchange for the female,” Cathian added. “A deal is a deal. You’re welcome to bring some of your guards with you. Not that you’ll need them. My planet is very interested in obtaining your crystals. Our females love to acquire rare and beautiful things.”

  Sara reached out and put her hand on York’s shoulder, just wanting to hold on to him. Their plan hinged on getting the prince to board The Vorge. As she understood it, it would be considered an act of war if they breached the other ship to arrest him there. As much as she hated the alien who’d bought her, she didn’t want to cause trouble for York and his crew.

  Her bond mate reached up and placed his hand over hers, holding on to her tightly, too. It was reassuring.

  The prince hissed loud and long. “I sssend my troopsss!”

  “Not if you want the female,” Dovis’s voice deepened. “Protocols must be met. You need to sign for her yourself. Your men can’t do that for you, Prince Azerba.”

  Another loud hiss came from the prince. “Fine. Ssshow me her first. Prove you havzzz.”

  York released her hand, giving her a slight nod.

  Marrow came forward, a determined expression on her face. “Look scared,” she whispered to Sara. “Arms behind your back to give them the impression you’ve been restrained. No talking.”

  Sara gave a sharp nod. They’d already talked about the possibility of the prince wanting eyes on her first. She locked her fingers together at her spine and walked toward Cathian to be in view of the screen. Marrow stayed right behind her, looking intimidating in her black uniform.

  Marrow put one hand on her shoulder and brought them both to stop.

  “Here’s the Earth woman,” Marrow announced. “She’s cuffed and ready for you to pick her up, your highness.”

  Sara couldn’t stare at the prince for long. She felt sick when he approached the screen, his face becoming huge. He had small sores in the creases of the skin rolls on his face. She thought they might be pimples. She wasn’t sure, but whatever they were, they matched his green teeth. It disgusted her enough to glance at the floor.

  “I ssshall enjoy you. We come now.”

  The screen returned to the view of space and the other ship.

  Marrow released her shoulder. “That is one putrid male. Is he diseased?”

  “Everyone grab a pair of gloves on our way to greet the shaft-head,” Cathian ordered. “Let’s not risk it.”

  “Extending the docking sleeve,” York growled, sounding furious. “Their transport is on the way. I’m going to enjoy getting my hands on that asshole.”

  “Wear gloves,” Sara reminded him. “Please.”

  York stood, walking over to her. “Don’t worry. Stay here with Marrow. She’ll activate the security feeds that will allow you to watch everything that happens.” He addressed Marrow next. “Be prepared to undock with their transport and get us out of here once we have the prince onboard. Raise shields right away. They’ll probably fire on us, trying to take out our engines. I would.”

  “I give the orders,” Cathian reminded York, pausing next to them. Then he smirked. “Do what York said. Dovis has already set course for Relon. You just need to get us away from their ship once we have our prisoner, Marrow. We’re going to drop that trash off as soon as we collect it. And seal the doors after us, just in case one of them breaks away and tries to get to the bridge. They don’t look like fighters, but I always prefer to be prepared. Everyone else is in lockdown until this ends.”

  “You got it, Captain.” Marrow walked to York’s station, taking his seat.

  York leaned down and brushed his lips over Sara’s. “It’s going to be fine. Trust me.”

  “I do. Kick ass, baby.”

  He grinned. “I appreciate that you aren’t afraid when I have to resort to beating on idiots.”

  “Just don’t lose. That’s all I ask.”

  “Never.”

  She watched him, Cathian, and Dovis leave. The doors sealed, and she knew Marrow had immediately locked them. The other crew had decided to stay inside their cabins. The Pods were monitoring thoughts from the other ship, staying in telepathic communication with York and the other two men with him.

  “No worries, Sara.” Marrow got up and took the captain’s chair. “We’ve been in worse situations than this over the years. This should be easy. Ready to track the crew?”

  Sara turned, watching as the main screen split into various views of the ship. The feeds followed the men, showing them from different angles as they left the lift and walked down the corridors. She saw they open a compartment and put on gloves.

  “The transport is docking now.”

  “Thanks for telling me.”

  Marrow chuckled. “I was telling them.”

  York, Dovis, and Cathian stopped near where the docking sleeve was located. Sara remembered it from when she’d boarded with York. Raff approached them from behind, wearing all black and strapped with at least two dozen knives and daggers.

  Sara gasped.

  “Didn’t York tell you that Raff grew up to become a feared assassin? He loves sharp shit, can hit anything he aims at, and he’s got two guns inside his boots. Also, never pat him on the back when he’s dressed like that and geared up for battle. The crazy bastard has a longer blade strapped down his spine and it’s got a bomb that’s part of the handle.”

  Sara was dumbfounded. “Um, isn’t that dangerous on a ship? Bombs mean depressurization and stuff.”

  “It’s only there for emergencies. I wasn’t lying about how Raff always hits what he’s aiming for. It’s not a big bomb, and only he can activate it. He sometimes practices inside cargo hold two when it’s empty. The explosives aren’t large enough to even dent the floor but his target still blows up.”

  That didn’t make Sara feel any better. York was just feet away from the assassin. She didn’t want him in blast range.

  She realized exactly how much she loved him already…how much she didn’t want to live her life without him…and her hand flattened on her stomach.

  She