Pursued: A Sci-Fi Alien Warrior Romance (Raider Warlords of the Vandar Book 4) by Tana Stone (ebook reader txt) 📗

“You think it might have been used to track us?”

I shrugged. “If it was, we have eliminated that possibility by blowing it up.” Watching the freighter ignite in a white-hot explosion had been the only satisfying part of the failed raiding mission—aside from the human’s defiance. “And what did we need with mining supplies?”

“So, what are your orders regarding our guest and her imminent departure?” Svar asked.

I clasped my hands behind my back. The female might intrigue me, but it was dangerous to let myself be captivated by her. I needed her off the ship as quickly as possible. “What is the closest inhabited planet that is not controlled by the empire?”

My majak crossed to his post, sweeping his fingers across the dark console. After a few moments, he swiped one hand up and a star chart appeared on the view screen. One point of light blinked blue. “Ladvok Prime. Class-M planet with an industrial civilization that trades freely with other planets and has maintained self-rule.”

“Anything of interest about the natives?” I asked, peering at the dot indicating the planet. “I don’t think we’ve ever encountered them.”

Svar tilted his head as he studied his console. “Nothing of concern. Bipedal, hairless creatures who wear elaborate outfits and headdresses. They’re governed by elected regional leaders, and have a monotheistic religion that dictates most of their moral structure. Aside from that, they’re peaceful.”

“Monotheism?” I shook my head. One god? How could one single deity explain the entirety of the universe, when it was clear that many ancient gods had forged stars and planets through a series of violent battles that gave form to the void? Although Lokken was the chief god, there were many gods of old that birthed the heavens with their mighty axes.

Svar shrugged. “I did not say they were sophisticated or technologically advanced, Raas.”

“Then how have they staved off the empire?” And how did I know so little about this planet in my sector? Granted, my sector was immense, and when I’d been majak to Raas Kratos, we had gone where we were needed, which meant planets that were being occupied by the empire. We did not touch peaceful planets, unless they were pleasure ones.

“From what I can tell, they have no precious minerals in their core. They are an agrarian society. I doubt the empire has much use for their planet. Or their people.” He gave me a small smile. “I forgot to mention that the Ladvokians are only a metron high.”

So, these aliens would barely reach my waist? I almost grinned at the thought of the human female living among these small creatures in garish headdresses. Instead, I gave my head a shake. “Will the human be safe there?”

Svar looked up. “There is nothing in our database about them being xenophobic. Perhaps we can reach out diplomatically and offer them an incentive?”

I let out a sigh. Yes, the faster I could rid the ship of the human, the better. Something about her made my stomach clench and my pulse race. The last thing I needed as a new Raas was a human who distracted my mind from the mission. “Agreed. Set a course for Ladvok and send a communiqué through back channels, so they do not know that their newest resident will arrive by Vandar horde.”

“It is done, Raas.” Svar’s fingers danced across the flat screen of his console as he carried out my orders. “We will arrive at Ladvok in two-point-four standard rotations.”

I swiveled on my heel and headed for my strategy room. I needed to study my star chart and determine our moves after we dropped off the human. I also needed to determine why the thought of leaving the human female on the alien planet made the muscles in my stomach harden to iron.

Chapter Six

Alana

I reached the wall of the compact room and turned sharply. I’d been pacing the length of it since arriving on the Vandar warbird and being escorted to the quarters.

“Now what?” I whispered to myself, casting a glance at the tray of uneaten food resting across foot of the bed. I had no concept of time inside the ship and no timepiece, but I knew I’d been there for at least a full rotation. At least, it felt like it.

I blew out an impatient breath. I’d managed to be taken by the raider horde and positively identify the warlord I was supposed to assassinate. That was good. But the cargo tagged with imperial trackers had been blown up, along with the ship I’d been in. Not so good.

I ran over my options in my head for the hundredth time. I could probably take out Raas Bron, but then I’d be stuck on an enemy warbird with no chance of rescue. I’d gone on tough missions before, but killing a Vandar warlord while on his ship without backup wasn’t tough, it was suicidal. As much as I was devoted to being the empire’s most successful assassin, I’d rather keep that title while remaining alive.

I thought of the other title they called me in furtive whispers. The Mantis would not be defeated so easily.

I reached the other wall and slapped my palm on the gunmetal-gray wall. It didn’t budge, but pain shot up my arm. Shit. Was the wall made out of iron or cement?

This ship wasn’t like any I’d ever been on. Instead of enclosed corridors and sleek paneling, the warbird made me think of a steel skeleton. Everything was exposed and open with heavy beams and piping, creating a web-like maze that stretched up into the ship’s dimly-lit core. I’d tried not to gape as I was led through the net of suspended bridges and swirling staircases, but none of my briefings had prepared me for the reality of the dark and echoing ship and the hulking bare chested raiders who thundered through it in their leather kilts and glinting battle axes.

I glanced at the bed and the pale gray sheet tucked tightly around it. I guessed I should