Love, Against All Odds

I - Chapter 9

Raakor took the co-pilot's seat and said, 'I have the controls. You should take a break.'

Becca muffled a yawn then stood, silently accepting the offer. She patted his broad shoulder before leaving the cockpit. 'Only forty to fifty more minutes till we're there.' First, she decided to check on the two Omegas and knocked softly on Fairlee's door, but it was Andren that slid it open.

'Ja?'

'Turen,' Becca politely greeted and watched Andren's features soften. She suspected Andren automatically went on guard duty around Fairlee. 'I came to check on you both.'

Fairlee came to Andren's side. 'It's okay,' she gently insisted. 'I'd like to visit with Becca alone for a while. You should rest, Andren.'

Still the soldier, Andren frowned and turned her stoic features to Fairlee.

'Go,' Fairlee ordered. 'I'll be fine.'

Sighing heavily, Andren nodded and left the room to go to her own quarters.

'Loyal to a fault,' Becca whispered then entered the room with Fairlee. 'Were you able to rest any?'

Fairlee took a seat on the foot of the bed. 'I laid down after eating but couldn't sleep.'

Hearing that Fairlee ate pleased Becca, but the lack of sleep was hardly a surprise to her. Becca sat in a chair that'd been turned away from the table at some point, most likely by Andren. 'It'll take some time.' After such a kidnapping, it would most likely take years for Fairlee to heal from it. 'Is there anything I can do?'

Fairlee smiled but it was weak, and she shook her head. 'You have done plenty.'

'We'll be at Kander soon.' Becca leaned forward and laced her hands together between her knees. 'I will return you to the High Commander as soon as we arrive.' She curiously waited to see or hear any scrap of reaction from Fairlee at the mention of Kal.

'Then you will collect your payment,' Fairlee concluded.

'Ja, we do have an arrangement.' Becca continued watching every line in Fairlee's soft features, then slowly realized that Fairlee had a bite mark on her neck. She was a claimed Omega, most likely missed by her Alpha back at home.

'How much am I worth?' Fairlee finally met Becca's stare. Her dark eyes danced with turbulent emotions.

Licking her dry lips, Becca weighed both the question's depth as well as the answer's impact on Fairlee. After a deep breath, she replied, 'Two hundred thousand stills.' She watched the glassiness in Fairlee's eyes become stronger, and guilt chewed away at Becca's chest. 'And a load of darakar,' she softly added. At the mention of the fuel, she thought back to the kidnappers in the field, before Kal sliced them in half. 'But she said you were worth more than all the darakar on Kander.'