Indentured (Book 2 of the Dana Halliday series)

NO FANCY SPACE GADGETS. HUMAN SHIELD. NOT TODAY.

We slipped out into the corridor, Dross and I leading, Rav and Gra'ly'os behind us—Bar'lem now holding his brother—Hul and Phim bringing up the rear. The iron gate gave a minute squeal, and we froze for an instant. No one came to investigate, and Dross gestured to us.

"Dana and Rav, check on the Fenn. Master Qir, you and I shall find our supplies and talk to the Nessian." The pirate spoke in a carrying whisper. He turned to Hul, Phim, and Bar'lem. "You all stay here for now."

I clutched my bucket, sent a mental prayer to the Great Whatever, and turned toward the hall of the dead. Dross strode away with a purpose, barely limping now, and Gra'ly'os fell in at his heels.

Noah had shut the gate, and for a moment I'd thought he'd locked himself in. That would have been the smart thing to do, if he'd had the presence of mind to take the keys, but he'd been too sure he could stop Liti from running away. As we approached, I heard her making her little sexy noises, and Noah sounding half-amused, half-frustrated.

His back was to us as we got close, his hands roaming all over the naked Fenn girl. He was trying to kiss her, and she moved, twisting effortlessly out of his grasp. Evidently, she had been doing this for the five minutes or so it had taken us to get there, because the kid was starting to get angry about it. He muttered a curse and went after her as she danced around him, all teasing and playful.

Maybe that worked on male Fenn—I'd have to ask Flynt, if ever I saw him again—but teenage boys are not into delayed gratification.

Liti saw us and maneuvered herself toward the back of the cell, but Noah must have seen her eyes move. He turned at the same time I was unlatching the door, and let out a startled caw. His face darkened into an outraged scowl, and he lunged at me.

I didn't hesitate. I dropped the bucket, then I slammed the door forward into the cell with all the force in my being. It met the kid's face with a solid thunk, and I had the immense satisfaction of breaking my second nose in less than a day. My own nose seemed to cheer.

Noah reeled back, hands flying to his face, and let out a screech of pain that must have echoed all the way across the lake. Then, instead of yelling for his comrades like a sane person, he whirled on Liti.

"Bitch! Little fucking bitch, I'll kill you!"

Liti's antennae lashed back, and she hissed. Before he'd even completed his turn, she leaped and had her arm around his neck in a chokehold. His profanity-laden snarls were cut off, and she pulled him to the floor before he could think to use his greater weight. He started to struggle, kicking his legs, and Liti pointed the claw of one thumb at his eye.

"Stop," she said.

"Take it easy, Noah. None of us really wants to hurt you." I might have lied a little.

The kid turned his enraged face up at us and fell still, wheezing at the arm round his throat. Bitch, his lips formed.

I rolled my eyes. "I've had just about enough of that word." I stepped into the cell. "Now, my friend Rav is going to gag you and tie your hands, then we're locking you in here. That's Plan A. I don't know what Plan B is, but I'm sure you'd like it even less. Got it?"

Noah signaled that he did not get it by twisting and reaching up to grab at Liti's face and arms. She responded by tightening her chokehold and digging five bloody furrows into his cheek with her claws.

I strode forward and kicked him in the belly, which not only felt great but silenced the last gasps of pain and rage from the kid. "Rav," I said, and the Sturv slipped past me.