She tried to ignore the staggering disappointment at being released, despite the fact that only a moment before she’d been trying to escape his touch and scrutiny.
A comms unit near his collar crackled. “Trouble in the ballroom. We’re exiting through the back. Do you copy, Paal?”
She tensed. Did that mean Mina was in trouble?
“Copy that. Preparing for takeoff,” her warrior answered.
Paal. So that was his name. Strong and sturdy like him.
She watched in fascination as he sprang into motion. He clapped the handcuffs back on her wrists and pinned her once more to a nearby wall before he took the helm of the ship and started the engines. The doors swished open and Mina and the other purple warrior rushed in.
Thank the sweet mother Earth.
“Take off,” the other warrior barked at Paal. “I will report to the prince.” He disappeared into a separate room.
Mina cocked her head at Leti, her glance sweeping over her position and resting on her ass, which must be painted bright red. “Looks like things didn’t go so well for you, showcat.”
A laugh burst from her lips at the old nickname, even as tears speared her eyes. Mina had been the
only other pet at Dorhock’s she’d liked. The only one with half a brain and the same instincts for survival as Leti. They’d used humor and sarcasm to make their situation bearable, and relied on each other for safety and the small comforts.
“Buckle up for takeoff, Lady Tara,” Paal barked.
Mina ignored him and rushed over and reached for the cuffs, but she couldn’t budge them. “How do you release these handcuffs, Paal?” she called.
“Are you buckled? I’m taking off.”
She grabbed Leti’s wrist as the ship swooped into flight, throwing them both to the side. “Uh, no. I wasn’t. The cuffs, Paal?”
“I’m sorry. No time to wait.”
The ship swooped again and Mina knocked into her.
“Maybe let him fly for a minute,” Leti muttered. “Are we being chased?” She didn’t want to die just yet.
“Someone tried to assassinate us, so Erick killed him first. Then the Emperor suggested we leave before we disturbed his party any further,” Mina summarized.
Leti digested that information. She’d gone from abused sex slave to escaped slave on the run with three purple-skinned beings who were wanted dead.
She decided it was still an improvement. Her life may be in more danger now, but at least her sanity would remain intact.
Unless she made the mistake of tangling with Paal again.
But more importantly, “Who’s Erick?”
She swore Mina blushed. “My mate.”
Genuine happiness filled her chest. Her friend had found freedom and love. Miracles really could happen for a pair of pets.
“How did you get on Paal’s wrong side?” Mina asked, quirking her brows at Leti’s still smarting ass.
In the cockpit, she saw Paal stiffen, clearly listening. Mina followed her gaze with a curious gleam in her eye.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say I got on his wrong side.” She weighed her words. “More that he’s the sort who’d rather take—forcibly—than have it offered.”
Paal’s spine straightened, the back of his neck radiated tension.
Mina gave an exaggerated expression of awe. “Really? I wouldn’t have guessed that of him.”