Adrik (Titans #1)

Chapter 21

Adrik stalked to Med Bay with Ember in tow. He had no idea why he’d brought her. He’d let Pitch believe that it was because he intended to follow through on Ember’s offer to kill both her and Kyan if he discovered that Kyan was the source of their breach. But storming through the corridor, he doubted he could hurt Ember, even if there were proof that she or her sisters were forced into deceiving him and his Titans.

Hand clamped around Ember’s impossible dainty wrist, Adrik’s fingers could pick up her racing pulse. Guilt? Fear? He couldn’t be sure.

“It’s not us,” Ember panted, struggling to keep up with his long strides. “I know you have no reason to trust me…to trust us…but we’re in this.”

He didn’t follow her logic.

“We’re here,” she continued. “It may not be by choice, but we’re here with you. We’re on your vessel, which means its safety is in our best interest. And not to sound grateful or anything, but you and your Titans have treated us better than any of our previous captors.”

That had him snorting.

“I’m serious,” she ranted. “You fed us, you’ve given us medical attention. You’ve kept us warm, and most importantly, you haven’t hurt us or tried to force yourselves on us.”

That had him shooting her a side-long glance. The thought of anyone trying to force themselves on Ember or her sisters was enraging in a way Adrik couldn’t explain.

Focus! he roared inwardly. He struggled to keep his mind on his ship, his men, and his duties. Ember trying to appeal to his sense of decency was most likely a distraction. There was no denying that the breach was coming from Med Bay, and there was no denying that the breach was not coming from Obaida, which only left Kyan. That made Ember just as guilty.

“Even if those things who had us last, the Ziefers, were using us to ambush you, we would switch sides, Adrik.”

His jaw ticked as he kept his strides even, pulling her behind him.

“We would! You guys are safer for us,” she insisted, winded from trying to keep pace with him. “And you can protect us, right?”

He didn’t respond.

“You don’t have to answer because I already know the answer. You could protect us from those Ziefers. And this,” she waved her free hand around the ship, “is preferable to us. It’s better here for me and my sisters. If the Ziefers had sent us, I’d be on my knees right now providing intel and begging you to keep and protect us.”

The image of Ember on her knees before him had his jaw clenching hard. She was trying every trick she could.

Suddenly, Ember tried to stop. She jerked on the wrist that Adrik held, but he didn’t even slow; he simply dragged her along behind him as she raged, “It’s not us! Will you fucking listen to me? It’s not us, Adrik! Please, listen!”

He had to admit, her logic was sound, but…

“Commander,” Tyrate cut in. “Diagnostic complete. Anomalies have been purged. And there is a vessel incoming. It’s within our division.”

Shocked, Adrik snarled, “What’s its designation?”

“It’s a Renx vessel, Commander. A battleship. They’ve sent communications. They are aware we house human females.”

Adrik’s fierce scowl slipped, his expression going blank in disbelief.

***

Gauging by Adrik’s demeanor, Ember knew the intel Tyrate had just delivered was bad. Adrik turned his head to give her a once over, almost like he was sizing her up to determine if the connection between her and these Renx was even possible. With his attention on her, she prodded, “It’s bad, isn’t it?”

Lips thinning, his eyes held hers a moment before he gave her a curt nod.

That one little gesture had chills blasting up Ember’s spine. She’d never seen Adrik in anything but total command of his ship. She’d doubted he had the capability to experience fear, and while there was no outward sign of it now, she could sense it.

“Come,” he pulled her through a door panel as it whooshed open. Inside, Kyan lay unmoving on a bed in the Med Bay while Obaida spun to pace toward Adrik.

“She’s been unconscious, Commander. She hasn’t stirred once.”

Adrik looked at Obaida doubtfully as he stormed toward Kyan. He was forced to stop when Obaida planted his big body in Adrik’s path.

Speaking quietly, Ember could still her Obaida explain in an imploring tone, “I haven’t left her, Adrik. She’s been unconscious. She’s not faking it. There’s no way she intentionally relayed intel or hacked our systems. She’s barely alive.”

Adrik shoved Obaida aside. “There’s a Renx battleship on approach!” he roared accusatorily.

Both Ember and Obaida rushed Adrik but stilled when they saw Adrik slam to a halt at Kyan’s bedside. Whatever Adrik had intended on doing appeared to falter. Ember watched his expression morph from rage to uncertainty as he stared down at Kyan.

Eyes lowering, Ember noted that Kyan looked worse than before. Her complexion was so ashen that the shadows beneath her eyes were gray, and she’d lost more weight. She’d been skin and bones before, but seeing her now had Ember sucking in a gasp as tears flooded her eyes and drew Adrik’s attention. Without asking, Ember threw her body over Kyan’s. She hugged her friend as she wept. “Kyan!” she pleaded on a sob as her shoulders shook in emotion. “Please don’t go! Stay with me.”

Above her, Adrik cleared his throat and some of his earlier venom had diminished as he addressed Obaida. “The Renx are aware that we house human females.”

“They can’t have Kyan,” Obaida snarled low.

While Ember appreciated Obaida’s vehemence in defending Kyan, she doubted Kyan would survive long enough for it to matter.

“Please,” Ember begged, turning her tear-soaked face to Obaida. “There has to be a tracker or an implant of some sort. Find it,” she demanded angrily.

Obaida shot Ember a sad look before he gave his attention to Adrik. “I’ve scanned her repeatedly. If there’s a device in her, it’s organic.” He shook his head in dismay, “We lack the capabilities to locate it. And I’ve visually inspected her body. I can see nothing; I can feel no anomaly…”

“Wait!” Ember breathed, rising rapidly.

“Commander,” Tyrate cut in, “The Renx battleship is hailing. Shall I connect you?”

“Wait?” Adrik barked, his attention on Ember as he stalled Tyrate.

“When one of our previous captors had us, they took each of us for inspection,” Ember rushed out.

“Commander?” Tyrate prodded.

“Tyrate, I ordered you to wait!” Adrik snarled, attention rapt on Ember.

She continued, “When Kyan returned, she had an itchy red bump that bothered her for a few days, but it eventually disappeared! None of the rest of us had it!”

“Where?” Obaida demanded, already ripping the blankets off Kyan.

“Here!” Ember shoved the sleeve of Kyan’s med gown up and pointed to a spot on the inside of her bicep. “I remember it was her right arm because she had to sleep facing the cage for a while because it was too uncomfortable.”

Gaze slicing to Obaida, Adrik ordered, “Find it!” Then he spun and strode quickly for the door, barking out, “Tyrate, inform the Renx vessel I’m heading to the command station and will be in contact shortly.”

Ember was torn. She wanted to stay with Kyan to see if Obaida could locate the tracker, but she was forced to chase after Adrik. He was still deciding her and her sisters’ fate, and Ember wanted to be with him to sway his decision in their favor.