Entwined (Intergalactic Loyalties) by Jessica Coulter Smith Page B

crime, seeing as how you’re a slave on Keshpa, she did commit a crime against Bane by attempting to blackmail him into bonding with her.”
    “So all he has to do is go before the Prime Minister with his complaint, and she’ll be… what, imprisoned, reprimanded?”
    “Bonding is very serious. I imagine she’ll either be imprisoned or exiled from Keshpa.” Bynt folded his arms over his chest. “The only way you’re walking out of here with your lover is if he agrees to press charges against her. The woman is crazy, and she’ll do you harm if she remains free. We’re not animals. We don’t want to see you get hurt.”
    Sol nodded. “I agree. For now, Bynt and Ghel will stay by your side. We’ll see if your Keshpan shows up soon. If you were mine, I’d follow you as quickly as I could.”
    “Thank you, Sol.” She smiled. “I know Bane will find me.”
    * * *
    Bane paced the control room. “I don’t understand. You said we’d find them in this exact location.”
    Dar rubbed the back of his neck. “They must be on the move. If I were them, I’d head for home if I had a female on board. You know they’re scarce on their planet. I suggest we head in that direction and see if we can catch up to them.”
    Bane nodded at Cael. “Give the order. I’m going to make sure my room is ready for her. Let me know if they’re sighted.” He walked away with a heavy heart. He didn’t know what he’d do if they didn’t catch up to the pirates. Ariana was his whole world, and without her he was nothing. He’d already decided he wasn’t going home without her. If that meant he had to sign on with another vessel so his brothers could return to their lives, so be it. But as much as he wanted her back, he knew going to Tarnan alone was not a good idea. The warriors would tear him apart in order to keep Ariana. Facing a spacecraft with a limited number of them was one thing, facing a whole planet was another.
    Entering his quarters, he looked around. It wasn’t much, but it was all he needed. A bed, a table with two chairs, and a control panel that would give him access to food, clothes and anything else he desired. The vessel they were on had teleporting abilities which meant he could sneak onto the Lynten 12 undetected, hopefully long enough to find his love. Once she was within his grasp, he could transport them from the Lynten 12 back to the borrowed spacecraft and they could hit hyper-drive mode to get out of there, if they were lucky, before anyone noticed her absence.
    As far as plans went, it was kind of flimsy, but it was the best he’d come up with. He supposed they could board, guns blazing, but Ariana might get hurt that way. And if he were caught, then he’d face the consequences, whatever they may be. She was worth any amount of pain they may administer. He would face slavery or even death for her.
    He wasn’t sure how long he brooded in his room, staring out at a vast nothing, before the COMM came online. “Bane, we’ve found them.”
    “Are you sure?” he asked Arko. “You’re positive it’s the Lynten 12 ?”
    “Yes, we’re positive. And we’re within range if you’re ready to implement your plan. I still say you’re crazy, but I know I can’t talk you out of it.”
    “Meet me in the transport chamber. I’m on my way now.”
    The COMM clicked off, and he hurried to the back of the ship. Arko was waiting for him, a COMM link in his hand. Bane took the link and placed it in his ear before stepping into the chamber. He turned to face his brother and gave him a nod. He was as ready as he would ever be.
    He felt the hum of the transport device, watched the world go hazy, and then there was a nothingness for a brief moment. When things came back into focus, he was no longer on his vessel and was fighting a bout of dizziness. He looked around, unsure where to start. Would she be in a holding cell? And if so, where were they?
    Bane started to go left, but something stopped him. Was that…