Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 68478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
I slam my fist into his keffing mouth. How keffing dare he? Farli isn’t a piece of ‘tail.’ I think of her laughing eyes and her innocent smiles. I think of Trakan taking someone like her into one of the back rooms and trying to talk circles around her to get what he wants out of her.
And as Trakan staggers backward and mutters a “What the hell?” I go after him again.
I fling myself onto him, fists flying. Trakan tries to land a few punches, but I’m the security expert on the crew, and he’s just a skinny, underdeveloped navigator. He tries to block me, but I’m stronger than him, and I know where to hit. My fist slams into his brow, his mouth, and I can’t stop myself. Over and over, I see Trakan in my mind, cornering Farli and trying to manipulate her. I can’t stop, because the red cloud of anger over my brain doesn’t allow me to think.
Farli’s mine.
She’s mine.
Someone’s shouting in the distance, and then hands are grabbing me—extra sets of hands. I’m yanked off of Trakan and hauled backward several feet. I swing wildly despite the fact that I can no longer reach him. I’m snarling furiously, because I want to make him regret the awful things he’s saying. I’m not like him. I’m not. I’m not using Farli.
I’m not.
But then she’s there, at my side. Her hands go to my face, and she presses her warm, warm fingers against my cheeks. Her eyes are full of concern and love, and I suck in a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I’m lost in that shining, glowing blue and in her touch. The thrumming sound of her khui fills the air, and I focus on it and the soft, breathless sound of her whispering my name.
My Farli.
“What is the meaning of this?” Chatav says stiffly. I reluctantly pull my gaze away from hers and see that the captain and the chief are standing in the doorway, both of them frowning in my direction. The elderly hunter, Vaza, is pulling Trakan to his feet. There’s blood all over Trakan’s face, and his lip is swollen. My hand throbs with a silent reminder of what I’ve just done.
I don’t care. If they let go of me right now, I’d attack him all over again. But Farli keeps touching me, and somehow, I manage not to lunge at Trakan once more.
“Kochal?” Chatav demands, glaring at Trakan. “Speak.”
“Kef if I know what’s going on with him, Captain. I was just asking Vendasi here where the game board remote was and he lost his cool. Started attacking me. Think he needs a psych evaluation if you ask me.” He presses his hand to his split lip and winces. “Been in space for too keffing long without a meds adjustment.”
I growl low in my throat.
“It is all right,” Farli murmurs, her hand stroking my shoulder. “Do not look at him, Mardok. Look at me.”
“Vendasi?” Chatav asks, wanting my side of the story.
I remain silent. Everyone’s staring at me, and I don’t want the others to feel humiliated at the thought of Trakan trying to take advantage of them. I sure don’t want to repeat what he said about Farli, because I don’t ever, ever want her thinking that I would use her. So I say nothing.
“Guilty, like I said,” Trakan tells everyone.
“Kochal, I somehow doubt very much that you were innocently asking for the remotes and nothing more,” Chatav says to Trakan, tone cold. “That being said, I do think it wise if both of you spend some time apart. Everyone is under a lot of stress right now, and this ship isn’t large enough to hold two hotheads in close quarters. I’m barring both of you from the common areas for the rest of the day. Spend your time in your quarters and think about what you’ve done.” It sounds like he’s scolding children and not grown adults.
“Come stay with me tonight,” Farli says softly, stroking my cheek. “Come back to the village. You can return in the morning.”
Vektal nods. “We will take Mardok with us. The other can stay here.”
“Very well,” Chatav says, clasping his hands behind his back. “I’m sorry you had to see this shameful display.”
“They are hunters,” Vektal tells him with a shrug. “Tempers run hot. It happens from time to time.” He seems unconcerned, and my respect for him goes up a notch for treating us like adults. His strange glowing blue gaze focuses on me. “Do you need to see a healer?”
I flex my hand. To use med bay for something so small would be ridiculous. “I’m fine.”
“Let us get your fur wraps,” Farli murmurs to me. “And we’ll go back down to the village. Come.”
I let her lead me away, though the urge to pound my fists into Trakan’s face is still overwhelming. You’ve got your target, I’ve got mine.