DarykRogue (18 page)

This certainly put a new spin on Phili’s life and on what
Xandra had believed about her. “How long have you been on the
Beast
?”

“Six months.”

Xandra tried to imagine staying on this ship that long and
couldn’t. After all, she’d been here such a short time and already wanted so
desperately to escape. “I’m sorry about your parents. I understand.”

“How could you understand?” Phili’s voice rose slightly then
she lowered it again. “Have you ever seen your parents murdered in front of
you?”

A deep ache centered in the pit of Xandra’s stomach. “No.
But my parents were murdered.”

It was Phili’s turn to be surprised. She eyeballed Xandra
for a long time before she said, “How were they murdered?”

“I’d rather not say.”

“Why?”

“Because as much as I want to trust you, Phili—”

“You can’t. I know. I wouldn’t trust me either.” Phili pocketed
her keys, as if just now remembering that she still held them. “But you’re
trustworthy. I can tell. That’s the only reason why I’m telling you as much as
I am.”

Xandra battled for a moment with telling Phili everything,
but she couldn’t. She hadn’t even told Rayder. “I’m sorry you’ve had to live
like this for so long.”

Phili, whatever her faults, seemed affected by Xandra’s
sincerity. “I gave up being sorry long ago. Everything I do is to survive this
place. But I promise I’ll get revenge on every man who used me on this ship.
Especially the admiral.”

“You wouldn’t harm Rayder?”

“He’s never done anything to me, short of being dismissive.
But one can hardly blame him. He thinks I’m a whore and user.” She laughed.
“And I am. His judgment of my worth doesn’t matter to me. What does matter is
finding a way off this ship and back to Magonia.”

Now that interested Xandra. “How do you plan to escape?”

“I’ve made contact with a man who claims he can help me get
away from here. For a price.”

“What price?”

“That isn’t for me to say right now. But I will let you know
when the time is right if you want to escape.”

“You could have left the ship while we were berthed
overnight. Why didn’t you?”

Phili grunted, the sound filled with disgust. “Because after
the admiral said that you hadn’t come up with him, he decided to have me
instead. He kicked Yoanda out of the admiral’s quarters for the night.”

“By the god.” Xandra winced. “You’re saying he raped you?”

Phili’s thin shoulders lifted and lowered. “I don’t know the
difference anymore. I let him do it. Keep the admiral happy and he doesn’t beat
you.”

Guilt added to Xandra’s other emotions. “Yoanda’s black
eye…did you do that or did the admiral?”

“I did it.” There was no remorse in Phili’s tone. “The she
bitch started ranting that I was trying to steal her husband. She threw shoes
at me and tried pulling my hair. I fought back.”

Xandra had always believed she could tell if a person lied,
but this conversation had twisted that theory around on itself. She drew in a
deep breath of the salty, fresh air. “When are you escaping?”

“As I said, I’ll tell you when the time is right.”

“You think the admiral is going to take the ship out with
Rayder gone?”

“Probably.”

“Then I’ll talk to him.” She didn’t want to, but the idea of
being stuck on this ship without Rayder filled Xandra with dread.

Phili shook her head. “Maybe you shouldn’t. You seem too
delicate. I don’t think you could outwit the admiral if he decided to make a
meal of you.”

“No. I don’t want to stay on this ship without Rayder—”

“Never mind. I’ll talk to the admiral.” Phili gestured with
one hand and said, “Back to your quarters. No doubt Rayder will be back soon.
If he isn’t, the ship may leave without him.”

“Wait!” Xandra grabbed Phili’s arm. “I’ll talk to the
admiral. We can’t leave Rayder on shore.”

Xandra waited as Phili’s eyes darkened, as if she might
refuse. She stared at Xandra so long, she couldn’t be certain if Phili would
agree.

Finally Phili nodded. “Come on then.”

Xandra followed the other woman. Apprehension sliced Xandra
to ribbons. She wanted to run, but she also needed to make certain the admiral
wouldn’t leave without Rayder. She must be insane. Heading to the admiral’s
quarters when he’d lied to her about Rayder being harmed… She didn’t know what
would happen. Uncertainty had never been one of her favorite emotions. Yet here
she was, stepping into evil’s den.

Xandra glanced at Phili. “Will you stay in the cabin with
me?”

They arrived at the admiral’s quarters, and Phili shook her
head. “Why would I do that?”

Anger boiled up inside Xandra. “Because you claim to be a
better person than you are?”

Phili stopped and glared while men moved all around them and
worked. “I’m no better than I should be.”

Phili continued and Xandra took the chance of following. She
didn’t know where this would lead, but she had to do what she could. When they
reached the cabin’s quarters, Xandra took a deep breath and tried to calm her
nerves. She couldn’t do this if the admiral believed he could intimidate her.

Phili knocked, which surprised Xandra. After all, the woman
seemed to move about the ship with great freedom for a slave—correction, a
concubine. The door opened swiftly. Yoanda stood there, her eyes watery-looking
and her tunic and pants rumpled. Had she just tumbled out of bed?

“What do you want?” Yoanda’s voice was sharp.

“I need to speak with the admiral,” Xandra said.

Yoanda hesitated, her mouth twisted with dislike as her gaze
bounced from Xandra to Phili. Her gaze softened as she looked at Xandra again.
“You can come in. She stays out.”

Phili shrugged. “Whatever you wish.”

She turned and walked away before Xandra could object.
Yoanda stepped back and allowed Xandra inside. When the door locked behind her,
a chill trickled up Xandra’s back. Phili’s warnings about Yoanda intruded,
despite Xandra’s skepticism. What if Phili were lying to her about Yoanda?
She’d have to remain on guard with both women.

Yoanda’s smile came late, with a distinct bouquet of
dislike. “Why are you here?”

“As I said, I need to speak with the admiral.” Xandra tried
a smile, hoping the woman would return her former attitude of kindness. “It’s
about Rayder.”

Yoanda’s glance darted to the bed. She stepped forward and
lowered her voice. “He finally fell asleep.” Sarcasm filled her voice. “What
about Rayder?”

Disconcerted by Yoanda’s almost furious frown, Xandra said,
“He’s still not back on board. Is the admiral planning to leave shore without
Rayder?”

Yoanda took a deep breath. “He said he would if Rayder
wasn’t here before the sun went down.”

Worry bit Xandra hard. “That isn’t long from now.”

Staring at Xandra as if she didn’t believe a word of it, the
woman said, “What are your real feelings for Rayder?”

“I’m not certain.” She wasn’t exactly lying and instinct
told her not to tell Yoanda.

“Very well. The admiral is this way.” Yoanda gestured just
as the admiral rose from the bed in the middle of the room.

Xandra started. She hadn’t seen him lying among the
voluminous folds of the bed. Had he been in bed with Yoanda when they knocked?
Embarrassment sent heat to Xandra’s face. It couldn’t be helped. She would
approach him no matter what he was doing.

“Admiral, I am sorry to bother you.” Xandra stepped forward,
reluctant to come closer.

The admiral wore trousers but no tunic. His pale chest was
heavily muscled despite his paunch. Obviously he couldn’t compare with Rayder’s
beautiful physique, but she couldn’t make the mistake of thinking he couldn’t
hurt her with his strength.

Xandra’s throat seized. She hated being here, but for Rayder
she’d do this.

“My dear, what brings you here?” His voice pitched low, as
if he tried for a seductive tone.

“You came into the slave area and told me Rayder had been
hurt, and I needed to come with you. Why did you do that?”

Shock entered his eyes for a few seconds, and his gaze darted
to Yoanda. His mouth tightened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Liar. Well, she hadn’t expected for him to say anything
differently.

Yoanda stared at her as if she’d lost her mind. Yoanda
couldn’t possibly believe the admiral, could she?

Surprised by the woman’s coolness, but not that the admiral
would lie, Xandra said, “Are you having the ship pulled away from shore without
my husband?”

My husband.
The words sounded strange on her lips.
Intimate.

“I have every intention of leaving him if he doesn’t show
soon with our supplies. And the men who went out with him haven’t come back
either. If they don’t come back soon, we’ll need to put into another area for
supplies.”

“What if something happened to him?”

He gestured contemptuously with one hand. “He is a slave
trader. There’s no need to concern ourselves with his welfare.”

Her fingers snarled in the hem of her tunic as she gripped
the material. “He’s one of your crew and second-in-command. Surely that means
something to you. It’s my understanding you cannot run the ship without him.”

I hope it wasn’t a mistake to say that.

She held her breath.

Aramus stared at her as if she’d lost her sense. “I can run
the ship without him.”

“But do you wish to?”

His eyes flashed with annoyance. “No, I don’t wish to, but
if he does not return with supplies and information from Drakus, I have no
choice but to head south.”

“Why?”

“Because we can trade slaves as well along the coast as we
can inland. There are plenty of men in Dragonia looking for fertile wives and
concubines to bear their children.”

She threw a glance at Yoanda and saw curiosity and contempt
in those eyes. Perhaps the best way to assure compliance would be in creating
jealousy. “Why did you lie about Rayder being injured?”

Aramus scoffed. “I didn’t. She lies, Yoanda.”

Yoanda looked disgusted. “Does she now. We’ll see about
that. Take me now, Aramus. I will sate your potent needs. Not this woman.”

Wondering if Yoanda acted this way to protect her, Xandra
pushed the issue. “Perhaps we both can help you, Admiral.” The words had almost
stuck in her throat. She didn’t want to say this. “Let both of us see to your
needs.”

A broad smile touched his mouth, and he licked his lips. Her
stomach curled at the sight of his tongue and everything else about him. She
took a deep breath and realized what she hadn’t noticed before. The man stank
to high heaven. She wrinkled her nose.

“I thought you would never see the wisdom.” His smile became
even wider, if that were possible. “Rayder may believe you are mated with him,
but I know the truth. There isn’t a Magonian woman alive who is worth the
trouble. “

“Not even to keep Dragonians from extinction?” Xandra asked.

He huffed, his meaty hands at his waist. “Drakus believes
it. I don’t give a shite about anyone’s survival but mine.”

His statement shouldn’t have surprised her. How would she
extract herself from this mess? As he walked toward her and placed his hands on
her shoulders, she gulped. Revulsion filled her stomach. By the god, what sort
of mess had she gotten herself into?

Yoanda stepped close. “Husband, I want you to myself. Don’t
touch her.” She placed her hand on his shoulder.

He threw a cold glance at Yoanda. “Get your hand off me.”

Yoanda kept her hand right where it was.

Aramus moved so quickly, Xandra took a step back and
stumbled. Yoanda went flying as he used his broad forearm to thrust her away.
Yoanda cried out at the same time Xandra did. Xandra searched for a weapon and
found a sizable statue on a table near the door. She snatched it up and held it
aloft. Admiral or no admiral, she’d crack him over the head if he came one step
closer.

Yoanda pushed up from a prone position, her breath coming in
gasps and hate pure in her eyes. She didn’t speak. Aramus advanced on Xandra,
his eyes filled with anticipation and sick desire.

A heavy hammering on the cabin door made them all pause.

Chapter Twelve

Aramus stopped his forward progress. “What the shite—”

“Admiral, open this door!” Rayder’s voice sounded harsh and
strong.

Relief sent strength through Xandra. She shook from the
inside out as she unlocked the door and yanked it open. Rayder stepped inside,
hale and hearty. Tears popped into her eyes. He was alive, and from the look of
him, unharmed. His gaze swept over her, eyes red and taking in the statue she
held. Yoanda came to her feet, but Rayder had taken in the scene. Anger
tightened his jaw into a strong line.

Rayder’s hands stayed on his belt, close to sword and
dagger. “What is going on here?”

Aramus stepped closer to Yoanda, but Yoanda moved away, her
eyes wide with fright. “So you finally managed to put in an appearance, Tyrus?
What took you so long?”

“Drakus took exception to a few of the things I said. I’m
here now and that’s all that matters.”

Aramus stepped toward Rayder, but Rayder kept his stance.
Xandra couldn’t stop shaking, and she refused to put down the statue even
though her arm protested the weight.

“Did you fight with Drakus?” Aramus asked.

“He wanted me to fuck his concubine right in front of him. I
refused and he didn’t like it. I almost didn’t make it back in one piece.”

Xandra’s heart jolted. Rayder had the opportunity on this
ship to take other women, and he’d been offered another one by Drakus. She
found it amazing he hadn’t taken the chance when asked. After all, her mother
had told her men had congress with other women when they thought no one knew.
When Xandra had asked if her father had done so, her mother admitted that he
had. Xandra remembered how she’d felt at hearing that news. Betrayed. He
shouldn’t have sought another woman other than her mother. The Chronicles of
Magon forbad it.