Chapter One
Cavas took in The Vorge crew members as he entered the dining hall. He’d gotten a debriefing on each one of them from Marrow before they’d exchanged places.
Every face he glanced at showed surprise, except for those of the three Pod aliens. The small beings were a telepathic race with strong mind-reading abilities. He’d been talking to them by broadcasting his thoughts since the moment he’d boarded the vessel, asking for their silence. It seemed they’d heeded his request.
Cathian, his older brother by one minute, rose to his feet. “Cavas!”
“It’s good to see you. I’m sorry for the early-morning shock.”
Cathian lunged forward and opened his arms, hugging him tight. Cavas chuckled, giving his brother a bracing squeeze back.
They parted. Cathian stared intently into his eyes. “What’s going on?”
He hesitated in answering. “I need you to remain calm.” Cavas stepped back, making eye contact with each of the crew present. “I need all of you to remain calm.”
“Cavas…” Cathian reached out and gripped his arm. He wore a confused expression.
“I think it’s best if you and Raff come with me to have a private discussion. This is a family matter.”
Raff lifted a small female with black hair off his lap and rose. It had to be his life-lock, Lilly. Cavas had heard about her…and how his father hadn’t been pleased with their cousin finding a human.
Cathian released Cavas and motioned for Raff to halt. He scowled. “We don’t keep secrets from each other. Tell us why you are here. How did you even get onboard without us being alerted?”
“Marrow helped me,” Cavas admitted.
Cathian glanced around. “Where is she?” He started to reach for his ship com to call her.
Cavas stayed his hand by gripping his wrist. “She won’t answer. Currently, she’s on the shuttle I arrived in, on her way to Rave station.”
A snarl ripped from his older brother. “She’s not military! You gave her orders? I won’t allow you to use The Vorge for one of your operations. It’s not happening. We have females now. One of them is pregnant!”
“Calm,” Cavas snarled back. “I resigned from the military, Cathian. I’m not taking over your vessel or your crew. I asked Marrow for a favor. She agreed after I told her what was happening. She shouldn’t be in any danger. Just hear me out.”
The rage eased from Cathian’s face, surprise taking its place. “You resigned? You live for the Tryleskian military. It’s who you are.”
“Not anymore. We really should have this discussion in private.”
Raff came forward.
Cavas tensed, prepared to defend himself against an attack from his cousin. He had learned everything he could about Raff once he’d become aware of his existence. He respected Raff for surviving all that he had…but his cousin was an efficient killer. Cavas would be stupid to forget that.
Raff halted a few feet away, studying him from head to foot.
“I’m no threat to you,” Cavas assured him. “You’re partially why I resigned. I want that clear before we speak. I was outraged when I heard what our fathers did to you. You have my loyalty above them. My word.” He tapped his chest, holding Raff’s gaze. It was a silent vow of loyalty and honesty. “We are family.”
Raff gave a sharp nod.
Cathian’s shoulders sagged. “What has Father done now?”
It was Cavas’s turn to be surprised. “I thought I’d have to convince you to believe me when I tell you he’s done something dishonorable.”
“I deal with Father often. Also, you quit the military and snuck aboard my ship. You wouldn’t do either unless he’d done something terrible, and it probably somehow involves Raff, the person he currently hates most. Tell us everything.”
Cavas kept most of his focus on Raff. That’s where the threat lie. “I was ordered to pick five of my most trusted soldiers, fly here to board The Vorge by force, and arrest Raff. Then I was to personally interrogate him, using whatever torture necessary, to retrieve unknown documents from him that could harm our family name. After that, my orders were to dispose of his body. I refused.”
Raff didn’t show a hint of expression or move but he did blink a few times. Then a cold smile curved his lips. “I would have killed all six of you.”
“We’re blood,” Cavas reminded him. “I would never follow those orders.” He touched his chest again. He turned his attention to Cathian. “Father wasn’t pleased when I told him no. I also pointed out that he’s made many enemies in the military, so if he sent another team, they’d use any documentation they obtained to destroy him. I’d thought I was very convincing. Six days later, he showed up on my ship to have a private word with me.”
Rage almost choked Cavas as he remembered that conversation. He took a calming breath. “He said if I ever wanted to see Crath again, I’d assemble that team and do my duty to protect the Vellar name. He was counting on my bond to our youngest littermate being stronger than that with my cousin.”
Cathian paled.
“I immediately reached out to Crath. I couldn’t locate him. He’s missing, Cathian. Father has done something to him.
“I immediately resigned and fled Tryleskian airspace. I flew my private shuttle to Rave station, took on a false identity, and bought another shuttle. I came here right after. No one knows that but Marrow, and now the people in this room. Marrow is going to pick up my shuttle and lead Father on a false trail. I’m sure he’s tracking it. We need to go find Crath before Father realizes I’m looking for him. He was last seen on Flax Colony.”
Cathian threw back his head and roared in rage.
Cavas understood; he had already done that a few times now. He turned his focus to Raff. “We’re going to need your skills, cousin. Flax is run by Yorlian Trevis. He’s a Tryleskian who bought the planet twenty years ago. He has childhood ties to both of our fathers and is a known criminal. If Crath was on Flax, Trevis could easily snatch him, holding him as a favor to my father.”
“I’m going to kill our father,” Cathian snarled.
Cavas gave a nod, not surprised. “I wanted to snap his neck as he stood before me threatening our youngest littermate, but I refrained. Crath will stay alive as long as our father believes that he can use him against me. Right now, he probably figures I’m taking advantage of the bars and pleasure houses that make Rave station popular. I also had Marrow take some of your systems offline to prevent him from finding out I’ve joined forces with you and your crew. He might be monitoring your main computer, Cathian.”
“I’m in,” Raff growled.
Cavas wasn’t surprised. “Thank you.”
Dovis and York came forward to join them. “We’re all in,” Dovis said.
Cathian nodded. “We’re going to get our brother.” He turned, gesturing to a long-haired human female. “Mari, I know I usually ask you to keep things in great working order…but get rid of our transponder, shut down all exterior communications, and tear out anything that will help us be tracked. Shut down anything you need to, even if we go all manual.” He pointed at York. “Change course once she’s done. You heard where we’re going.” Then to Dovis, “Start preparing for battle. Make sure every weapon is charged and ready to use.”