Lost in Barbarian Space(48)

There was another growl. Colm fought against his ropes.

“I’m okay, Colm.” Honor tried to keep her voice even. “Calm down.” She looked at Alara. “My new boss is Nera Darc.”

The pirate woman’s eyes widened.

Yep, even in uncharted space people knew who Darc was, and were smart enough to be afraid.

Then Alara’s booming laugh echoed off the ice walls. “Nera Darc? The badass treasure hunter? She wouldn’t be caught dead working for the Institute.”

“She works for Niklas Phoenix. He’s hers and this is his mission. If he’s threatened…Darc’ll be mighty pissed off.”

“Bit like this big brute when we hurt you?”

Worry niggled at Honor. She hated seeing Colm so out of control, knew he’d hate it even more.

“If Darc is really out there, I think we’ll work to avoid her. So, girly, I think it’s best to lead us to the treasure as fast as you can.”

Honor shrugged. “The wreck’s down here…somewhere. We haven’t found it.”

“Well, luckily my very expensive syndroid can detect metal.”

Damn. It was exactly the kind of tech Honor would’ve brought down, if this mission had gone as planned. “The ice is pretty thick. It’ll make it difficult to get good readings.”

Alara flashed her metal teeth. “I happen to make a living off difficult.” She nudged Honor with her boot. “Now get up. It’s time to move.”

Honor climbed to her feet. She started walking, but Alara still gave her another kick, apparently for good measure.

Behind her, she heard Colm jerking against his bindings. It took four pirates to hold him.

The syndroid floated into the lead of their unhappy little group.

They followed the droid through the ice tunnels. A few times they had to backtrack. Once, Alara had her pirates blow a hole right through an ice wall. But Honor got the impression they were going round in circles.

“Enough!” Alara kicked at an icy stalagmite on the floor. It shattered to pieces. Her gaze zeroed in on Honor. “You work for the Institute. You’re the expert at finding old things. I want you to find it for me, girly.”

“I don’t know where—”

Alara slammed a fist into Honor’s belly.

As the breath rushed out of her, Honor’s training kicked in. She snapped her elbow up, and caught Alara in the chin. As the pirate woman stumbled back, another pirate rushed in. Honor kicked this one in the gut. But two charged her and started to pummel her. With her hands behind her back, she was at a fucking disadvantage.

Suddenly, she heard screams. She turned. Colm had broken free of the laser ropes.

He’d gone wild.

He moved in a blur of speed. He jammed a fist into the face of the pirate closest to him. He turned with a roar and attacked the next pirates.

Bodies flew into the wall and pirates shouted.

Honor went to move, but then she felt the cold barrel of a laser weapon at the back of her neck.

“You talk him down, girly, or I’ll kill you right now. He’ll be next, and I’ll leave your bodies here to freeze.” Alara’s voice was strong and steady.

Honor nodded. She wouldn’t let Colm get slaughtered like an animal.

She wouldn’t let the man she loved die.

With that revelation echoing inside her, she called out. “Colm?”

No response.

She pulled away from Alara and stepped closer to him. Her warrior was standing there, chest heaving, his eyes a brilliant glowing gold, assessing the pirates cowering before him. She peered at him, trying to see her warrior in there, somewhere.

“Warrior?”

His head turned toward her.

She wished her hands were free so she could touch him. “It’s Honor. It’s okay. I need you to come back to me.”

She took another step closer. She could see his hands were flexing. They were covered in blood.

“Colm. I need you.”

In the gold of his eyes, she saw a flicker of response.

He reached out and grabbed her, hauling her to his chest. She heard the pirates protesting, but she ignored them. Colm nuzzled her hair.

Honor turned her head and pressed her lips against his neck. “I’m here, my warrior.” She rubbed her cheek against him and wished again that her hands were free.

She felt the tension drain out of him. She pulled back and looked up. The gold was leaking from his eyes, leaving them the warm brown she knew so well. “There you are.”

“Honor?” His voice was hoarse.

“Yeah.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “The pirates will kill us if you keep fighting. We need to go along with them for now and wait for an opportunity to overpower them or escape.” She pressed her lips to his jaw. Felt a tremor run through him. “Understand?”