Page 43 of Guard

Serena exchanged a glance with Myrria. “It isn’t that simple, sweetie. We’re outmatched.”

Rose sighed. “I hate to admit it, but she’s right. We only have two fighters in our group and only one weapon.”

Serena held up a hand. “Three fighters.”

When Myrria shot her a look, she shrugged. “I had a life before Kurril, and it didn’t involve sitting around in a fancy house.” She flicked a glance at Rose. “How do you think I got connected with the underground resistance? I was part of them on another planet.”

Rose’s mouth dropped. “Wait, are you the operative they called Serenity?”

Serena inclined her head so slightly it was almost imperceptible. “I have had many lives.”

Serenity? Myrria had never heard of an underground operative named Serenity but from the way Rose was staring at her in reverent awe, she knew that she’d been someone important and impressive.

“You’re a legend,” Rose whispered. “You started the underground movement on Kurril. You established all the pleasure houses that aren’t really pleasure houses. You keep females from being exploited and save so many of them from slavery or worse.”

Myrria furrowed her brow in confusion. How could a pleasure house not be a pleasure house?

“The network is much bigger than me now,” Serena said. “I’m just happy to be a part of it, and to continue tricking the males of Kurril into believing that they have the best time of their lives with my girls.”

“Are you a witch?” Zala asked in a hush, her eyes wide and hopeful.

Serena ran a hand down the girl’s hair and laughed. “No, my darling. But I did create a potion that convince my clients they had a marvelous time and leaves them with a strong feeling of satisfaction. I suppose that could be considered a kind of witchcraft.”

Zala pivoted to Rose. “Between you and Velen and Madam Serena, we can take the bad guys.”

“And me,” Myrria told her. “I might not be a trained fighter but that doesn’t mean I’m not tough.”

Zala beamed at her and turned back to Rose. “And I’m just the right height to punch boys in their jiggly bits.”

“She’s right.” Myrria squared her shoulders. “We have to try to rescue Rixx before they hide him away again. I won’t be able to live with myself if we don’t go after him.”

Rose released a breath that told Myrria she was relenting against her better judgment. “Even if we’re outmatched?”

“You aren’t outmatched. Not anymore.”

The group spun around, squinting into the shadows at the sound of the deep voice.

Chapter

Forty-Two

Rixx scuffed his feet along the dusty paving stones that lined the passageways, trying to leave a trail behind him. His two Zevrian captors were bruised and battered, and barely paid attention as they prodded him forward.

“I hope we get some time off after this,” the smaller one said, holding a hand to his side.

“I hope we get the bounty.”

“Why wouldn’t we?” He dropped his hand from his side and tipped his head toward Rixx. “We found the Dothvek.”

The other Zevrian grunted. “You know how the captain is about paying out.”

A guttural sound was made in response.

“Last time someone brought in a bounty, what did he do?”

A groan. “He shot ‘em both.” Then he sucked in a breath. “You don’t think he’ll shoot us, do you?”

The other Zevrian smacked him hard on the back of the head. “No, idiot. We’re his crew. He’s not going to get rid of his crew.”