Chapter Twenty-Two

Ragnar

The call from his mother’s nurse came at dawn. A portly, older woman knocked at the door, a look of panic on her face. She wrung her hands and her face flushed a rosy pink in the lamplight.

“Begging your pardon, Lord Ragnar. I hate to wake you.”

He grimaced. It had been days since he’d slept. Since Natasha had been stolen away, he’d spent his nights pacing his chambers.

“What’s wrong?”

“Your mother has asked you to come. She received a message a few moments ago from Paula.”

“Who’s Paula?”

“She’s an Andromedin woman.”

Ragnar’s heart lurched in his chest. “What did she say?”

The woman bowed her head. “Begging your pardon, Lord Ragnar, but Lady Birgitta wanted to tell you herself.”

He pushed past the woman and sprinted to his mother’s room. When he got there, he found her dressed and waiting. She played a message for him. The image wavered on the screen, but Ragnar could see that Paula was, indeed, an Andromedin. A Nymph.

Lady Birgitta, our communications are down on Cresenta.

“Where’s Cresenta?” he demanded.

“Hush, Ragnar. I’ll tell you in a moment.”

I’m trying to communicate on an old channel, in hopes our sentries haven’t disabled this means as well. Our sentries have taken control of our colony. They say it is to protect us, but I do not trust them.  I’m very worried about our leader. Elise left days ago. She hasn’t returned.

Ragnar curled his hands into tight fists. He had no love for Elise, or didn’t think he did, but the possibility that she was in danger, made his blood scorch his veins. Elise, the fool, was reckless and gave no thought to her own safety and probably very little thought to the safety of others. Natasha. He needed to know where Natasha was. And that she was safe.

The message continued.

I believe Elise is in hiding. There’s a rumor there’s a bounty for anyone who can bring her in to Gunnar Helmsgaard. Unharmed. I don’t know where she’s gone. Now the Vrandarian sentries have taken over Cresenta. Until she’s found and the reward is collected, we’re all under arrest.

The picture faded and the screen went blank.

Ragnar turned to his mother. Before he could ask anything, she raised her hand to silence him.

“If I’d known Natasha was on Cresenta, I would have told you. I’m certain Paula would have as well. I think her sister kept her hidden.”

“Elise hired Vrandarians to guard her realm! They’re completely untrustworthy.”

“Dark stars. If I’d known, I would have sent Jaegarian mercenaries. The colony is home to vulnerable women-”

Ragnar snarled. “I only care about one vulnerable woman. Why didn’t she contact me?”

Birgitta shook her head. “I don’t know. I’ve sent word to the docking station. They have a ship ready. Gunnar is waiting for you.”

Without another word, Ragnar turned and strode from the room. By the time he reached the docking station, Gunnar sat in the cockpit of their fastest aircraft. He readied the instruments and communicated with flight control. Neither spoke as Gunnar flew from the planet, easing the ship into atomic speed, a velocity only Jaegarian ships could attain.

“I’m as anxious to get my hands on Elise as you are to get your hands on Natasha,” his brother said.

“Doubtful,” Ragnar snarled. “I know you’re obsessed with catching the pirate, but Natasha is my mate. I’m not interested in revenge.”

Gunnar nodded. “Understood.”

“Natasha is in danger, from the stupidity of her twin sister. Elise is a menace. She should be locked up.”

Gunnar turned to look at him. “The sister is mine. I decide her fate.”

“I don’t care. Keep her away from me. She’s brought all these women to a remote planet to try to protect them, and then she hired Vrandarians to guard them. She might as well have taken the women to Doranna.”

Gunnar pressed his lips together. The lights from the control panels lit his features. Ragnar watched as Gunnar took in the news. He and his brothers had dealings with the Vrandarians.

“Why would she hire them?” Gunnar muttered.

“Probably because they are cheap. No one wants to hire them.”

Gunnar growled and ran his tongue along his teeth.

“If you shift, I’ll have to fly the ship,” Ragnar said.

His brother snorted. “Ok. I’ll keep control. You flying this ship would be a disaster.”

Ragnar gritted his teeth. He had no proof, but he was sure the Vrandarian had been involved with massacres of innocent people. Ragnar and his men had come across towns on the outskirts of battles, where every living soul had been killed. The Vrandarians, it was rumored, had swept through, killing and looting everything in their path.

He’d seen Natasha frightened, twice, once on Doranna and once on Jaegar. Each time, it had been because of his wolf form. The image that played in his mind now, that Natasha might be in danger, afraid, felt like blades piercing his heart.

“Can you get this tin crate to fly faster?” Ragnar muttered.