gleamed beneath the huge halogen lights illuminating the area. He moved through the lines, studying every individual as if he were looking for someone. A fission of alarm shot through Eirene, and she quickly took cover behind the nearest departure board.
Leors were common enough on most planets, and this one simply might have gotten separated from a traveling companion. Yet her instincts were on full alert, warning her to be cautious. She'd stay out of sight until he left. She peeked around the board and watched the Leor as he moved methodically through the crowds, intently scanning every face. Then another male approached him, and her heart almost stopped beating.
Vaden. What was her uncle doing on Elysia? Shock and fear clouded her thinking momentarily, and she forced air into her constricted lungs. Foolish question. She knew why Vaden was here, the same reason Jarek had been able to trace her to Elysia. Because of her carelessness. On Saron, she hadn't tried to change her appearance in any way. She'd been too shaken from her experience at the Pleasure Dome to even think about a disguise.
Anyone could have followed her to Saron's transport station. The automated ticket terminals hologrammed everyone who purchased a ticket. Her uncle had probably tracked the ship she'd stowed away on to Saron, picking up her trail there. He'd probably paid off an official to check the holograms from the ticket terminals, and discovered she had purchased passage to Elysia. Careless. She'd been so careless!
There was no way she could get off Elysia now. Vaden had probably checked every departure since she'd arrived, and he'd continue watching the transport station. No telling how long he'd persist. Falling into his hands was unthinkable.
She'd seen how cruelly her uncle punished those who defied him, and she had no doubt he would be even harsher with her, a mere woman. When he discovered she was no longer a virgin, he might well kill her. Or worse. He might barter her in a trade with a race who didn't care whether a woman had her virginity. A race even more barbaric than the Leors.
Eirene sank back against the board and willed her panic to calm. She could go to her rented quarters and lay low, but she still had Jarek to contend with. He appeared able to pick up her psychic trail, and he would try to track her down. She knew he wouldn't give up looking for her.
Maybe she should go back to him. She had escaped him once; she could do it again. She could return to his ship, and he'd be none the wiser. Her uncle wouldn't know where she was, would have no reason to follow Jarek's ship. When they reached the next destination, she'd escape from Jarek again and disappear into the cosmos. There were too many planets for him to search them all.
Calmer now that she had a viable plan, she turned to slip back into the crowd and return to the ship.
And came face to face with Jarek.
Chapter Six
"Going somewhere?"
His voice was calm, reverberating with the unyielding resolve that Eirene was coming to despise. At the same time, she felt an inexplicable sense of relief. She should be devastated that Jarek had caught up with her and yet, she had the insane urge to throw herself against him and let him protect her from the world. The stress of the past days must have affected her more than she realized.
He had managed to wake and find her in record time. Obviously, her attempt to deepen his sleep state hadn't worked. He appeared able to track her with ease. She couldn't even shield her energy patterns. Now he stood waiting, obstinate and determined, his narrow-eyed gaze pinning her to the spot.
"Well?" he prompted.
"No," she muttered. "I'm not going anywhere. I just came out for some fresh air." She patted her satchel. "And to retrieve my personal belongings." She glanced furtively toward the ticket terminals, and then turned to head toward the landing bays.
His hand shot out, closing around her upper arm and jolting her to a stop. "You
Leors were common enough on most planets, and this one simply might have gotten separated from a traveling companion. Yet her instincts were on full alert, warning her to be cautious. She'd stay out of sight until he left. She peeked around the board and watched the Leor as he moved methodically through the crowds, intently scanning every face. Then another male approached him, and her heart almost stopped beating.
Vaden. What was her uncle doing on Elysia? Shock and fear clouded her thinking momentarily, and she forced air into her constricted lungs. Foolish question. She knew why Vaden was here, the same reason Jarek had been able to trace her to Elysia. Because of her carelessness. On Saron, she hadn't tried to change her appearance in any way. She'd been too shaken from her experience at the Pleasure Dome to even think about a disguise.
Anyone could have followed her to Saron's transport station. The automated ticket terminals hologrammed everyone who purchased a ticket. Her uncle had probably tracked the ship she'd stowed away on to Saron, picking up her trail there. He'd probably paid off an official to check the holograms from the ticket terminals, and discovered she had purchased passage to Elysia. Careless. She'd been so careless!
There was no way she could get off Elysia now. Vaden had probably checked every departure since she'd arrived, and he'd continue watching the transport station. No telling how long he'd persist. Falling into his hands was unthinkable.
She'd seen how cruelly her uncle punished those who defied him, and she had no doubt he would be even harsher with her, a mere woman. When he discovered she was no longer a virgin, he might well kill her. Or worse. He might barter her in a trade with a race who didn't care whether a woman had her virginity. A race even more barbaric than the Leors.
Eirene sank back against the board and willed her panic to calm. She could go to her rented quarters and lay low, but she still had Jarek to contend with. He appeared able to pick up her psychic trail, and he would try to track her down. She knew he wouldn't give up looking for her.
Maybe she should go back to him. She had escaped him once; she could do it again. She could return to his ship, and he'd be none the wiser. Her uncle wouldn't know where she was, would have no reason to follow Jarek's ship. When they reached the next destination, she'd escape from Jarek again and disappear into the cosmos. There were too many planets for him to search them all.
Calmer now that she had a viable plan, she turned to slip back into the crowd and return to the ship.
And came face to face with Jarek.
Chapter Six
"Going somewhere?"
His voice was calm, reverberating with the unyielding resolve that Eirene was coming to despise. At the same time, she felt an inexplicable sense of relief. She should be devastated that Jarek had caught up with her and yet, she had the insane urge to throw herself against him and let him protect her from the world. The stress of the past days must have affected her more than she realized.
He had managed to wake and find her in record time. Obviously, her attempt to deepen his sleep state hadn't worked. He appeared able to track her with ease. She couldn't even shield her energy patterns. Now he stood waiting, obstinate and determined, his narrow-eyed gaze pinning her to the spot.
"Well?" he prompted.
"No," she muttered. "I'm not going anywhere. I just came out for some fresh air." She patted her satchel. "And to retrieve my personal belongings." She glanced furtively toward the ticket terminals, and then turned to head toward the landing bays.
His hand shot out, closing around her upper arm and jolting her to a stop. "You
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