Ormaybe she was just about to lose consciousness. The bastard with the steelteeth had put no less than three passion berries in her wine—enough for aperson three times her size. Thraceonly wished he’d been able to knock it from her hand before she took the firstdrink but he’d wanted to hang back in the shadows and hear what was going on.He’d told himself that he would just watch and listen—and if she wasn’t introuble, he would simply go get TheEmpress out of dry dock and leave her alone forever.

So much for that plan, he thought grimly, trying to keep an eyeon B’Rugh and his weird second in command at the same time. The male with thesteel teeth had sidled around behind his boss and was looking at both him andTrin as if they were interesting exhibits in a zoo. There was something notright about that son of a bitch…something not quite sane, Thracethought.

“Butthis is impossible,” B’Rugh blustered. “You cannot be Trin’s mate.”

“Imost certainly am. Aren’t I, baby?” He looked down at her, giving her anencouraging smile. Would she play along? She’dbetter if she wants to get out of here in one piece with that pretty pile ofcrystals!

Trinwas still looking up at him, probably wondering how he’d gotten loose in thefirst place and what he was doing here aboard the Demon’s Eye. But finally, shenodded in confirmation.

“Yes,Thraceis my…mate.”

“Youtold me that your people did not allow penetration by males!” B’Rugh accusedher. “You sited it as your main objection to taking me as a temporary mate.”

“Ihighly doubt that was her main objection,”Thracesaid dryly. “But just to let you know, there are a hell of a lot more thingsyou can do with a female besides just penetrate her. If you don’t know that bynow, you’ve got less going for you than I thought. Now…” Reaching around Trin,he scooped up the handful of golden cred-chip coins and held them out acrossthe table. “How about making that deal?”

“I…Inever…” B’Rugh tried to protest.

“Yousaid you wanted to do the deal and only Trin’s lack of a mate was stoppingyou,” Thracereminded him steadily. “Yet when her mate shows up, you try to go back on yourword?” He shook his head. “That doesn’t look too good, B’Rugh. Especially notto the Elders of your Tribe.”

Thoughthe Lud’om was a feared and hated criminal, Thrace knew that the crime lordwould still be bound by the mores of his people. One of which dictated that adeal, once offered, must always behonored.

B’Rughseemed to know when he was beaten.

“Verywell,” he burbled brusquely. Scooping up the sack of crystals, he held them outto Thracewho took the sack and handed over the stack of coins.

“Thankyou.” He checked the crystals, nodded politely, and put a hand under Trin’sslim elbow to help her up. “Come on, baby—let’s go,” he muttered.

Trindidn’t move.

Atfirst he thought she was resisting him—then he realized she was still under theeffects of the drugged wine and probably about to pass out. He lifted her bymain force and helped her stand. Her eyes were partially glazed as she noddedher goodbyes to B’Rugh and his strange second in command. Then Thracehustled her out the triangular doorway as quickly as he could.

Itwas time to get the hell out of here.

* * * * *

“Stayon your feet and don’t fall down,” the big Havoc muttered in her ear as he halfcarried, half dragged Trin down the wide metal walkway. “I can’t carry youyet—the bastards around here will see it as weakness and be on us like a packof wild ferals.”

“I’m…trying,”Trin slurred, stumbling along beside him. The tingling and numbness in hermouth had become an odd, lightheaded feeling that made her feel extremely weirdand strangely relaxed at the same time.

In danger—we just crossed the mostnotorious crime lord in the galaxy and we’re in terrible danger—screameda little voice inside her head. But it seemed muffled and faint…unimportanteven though Trin knew it was pretty damn serious.

Shewas aware that the thugs who had watched her first passage down this corridorwere back. Their eyes gleamed from the shadows and a couple of them looked likethey would have liked to challenge Thrace. But since the Havoc wasbigger than any of them and had a naked blaster in his hand, they hung back.Still, it was probably only a matter of time until one or several of them gotover their uncertainty and stepped forward. Only—

Shestumbled and Thracedragged her upright again, hooking one arm around her waist to keep her moving.

“Almostthere,” he muttered. “Almost to the exit airlock. Come on, baby—you can do it.”

Trinwanted to object to the demeaning nickname but she couldn’t seem to form anywords. What had Thracesaid the man with the steel teeth had put into her drink? Passion berries? Trinhad never heard of them but they must be incredibly strong. She’d taken thetiniest possible sip and she still felt close to passing out. Had B’Rugh’ssecond in command been trying to kill her? Or simply drug her so completely shecouldn’t protest anything that was done to her? The thought made Trin shiver,even in her drugged haze.

Suddenly,as if her thoughts had called him, the male with the steel teeth and rottingbrain popped up right in front of them. Trin blinked at him owlishly. How didhe move so fast?

“Whatin the Seven Hells?” Apparently the male’s sudden appearance had surprised Thraceas well. He halted abruptly, keeping one arm firmly around Trin and pointed theblaster at the center of the other male’s narrow chest. “Get out of the way,”he growled.

“Ina moment,” the male said pleasantly. “I just had a quick question for youbefore you go, my good Havoc.”

“I’mnot your good anything,” Thracesnarled. “Now step out of the way or I’ll blast a hole in you big enough towalk through.”

“My,my—such a violent temper!” The male with steel teeth shook his head and made a tsking sound. “But listen—you said thatB’Rugh’s people tried to take over the mud flats on your planet—is thatcorrect?”

“Theytried. Didn’t succeed,” Thracesnapped impatiently. “What of it?”

“Well,it’s just that mud flats are a very unusual geographical feature.”

“Notreally.” Thracefrowned. “They’re what happen when the desert meets the sea. Most of my homeplanet, Xander Prime, is either huge oceans or barren deserts. Not the mosthospitable place but it’s ours and we weren’t going to give it up to thoseLud’om bastards.”

“Isee. Of course not.” B’Rugh’s second in command nodded thoughtfully. “Well,thank you very much. That was all I wished to know.”

Thrace staredat him. “Seriously? You stopped me to ask about the mud flats of my homeworld?”

“That’sall. I simply have an interest in different climates and geographical features.Call it a…hobby of mine.” He grinned, exposing his horrible teeth again. “Well,I must be going and I can see you are in a hurry as well.”

“Damnright,” Thracesnapped. But before they could start moving again. the male with steel teethleaned forward and put one cold finger under Trin’s chin.

“Goodbyefor now, my dear,” he murmured, his one normal eye gleaming. “But not foreverbecause I will see you again. I canpromise you that.”

He’s crazy! Trinthought, another cold shiver going down her spine. Completely insane.

“Getyour fucking hands off her.” Thracejerked her away and shoved the muzzle of the blaster in the other male’s skinnysternum. “Touch her again and you die.”

Themale with metal teeth didn’t seem in the least concerned. He simply smiled.

“Soprotective despite the fact that shedoesn’t allow you to penetrate her. That’s interesting. Very interesting,” he murmured, finally stepping aside. “Goodbyethen. For now.” Slowly, he backed away, still grinning.

Atthat point, Trin’s head began to spin and the world around her started to grayout. She saw the interested looks of the thugs in the hallway aroundthem—clearly the pause for conversation with B’Rugh’s second in command hadgiven them time to gather their courage. Trin knew she needed to stay on herfeet, but she couldn’t even feel her feetanymore. She sagged in Thrace’sgrip, unable to stand, let alone walk.