Free Alien Savior (Zerconian Warriors Book 5) by Sadie Carter

snapped as he followed along behind her. She needed to distance herself from Darac. Make herself care about him less.
    “I’m heading to the bridge.”
    “Then shouldn’t you run along?” She made a shooing motion with her hand. “Nothing to see here.” Pain and worry was making her grumpy.
    “No, only a half-dead fool of a woman who should have gotten herself to medical an hour ago.”
    “An hour ago, I was being attacked by that lunatic, Mitch.” God, had that only been an hour ago?
    It felt like a lifetime had passed since they had brought Darac’s ship on-board. Part of her wished they hadn’t.
    Things would be a lot simpler.
    And Darac would be dead.
    The thought sent a chill up her spine.
    “You need to stop baiting him, Willa,” Steele told her.
    She stopped and despite the added pain it created in her head, scowled up at him. “Are you for real? He attacked me .”
    “Yeah, and he’s probably going to lose his place on this crew because of it. We were all warned about what Rye would do to any of us if we even looked funny at you, let alone touched you.”
    What?
    “What are you talking about? I don’t get treated any differently than any other crew member.”
    “Sure, you keep telling yourself that.” By now they were standing outside medical. “This is all Mitch has. He’s jealous of you. Of your family. Something he’s never had. It was a stupid thing to do, granted, and I’m not condoning it. But he’ll be lucky if Rye lets him off with just being kicked off the crew.” Steele grimaced. “I’ve seen your brother when he’s crossed. It ain’t pretty. I’ll let Rye know you safely made it to medical.”
    She gaped after him. What was he talking about? Rye had always made a point of treating her like everyone else. Sometimes he was tougher on her than the others. But she understood. No favoritism. Their lives depended on everyone else doing their job and doing it well. Rye didn’t suffer idiots. Much as she disliked Mitch, he was excellent at what he did.
    Not that she’d ever tell him that.

Chapter Five
     
    Darac kept his eyes closed. He didn’t want to give Deacon a reason to use the blaster he held.
    He was confident he could overpower and disarm the other male if necessary. But he had made a promise and he intended to keep it.
    Thankfully Deacon was not confrontational or talkative. He blew out a breath, trying to remain calm. Not knowing where his mate was or if she was safe was adding to his unease.
    Go to your mate. She is yours.
    Darac ignored the voice.
    He could see her affection for the other males, especially her brothers. Harming them would have hurt her. Which is why he surrendered. He would do anything to spare her pain.
    A knock on the door made him tense. He glanced over at it as Deacon rose. He could jump him now, twist his neck…
    No.
    He had given his word and his word was everything. If he broke it, he would lose all honor.
    “You should not be here, Willa,” Deacon said.
    Darac sat up, peering around him to see Willa standing in the doorway.
    “Just give me five minutes, Deacon,” she said.
    Deacon shook his head. “Rye wouldn’t like this.”
    “Rye doesn’t have to know. And you owe me for that little stunt on Toran.”
    He sighed then glanced back at Darac. “Five minutes. But you hold a blaster on him the whole time. And you don’t move from that bed.” He pointed at Darac.
    Darac scowled at the other male who dared to order him around. Who did he think he was?
    Deacon stiffened, raising his blaster and aiming it at Darac. Did he really think he had the upper hand? He didn’t. Darac could take him before his finger even pressed on the trigger.
    “Both of you calm down.” Willa slipped between the two of them. She stood side-on so she could see them both.
    “I can’t leave you with him, Willa.”
    “I can take care of myself. Don’t make the mistake of thinking I can’t.”
    “Five minutes,” Deacon said then left.
    Willa turned to look