Ral's Woman by Laurann Dohner Read Free Book Online Page B

of the ship. It looked like a large cargo area. More of the Zorn waited
inside. Ral kept moving, yanking Ariel with him, as they ran through the cargo
area into a metal hallway.
    “This way, Argis Ral,” a man yelled. “We are getting ready
for flight.”
    Ral wasn’t even out of breath as they ran. “Have you damaged
the other ships?”
    “Yes,” the Zorn jogging beside them growled. “They won’t be
able to follow us. Not for a long time.”
    Panting hard, a pain in her side, Ariel started to slow
down. Ral growled. He halted and spun, shoving the blanket and clothes at the
other man as he released Ariel’s hand. In an instant Ral grabbed Ariel by her
middle. Her hips hit Ral’s shoulder hard. He spun around and started to run
again as he held her tight against his body.
    They ended up in an elevator. Ral stood there with the other
Zorn man as the elevator jetted upward. Ariel pushed hair out of her face to
stare at the Zorn man standing a few feet from her and Ral.
    “The ship is full.” The Zorn touched his ear. Ariel saw a
metal device clipped to the man’s ear. “They are securing the cargo doors.
We’re ready. All are accounted for.”
    “Let’s get out of here,” Ral snarled. “Do not wait for me to
reach the command center.”
    “Liftoff,” the Zorn ordered. “Argis Ral has ordered
liftoff.”
    The engines of the ship weren’t loud but Ariel still heard
them as they vibrated to life. The elevator door opened as it stopped. Ral
moved fast into the room. He bent over to deposit Ariel on her feet gently. He
gripped her arm and spun her around.
    Ariel stared wide eyed in astonishment at the large window. The
room was some kind of control center. Five Zorn were at the controls. Ral moved
to the large seat, tugging Ariel with him. He sat down, yanking her across his
lap. He wrapped his arm around her waist securing her so she couldn’t move.
    “Report,” Ral ordered.
    “They triggered the alarm when the ship was started but
we’ve overridden their systems.” The man behind them snarled. “The dome is
retracting. Forty seconds to liftoff.”
    Ral growled. “Faster, damn it.”
    “We can only go so fast. The dome has started to open. They cannot
reach the ship. The pressure seals were broken when the dome started to open.
They would be sucked out of the dock even if they could bypass their safety
measures.”
    Ral nodded. “What about their defenses?”
    “They are destroyed.” The man sitting in a chair to their
right laughed. “We blew them at once when you gave the order to lift off. Those
blue bastards are busy right now dealing with the fires we set. We will be
clear. They cannot stop us.”
    Ral nodded. Ariel’s eyes flew to his. He didn’t glance at
her. He looked grim as he gazed at the large window. “Until we are free and
clear I will not feel too confident, Avi. Viz, have you accessed their charts?
Do we know where we are and how to get home?”
    “Yes, Argis Ral. We are three weeks from home at full
capacity.”
    Ral shut his eyes and smiled. “Home.” His eyes snapped open.
“Time?”
    “Ten seconds. We are ready. I will alert our people to hold
on.”
    Ral tucked Ariel tighter to his body. “Hold on, Ariel. This
ship has strong engines and we are not easing out. We want to cause damage when
we leave here. It will burn up their docking bay.”
    She wrapped her arms around his neck to cling tighter to
him. The engines of the ship vibrated harder as the ship shot forward into
space. Her body was slammed into Ral’s. He held her tighter. She turned her
head to look at the view as the ship flew into space.
    “They have one weapon that didn’t blow,” a man snarled.
“Evasive maneuvers.”
    Ral growled. “Can we avoid being hit?”
    The man laughed. “Not a problem. We are out of range in three,
two, one, now. We’re free.”
    Ral laughed. He held Ariel in his arms as he stood up. He
grinned at her. “We are free, my Ariel.”
    Shock hit Ariel. She stared at Ral.