Telekinetic. I assessed the threat with new eyes. Fighting a telekinetic Valoff one-on-one was a good way to die. I clutched the grip of the plas blade on my hip but didn’t draw it. “Let her go,” I demanded.

Luna, for her part, did not seem to mind the midair hover. She was a little above shoulder height, held by nothing but air and Torran’s power. She blinked sleepily at me and started to purr. It was all I could do not to snatch her out of the air, but I didn’t know exactly how his ability worked and I didn’t want to hurt her.

“How dare you,” Torran seethed. His eyes blazed with fury, and as I watched, the silver and teal expanded, bleeding through the darkness of his irises. I could feel the power roiling off him.

My nightmares had come to life in the hallway of my ship.

I drew my blade but didn’t activate it. I would fight for Luna, even if I was hopelessly outmatched. I poured energy into my mental shields. I would have one shot and if he sensed it, I was done.

Luna chirruped at him and cocked her head, her ears swiveling between the two of us. He met her eyes, and I got the distinct impression that they were communicating far better than I’d ever communicated with her.

Jealousy reared its ugly head. What if she liked him more because he could understand her? Hurt punched me in the stomach, but I kept my weapon hand steady.

“Are you okay?” Kee asked quietly, her voice coming through my comm implant.

“I don’t know,” I responded subvocally. “He’s telekinetic. Stay back for now. Relay the message.”

“Eli is around the corner behind you. He has a plas rifle. If shit goes down, duck to your right.”

I wouldn’t, not if it left Luna in the line of fire. But Kee knew that, as did Eli. They would compensate.

Slowly, the brilliant color drained from Torran’s eyes until his calm mask was back in place. Luna was gently lowered to the ground, then released. She looked between us, then leapt for my shoulder. Her familiar weight was almost enough to send me to my knees in gratitude.

She chose me.

But even that relief couldn’t temper the fury still coursing through my veins. I glared at Torran and did not put away my plas blade. “What. The. Fuck.” I took a breath to prevent the rest of the rage from spilling out. “Explain, now.”

“Burbus,” he said, his accent lilting over the word, “are highly protected, as I’m sure you know. They are not pets for offworlders. The punishment for stealing one is death, and all Valoffs are authorized to carry out the sentence.”

“So you’re executioners without the need for judge or jury. Sounds about right.”