She stretched a wrinkled hand towards Romy. Romy drew her shoulder back so the fingers didn’t connect. The woman kept her arm reached out as Romy jerked back.

The old Earth-human eyes were wide, as if with fever. And finally she spoke, the sound crackling and low.

“Thank you for your sacrifice.”

CHAPTER NINE

Romy processed the word “sacrifice” through numbed senses.

It was like the browned, reverential group had been waiting for a cue. They started shuffling forwards. Romy searched for a weapon—something to protect herself. But what was the point? She was trained in space warfare. She shot guns and picked up debris; she didn’t fight with her fists!

And then a firm body was at her back.

Romy shrieked and threw her hands at her attacker’s face. But then one strong arm was about her waist and the other was clamped across her chest, pinning her flailing arms.

She couldn’t get away!

Tilting her head back, Romy stared up. Her wide-eyed panic instantly recognised the grey eyes above her. She glared at Atlas. Had this been his plan the whole time?

To lead Knot 27 into a trap?

Romy summoned every insult available to her and prepared to unleash them. She couldn’t move, but she was damned if she’d be dragged to her death in silence! What was he going to do to her? What was she being sacrificed for?

“Romy!”

She looked towards the scream, heart sinking as she sighted the rest of her knot racing towards her. No!

How had he fooled her so completely?

Her friends weren’t running. They were fighting their way towards her, she realised. She silently begged them to go the other way; to escape.

The large presence behind her sighed, snapping orders to someone out of sight.

“Restrain them. Now,” he said.

“Don’t hurt them,” she pleaded. “Please, Atlas. Please don’t harm my knot.”

Atlas spun her to face him, gripping her firmly. An unfathomable expression bore into her as she felt a stabbing pinch at the side of her neck. Romy blinked slowly, not looking away from the traitor in front of her as her head began to droop.

Her last thought was to wonder how she’d ever thought his hard eyes were gentle.

* * *

Heated voices drew Romy from troubled dreams.

“How much did you give her?” a low voice growled.

Romy’s eyebrows drew together as her head swam. She groaned and cracked her eyes open.

Before her was a sight too confusing to deal with. She closed her eyes again.

She listened as Thrym spoke. “She just takes a little longer to get up. It will be worse because you knocked her out.”

What?

Romy shot up, instantly regretting the speed as her head spun wildly.

“The situation was out of control. You were supposed to stay put until I had a chance to brief you.”