Amarant felt the grip ease. He could move. He brought up his tail, slashing at the Jedi with his stinger. Mann jumped back, stumbling over the prone Tholothian. By the time he’d righted himself, Amarant had the Kuranu in his pincers, his jaws dangerously close to her throat. “One false move, Jedi, and I paint this courtyard with her blood. Do you understand?”

To her credit the woman didn’t struggle, whimpering quietly for him not to hurt her.

“You’re safe with me,” Amarant hissed as he started to slide toward the waiting ship. “Who else is on board?” he asked the Jedi who was standing, palms raised, unable to get to him without going through the woman.

“No one,” Mann snarled. “The security detail has yet to check in.”

“Then make sure they don’t.”

They had reached the ramp now.

“Leave the woman and we’ll let you go.”

Amarant clicked his fangs together, the nearest his species ever got to laughter. “I don’t think so. If I so much as see a Vector, she dies, do you understand?”

Mann’s shoulders slumped. Now he knew he was beaten. “Yeah.”

They were at the top of the ramp, the Kuranu a living shield in case Mann changed his mind. He didn’t, and Amarant hit the hatch control as soon as they were on board.

“Bye-bye,” he jeered, as the hatch clanged shut.

The girl screamed as Amarant threw her to the side, the cry cut short as she stumbled, her head cracking against the bulkhead. She slid to the floor, but Amarant didn’t care if she was dead or merely unconscious. She had served her purpose. Now all he had to do was get away.

“Do you think he bought it?” Elzar asked as the shuttle blasted out of the temple.

“You mean before or after he took Klerin?” Ty said, punching him in the arm.

“Ow!”

“Sorry, did that hurt? Why did you let him take her?”

“I didn’t exactly have a choice.”

Stellan stepped in, “recovered” from his battering, to break up the fight.

“It wasn’t Elzar’s fault. We had to let him get away.”

“With a hostage?” Snat demanded, jabbing a finger at Elzar. “And was there any need to hit me so hard in the chest?”

“We had to make it believable,” Elzar protested.

“Yes,” Ty said, her arms crossed to stop her from whacking him again. “Klerin looked particularly scared. You’re still all the same. Playing games with people’s lives.”

Stellan made sure his lightsaber was still in its holster. “No one’s playing. Certainly not us.”

“And besides,” Elzar said, countering Stellan’s gravity with what he hoped was a winning smile. “You’re going to be on hand to make sure Klerin’s safe.”

Ty’s eyes went wide as she put a hand to her chest. “Me? How do you work that out?”