Once Upon A Valiant Crew (Alpha Red Series Book 5) by N.D. SHAR & Natalie Debrabandere

Author:N.D. SHAR & Natalie Debrabandere [SHAR, N.D. & Debrabandere, Natalie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2025-10-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18

Her eyes flash like two brilliant comets. Impatience shifts to frustration tinged with anger. I feel a spark of it, ready to ignite. Watching how quickly she cycles through her emotions is fascinating—and somewhat worrying, too. How she endures such wild shifts is beyond me. Her moods must cost her a lot of energy. No wonder she eats so much.

“Look, it won’t take long,” she insists. “Jump, drop me off, and go again. I’ll take the jet, and—”

I stand abruptly, prompting her to go quiet and brace for impact. She doesn’t know what to expect. A rebuke? A shove? An energy strike between the eyes? I’m still tempted, but it’s fun to keep her guessing; to watch her eyes narrow in suspicion, every sense on alert and only focused on me. I step close enough that she’ll feel my breath when I speak.

“Do you realize what’ll happen if they capture you?”

She blows out a breath, equal parts annoyed and arrogant. “No one will cap—”

“Quiet,” I growl. “Do you think the military will cut you some slack because you used to be one of them?”

This hits a nerve. Her jaw tightens.

“No,” she murmurs.

“Best keep that in mind, Commander. You’re as alien to them now as I am.”

“Who’s them?”

“The ones working to shake the foundations of the Alliance. While most people celebrate your achievements and praise you for saving Earth, others resent the hell out of your accomplishments. You chose to crew with me. You have Antalosian markings. What a slap in the face! They wish they could control you, and despise the fact that they can’t. They’re jealous of your unearned status with Alliance leaders—”

“I earned it,” she snaps.

“Not according to them. They harbor a quiet hatred for the likes of you. If they see an opportunity, they’ll crucify you, Redfield. Make an example—throw you in a cage, put you in shackles… Hey, maybe even send you to sleep again.”

She steps back as if I’ve hit her and warns in a low voice: “Don’t.”

“You need to hear it.”

“I’m aware,” she groans.

“In this case—”

“Shut up, Stella, you made your point.”

“Right. So what’s your plan?” Of course, she doesn’t have one. “Have you ever visited Section 8 on Soleus?”

“Never had the pleasure,” she admits, sullen and resentful. “What about it?”

“It isn’t the Badlands, but it comes close.”

“Fine.” A shrug. “I’ll manage.”

“I didn’t say you could go.”

“I’m going whether you like it or not,” she fumes. Then, planting both hands on her hips, she juts her chin at me. “You coming?”

“I don’t have time for amusing little side quests, Commander.” I also don’t want to be distracted later on when she gets into trouble, as she undoubtedly will, given her abysmal track record. Having to go and break her out of an Alliance jail would be tricky. My Queen might disapprove. So, in the spirit of contingency…

“Take Tali with you.”

“I don’t need her.”

“Then why did you ask me?”

Emotions fly across her face like racing clouds over a high mountain pass. She feels me locking onto her mind, seeking the answer she won’t give, and puts up a wall.

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