Raines, Elizabeth - Marooned [Wicked Missions 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Elizabeth Raines

hands against their heads. Hannah was sitting up while Linc fussed over her.
    The danger had passed.
    Betinsa nearly lost her balance when the Charhock dropped toward her mate. Clenching her fists tightly, Betinsa held on to the thick fur as the creature landed next to the second panther. Betinsa took things from there. Sliding off the side, she shouted, “Linc, the knife!”
    Linc picked up the serrated blade and tossed it, burying it in the ground at Betinsa’s feet. Snatching up the weapon, Betinsa hurried to hack through the ropes holding the male to the ground. Linc, Drake, and Matt soon joined her, and in no time, they’d freed him.
    The male Charhock rose as he roared and flapped his wings. Then he turned his head to look at Betinsa.
    Drake held his breath, not sure what to expect as the second of the Charhocks padded slowly toward Betinsa. After watching her fly away with the first panther, he prayed its mate meant her no harm. The animal stopped right in front of her, the breath from its large nose rustling Betinsa’s long, black hair.
    “What’s that sound?” Matt asked, coming to stand at Drake’s side.
    “I think…it’s purring at her.” And it was. The Charhock also extended its tongue and licked Betinsa’s face. “It likes her.”
    “It should. She just saved both of their lives.”
    “That she did,” Drake replied. “So what do you think will happen now?”

Chapter 9

    “ Fearless , you will land at docking port one,” the flight controller said. “Officials will be there to meet you.”
    “Understood,” Hannah replied before silencing the com. “I can still make a run for it, Indigo. My ship can outfly the Fraiquan escorts. I know tons of places you can hide out for a while. Seems kinda shitty that they’re gonna punish you for saving their panthers.”
    “No, Hannah. I won’t run away,” Betinsa replied. “I’m resigned to my judgment.” And she was. Her heart was content. The Charhocks— all the Charhocks—were safe and would thrive for generations to come, bringing peace and prosperity to her people for many, many years. The fact she’d played an important role in saving them might be considered mitigating circumstances against her charges of trespassing on the sacred moon, but she couldn’t count on it. What she needed to do now was focus on how to get Matt, Drake, Hannah, and Lincoln out of this mess.
    “Are you sure they won’t be mad we didn’t bring any prisoners back with us?” Drake asked.
    “The Charhocks made that choice, not I,” Betinsa replied. “No, my people will consider the deaths of the Dracorians to be a proper sacrifice to the Charhocks.”
    Matt snorted a laugh. “Not like the panthers gave us much choice. Snatched ’em up and flew away before we could even decide what to do with them. I imagine they’re baby panther food by now.”
    “Last chance,” Hannah said, turning to look over her shoulder from the pilot’s seat.
    Sad instead of joyful to see Fraiqua again, Betinsa realized this return to her homeland might be her last. She shook her head. “I must face my people and accept their verdict.”
    A few minutes later, the ship sat down with Hannah’s usual… finesse , bouncing twice before it skidded to a stop so she could drop the landing legs. Linc shook his head and laughed on the first skip across the tarmac, probably because he was used to her awkward landings.
    Glancing over to her mates, Betinsa couldn’t suppress a grin at how green Matt’s complexion had turned. The man clearly didn’t possess the stomach for space travel. Drake, on the other hand, sat pensively staring out the window, tapping his lips with his extended index finger. Had so many of their things not been lost in the crash, he would probably be wearing his ceremonial robes, ready to offer his official greetings to the Fraiquan government representatives who would be sent to meet them. Now, those same representatives would probably be coming to arrest them