by Hope Hart
“It’s perfect,” I grin at him, relieved.
“Can I drop you off anywhere?”
I immediately shake my head. “No, it’s not safe.” My stomach clenches at the thought of someone being caught helping me run. Especially a genuinely good person like Ray.
“You’ve done enough, really,” I say. “I need to check in with my contact though, so if I leave you his number, would you mind letting him know I’m okay and I’ll get in touch as soon as I can?”
“Of course—”
The door slams open, and Tina stands in front of us, hands on her hips. “I’ve already told the Arcav where you are. You’re not going anywhere.”
Ray’s face whitens, and he looks like Tina has punched him in the gut.
“Why?” he croaks. “Why the hell would you do that?”
Tina looks uncertain for a moment, eyes darting before they narrow on me. “We have to be smart, baby. If the Arcav find out she was here and we let her go, we could be in serious trouble.”
“She was about to leave. They wouldn’t have found out. And it’s the kind of risk you take for a fellow human. What the hell is wrong with you.”
She juts out her chin and tears fill her eyes. “I was just trying to protect you, Ray,” she says, and no one believes her.
I need to get out of here. I grab my bag, and bare my teeth as Tina continues to block the door.
“Move, bitch.”
I’m running on borrowed time at this point. I can’t believe I’ve been so fucking stupid. Now the Arcav will know exactly which area to search, and I can practically see my dreams of Montana going up in smoke.
Tina gasps. “You can’t speak to me that way!”
Ray finally shakes his head, as if he was sleep walking. He stares at Tina like he’s never seen her before, and I feel sorry for the guy.
“I never thought I’d be this ashamed of my own wife,” he says finally. Then his eyes harden. “Move. Your. Ass.”
Tina pales, and it seems like she’s finally realized what she’s done. She reaches out a shaking hand to Ray, who brushes it aside as he shoves past her, pulling me with him.
He reaches into his pocket. “Do you need cash?”
His cheeks are a dull red, and he’s looking anywhere at me.
“No, I’m fine. Really.”
“I’m sorry, girl. I promised you’d be safe here. I never thought she’d do something this stupid.”
“It’s not your fault. Thanks for patching me up. You did everything you could.” I straighten my shoulders, mentally already on the road. “You’re a good guy, Ray.”
He finally looks me in the eye. “I’d give you my truck, but they’d trace it in a minute. Run like hell.”
I nod, and I’m off, running like a rabbit to the parking lot. My best bet is going to be to take a random car and dump it as soon as I can. I start trying doors, hoping someone left a car unlocked.
“Excuse me!”
I spin, making contact with a tiny elderly women. We stare at each other.
“I know you.”
“Yeah, yeah, take a number.”
She snorts. “No respect for old people these days.” She holds out a set of keys. “Take the blue van down the end.”
I freeze, staring at her, and she shakes them impatiently. “Go on, you don’t have all day.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“There aren’t many ways someone like me can help with the resistance. Let me do this one thing.”
I snag the keys from her hand, reach into my pocket, and offer her a wad of cash. She holds up her hands, refusing it, and I sigh.
I’ll leave it in the van when I dump it. “You need to report this stolen within the next couple of hours, okay? I’m going to switch it for something else, and you’ll get it back.”
She nods, waving an arm toward the van. “Go on, give ‘em hell.”
I run to the van, conscious of every second ticking. My hand shakes as I start it, and I click my seatbelt into place.
I study the map as I drive, unable to risk taking the time to pull over. All I can do is get as close to Montana as I can today, and hope I cover my tracks well enough to keep the Arcav guessing.
Chapter 12
Varian
I narrow my eyes at the male in front of me, who stares at me placidly, as if I am not a being to be feared. My mate has been here, and rage makes my hands shake as the human refuses to cooperate.
His woman is sobbing hysterically, and I gesture to Jaret to deal with her. He leads her a few paces away to question her.
“Tell me about the woman who was here,” I order the male.
“What do you want to know?”
I almost respect this human, but I recognize that his attitude comes not from bravery, but from defeat. It was the woman who contacted us, I remember. Obviously against this man’s wishes.
I growl, lowly. This man thought to hide my mate. He wanted to keep her from me, so she could continue running.
I turn to his woman, who has quieted to wet sniffs. As much as the male human infuriates me, I dislike this woman even more. She may have done what I expected, but she betrayed Harlow. My heart feels heavy at the idea of her hurting.
Methi steps forward.
“Report,” I order.
“A female reported her automobile stolen a few hours ago, Your Majesty. It’s likely that your queen took it.”
“She will have left it by now and found a new means of transportation. My mate is smart.”
“She is,” Methi acknowledges. “The humans are looking for it now, so we can see which direction she was traveling when she left it.”
I sigh, rubbing a hand over my face. “She could just as well head in the opposite direction. Has there been any sighting of her on the human cameras?”
“No. She has always stayed away from anything that could ping our facial recognition programs.” His voice sound admiring, and I have to catch myself before I lash out.
“How can it be this difficult to find one human?” I know Harlow is no ordinary woman, but she’s managed to escape me again and again. No matter what calamities she encounters, she always stays one step ahead.
“Uh, excuse me?”
A small voice pipes up, and I turn toward the human female. She looks terrified, but determined, glancing at her mate who refuses to look at her.
“Speak.”
“I’m just wondering if we qualify for the reward.”
The human male turns away in disgust, and I feel my lip curl. This is humanity at its weakest. I nod to Jaret, who pulls out some human currency and gives it to her.
“Are you done?” the male asks.
“One more question.”
He stiffens but inclines his head, waiting.
“How did my mate appear when you saw her. Was she in pain?”
He gives me a look I’ve seen on Harlow’s face, as if I’ve been hit in the head and can no longer understand the world. While I will tolerate it from her, I snarl at him and watch his eyes widen slightly.
“Of course she was in pain. She’d been in a car accident. Her wrist is at least sprained, maybe broken, and she has a bad laceration on her scalp which I stitched up for her.”
I frown. “Stitched up?”
“Closing the wound, Your Majesty,” Jaret interjects. “Humans use a needle and thread to sew the edges together.
I feel the blood leave my face at the sheer barbarity. “You put a needle in her skin?” Our handheld scanners and medical devices would close the wound with barely any pain and no scaring.
“Humans are a backwards, uncivilized race,” Jaret says, holding up his hands as I turn to glare at him. “Through no fault of their own. They haven’t yet evolved past such simple methods for medical treatment.”
“Tell me what this means for her.”
The human sighs, giving me a look that’s almost… sympathetic. “I had no pain relief, so she felt every stitch. She didn’t seem to have a concussion, but
almost definitely had one hell of a headache. The cut was open for long enough that she should be on antibiotics to prevent infection, but I didn’t have any to give her.” He meets my eyes. “I’m not a doctor.”
I turn away, staring around the small wooden structure that housed my mate for such a short time. In the bathroom, I found traces of her blood in the shower. She left clothes behind which smell of her scent, and I clutch them in my hand, longing to see her safe.
I straighten my spine. No matter what she thinks of me and my people, being my mate cannot be as bad as her current situation.
The door slams open, and we all turn. “We’ve found her, Your Majesty.”
Harlow
I’ve transformed from badass cop to petty car thief within just a few days, but I’m too tired to care. My head aches, and I’d give anything for some painkillers, but I need to be able to focus.
I’m driving toward Montana, using sheer willpower to keep me going as I squint against the oncoming headlights. I stole an old Ford, and I’m planning to ditch it and swap it for something else soon. I’ll leave some cash for the owners for their trouble.
I mull over my options, wondering if it’s worth staying in Montana. Now the Arcav will be so close that it may be a better idea to just keep going. I sniff back tears at the idea. I don’t know how much more running I have left in me.
I wonder where Josh went after I left, and I reach down and pull up my sleeve, staring at one of the bands around my wrists. Every time I start to soften toward my brother, my new tattoos remind me how he betrayed me. I hide the band, which reminds me of a handcuff.
“Holy shit.”
I slam on the brakes and check my review mirror, but no one is behind me. I’m in rural South Dakota, near the Montana border, and I’ve just spotted something I haven’t seen in years. A payphone.
It’s outside a small grocery store which is thankfully closed. I scout the area for cameras, dig up some change, and pull up beside the payphone. I may not have my phone, but I still have the list of directions Blake gave me, which includes his number.
The phone rings and rings. I know he’d never leave me hanging. I leave a message and call right back, but I know deep down that something has happened to him.
I can’t do this on my own.
“You can have your breakdown later Harlow. Just get in the car and keep driving.”
My teeth chatter in fear as I drive, and I’m convinced the Arcav King has managed to find Blake. If he has, he has the perfect card to play. Part of me wishes I hadn’t broken that stupid rock when I threw it at the wall. If I could communicate with Varian, I could potentially negotiate for Blake’s freedom.
The rest of the night passes slowly, and I change cars twice more. Who would’ve known I’d be so good at a life of crime. At dawn, I realize I’m still a few hours from the house, and pull into the next motel I see. I sit in the car, realizing I have no one to check me in.
My hands shake as I hand over my fake identification, but the old man at the check-in desk pays me no attention, simply hands me my key and waves me toward my room. The decor consists of taxidermy and American flags, and there isn’t a TV to be seen. Maybe my luck is finally turning around.
Once in my room, I lock the door and take my backpack into the bathroom with me so I can shower. My gun goes on top of the closed toilet lid, where I can get to it within a couple of seconds.
I feel like my skin is too tight, and I stare at the intricate bands on my wrists as the water runs down my body.
I’m toweling off when I feel it. The room is silent as a grave, but all of the hair on the back of my neck is standing up, and my cop instincts are screaming at me. Someone is in the room.
I wrap the towel around me, and hum a little tune under my breath, hoping it sounds like I don’t have a care in the world. I’m crutched down and reaching for my gun when the bathroom door slams open. My hand jerks and the gun goes flying off the toilet as I stare up into glowing emerald eyes.
“Hello, mate.”
Chapter 13
Varian
I’m triumphant as I stare down at my mate, who is dressed in nothing but a small sheet. I can admit to feelings of triumph as her face falls in dismay. It feels like she has been running from me for years, but I’ve hunted her down as any warrior male of my race would.
I step forward, crowding her, and her eyes dart as she searches frantically for a way out of this tiny room. I’m blocking the only entrance, and I take a moment to enjoy the way her wet hair curls around her shoulders, and the way the mating bands stand out against her pale skin.
One of her wrists is wrapped up in white cloth, and I can see swelling and bruising on the side of her head. I need to bring a healer here immediately.
Her eyes harden, and she falls to her knees, reaching for something. I instinctively know that whatever it is, I do not want her to have it, and I move closer.
“Ah, a human gun,” I say as I use my superior speed to snatch it up before she can use it against me. Human weapons are ineffective against most of us, however a lucky shot has been known to kill the Arcav people- the very reason why I had these weapons banned the moment we landed here.
“Why am I not surprised that you have one of these?” I eye it curiously, and then tuck it away in a pocket.
“I hope you shoot your dick off,” Harlow sneers, and I raise an eyebrow. I had hoped for a warmer welcome, but ultimately knew it was unlikely to happen.
I eye her consideringly. My mate is stubborn, and has refused to listen to my pleas and explanations about why she must come with me. However, I know she listens to force, and if I have to play dirty to win, I will. My chest clenches as I realize that some small part of me was hoping she would have softened toward me even slightly. But while she appears sad and exhausted, she still looks at me with hate in her eyes.
My dream of an adoring mate may be going up in dust, but I’ll gladly take this tiny woman with the sharp tongue instead. I turn my head to speak to some of my men, who are crowded into the small sleeping room. Jaret is examining it with distaste, and I don’t blame him. On Arcavia, even our most dangerous criminals have more luxurious accommodations than this.
My mate is barely dressed though, and I feel the need to keep her hidden from curious eyes.
“You may leave,” I tell them. I see disappointment on more than one man’s face, and recognize that they want to see their Queen for the first time. Unfortunately, now is not the time.
I meet Jaret’s eyes and gesture to the door. He nods, and I know he will ensure this small room is constantly guarded. I’m taking no chances.
I turn back to my mate, who has obviously finished searching the small bathing room for a weapon, as she meets my eyes defiantly.
I frown as I realize her cheekbones are more visible than before, and her wrists look smaller too. It pains me to know Harlow has not been taking care of herself.
“Will you let me get dressed?”
I want nothing less, but I understand that she will feel less frightened if her smooth skin is covered. I nod, unmoving, and she glares at me.
“Alone.”
I sigh, choosing not to remind her that I’ve already seen her naked body. My own body begins to harden at the thought, and I turn, blowing out a slow breath as I hear the rustling of materials as she gets changed.
“I’m done.” Her tone is bitter, and I can see the challenge in her eyes as I turn back around. Her clothes are bulky and unbefitting a Queen. Rough blue pants hide her legs from my view, while her top half is covered by a large shirt with a hood. I feel my horns straighten as the faint scent of another male reaches my nose, and my claws extend as my blood pounds through my veins. Harlow’s chin juts out, but she eyes my claws warily and I step back until I can regain control.
I gesture toward the bed, and she sends me a distrusting glance, but sits on the very edge.
“These accommodations are unacceptable,” I say.
“Feel free to go find s
ome more acceptable accommodations elsewhere.” She curls her upper lip at me, and I even find that charming.
“We will go now,” I declare, and watch her face intently.
“Wait,” she says, jumping to her feet. “Can’t we… negotiate?”
“Negotiate?” I taste the word and dislike it immensely. “This word does not please me.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m not surprised. Look, I’m not saying I won’t go with you, I’m just saying I need some time. Can’t we find some more acceptable ‘accommodation,’ and talk it out in the morning?”
My mate doesn’t realize that the mating bond tells me when she’s telling an untruth. It feels like a small vibration, although I can’t tell which part of her sentence was a lie.
I consider it, while she peers up at me pleadingly. She has dark purple circles under her eyes, and is obviously in need of food and sleep. On the other hand, delaying the inevitable may not be the wisest choice.
I sigh as my eyes become stuck on her bandaged wrist and then linger on her head.
“Tell me about these accommodations.”
Harlow
No one is more surprised than me when the Arcav King agrees to switch hotels. Some of his men leave to handle it, and before I know it, I’m in a much nicer hotel, with a giant bath, marble vanity, and clean, king-sized bed. The look on Varian’s face tells me he is still displeased, and I snort. We’re in the middle of rural Montana. Did he expect the Ritz?
Convincing him to let me stay one more night is nothing more than a delaying tactic, which I suspect he knows. I’m surprised he gave in, but immediately begin planning an escape.
The bands on my wrist begin to itch, as if they sense I’m taking the first bus outta here. I think of the sheer exultant look on Varian’s face and straighten my shoulders. I’m nothing but a ‘thing’ he thinks belongs to him, something that’s evident by the way he usually refers to me as ‘mate,’ instead of by my name. I refuse to feel guilty for planning to run.
