by Rayna Tyler
I glanced from the bartender’s serious frown to the Kowhl’s irritated glare and tried to decide if he thought bending me over a table was worth having a majority of his scales ripped from his body.
“No problemsss here.” He slowly got to his feet, taking a few steps backward.
“Glad to hear it.” The bartender lowered his weapon, but was smart enough not to put it away.
I gave him an appreciative nod, then spoke to Kowhl. “If you’ll unchain his feet, we’ll be leaving now.” I pointed at the ketaurran, then glanced toward the dirt-coated pane of the window near the exit. There was still no sign of Celeste and Sloane. I inhaled a calming breath before my frustration could reach the ready-to-throttle-them mode.
“Do as she asksss.” Kowhl’s lisp was getting worse, his scaly cheeks flushing a dark green.
The ketaurran was yanked to his feet. One luzardee held the stun stick inches from his chest, while the other unlocked the shackles binding his legs and removed them from his ankles. Once the chains clanked to the floor, the prisoner was shoved in my direction.
I kept my back to the door, then turned to my prisoner. “Let’s go.” I was two inches shy of six feet, yet the ketaurran towered over me by at least four inches. He offered no resistance when I placed my hand on the firm, thick muscles above his elbow and urged him toward the door. I stayed by his side, moving backwards, my gaze leveled at the three males and their hateful glares.
Unless I knew them personally, I knew better than to trust any of Burke’s associates. The luzardees had their payment, but it didn’t stop my finely honed instincts for detecting trouble from blaring. I planned to put some distance between us and them as quickly as possible.
Once we were outside, I gripped the ketaurran’s forearm and aimed him in the direction I wanted to go. Beneath the fabric of his coat, the man definitely had a set of muscles. It was impossible to curl my fingers around his arm. If he decided to struggle, I was going to end up bruised. “Do us both a favor and don’t give me any problems.” I split my attention between glancing over my shoulder and watching his reaction.
“The thought had not crossed my mind.” His chuckle was not what I’d expected. Some growling, a smart-mouthed comment or two, maybe, but not the husky laugh that touched my feminine parts and made me shudder with warmth. Then there was the way he continually sniffed the air when he thought I wasn’t looking. Ketaurrans had an enhanced sense of smell, and I wondered why he’d be committing mine to memory.
Chapter Two
Jardun
A draecking female. Did Burke not understand the seriousness of my request? What kind of game was the human male playing by sending a female to retrieve me?
I was certain the instructions I had sent him were clear. I was in need of assistance, preferably in the form of other males, armed males, males capable of surviving in battle should it become necessary. At the very least, I had expected Burke to make an appearance. Not this lone yet beautiful creature with golden hair and eyes that shimmered the deep green of a midday sky.
My relationship with the rebel leader began several years ago when our paths crossed during the war. We’d battled the enemy together in our attempt to help survivors. At times, his ethics were questionable, but he had never given me a reason to question his decision-making abilities or his loyalty. I believed I could rely on him for assistance with my latest mission. A secretive mission that required humans with strong fighting abilities and a special talent for procuring items without permission. At least I thought his assistance was a good choice, until I heard the female tell the luzardees she’d been sent to retrieve me on Burke’s behalf.
After the war, my role as a vryndarr, an elite warrior who protected the drezdarr, the leader of my people, had changed. Now my team spent a lot of our time tracking down mercenaries and traitorous soldiers who were loyal to Sarus, the old king’s younger brother and the male responsible for starting the war. The unsuccessful battle for power had cost many lives. Though our numbers were fewer, we continued to fight the internal battle to bring safety and harmony to all the inhabitants on Ketaurrios.
My current predicament was a result of that new role and one of my own making. Had I not been traveling alone and focused on my task, I would not have been foolish enough to walk into the trap the luzardee had set. I also would not have woken to find myself shackled and being traded for a bag of coins.
My level of frustration was pushed even higher when the luzardee prodded me with his stun stick. The display for the female was one of many I’d endured over the last few hours. Had I not been bound with chains, I would have broken the shackles and ripped the stick from the puny male’s claws.
There were very few things on Ketaurrios that could be used to subdue a male such as me. The shackles made from the brugoran ore, retrieved from the depths beneath the Geborraan Mountains, binding my wrists and ankles, was one of them.
I could not reveal my true identity or the reason that led to my capture. The life of my friend, the future of my people as well as hers, depended on it. I had no other option than to remain silent and allow the female to demonstrate her abilities. Abilities I could neither fathom nor believe existed. It was more likely I would have to rescue her, then display my discontent on Burke with a few well-placed punches.
I was not easily impressed, but would admit the female handled herself well and was gifted when it came to masking her emotions. The luzardees might have accepted her explanation for discontinuing the torture, but I had not missed her slight cringe or the brief distress that flashed in her alert gaze. No female, not even one of my own species, set my emotions aflame the way one concerned glance from this human had.
The growl that rumbled from my chest had been unexpected and had not helped my cause. The overwhelming need to protect was a response triggered the instant Kowhl had grabbed her wrist. Unlike the luzardees, she had shown no fear, not of the three males who leered at her, and not of me.
In that moment, shackled or not, I was prepared to tear the place apart if any of them touched her. Fortunately, the bartender’s timely reappearance prevented my interference and assisted with our departure.
Once we were outside and away from the bar’s stench, I got a whiff of her scent. Of all my senses, my enhanced smelling ability was my greatest asset. The enticing floral scent combined with her feminine aroma had my cock standing at attention and pressing uncomfortably against the confines of my pants. Though the heat radiating from my core and heating my entire body made wearing the hooded overcoat unnecessary, I was thankful I had worn it. Not only was it useful for concealing blades, it hid the evidence of my arousal.
In order to get close to her, I needed her to believe I was not a threat. It took every ounce of my concentration to focus on the plan instead of spending time exploring my attraction to her. “If you release me, I will ensure that you are heavily compensated.”
She kept her hand on my arm and continued to move at a rapid pace toward a destination she had yet to share. I recognized the calculated glances she continually tossed over her shoulder, the assessment of her surroundings and how best to utilize them. My fellow ketaurrans and I used the same technique when we found ourselves in similar situations.
Was there more to this female than I had originally assumed? Was it possible she was aware that the luzardee could not be trusted, that they still posed a threat?
“Even if you had any coins, which I’m certain you don’t, you can keep them. I’m not for sale.” She huffed indignantly, jutting out her chin. “I’ve been instructed to deliver you, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Whatever trouble you got yourself into is none of my business. You can discuss the terms of your release when we rendezvous with Burke.”
Her tone was laced with sincerity, and it was obvious Burke had not shared the nature of my request. I was impressed with her response and pressed my lips together tightly to prevent a grin. The female had honor, a rare trait to go along with her fiery spirit, another a
ddition to the list mounting in her favor. Ketaurran males, those trained to be warriors, were formidable. Most females, especially humans, found us intimidating and preferred to keep their distance. She continued to show no fear, only wariness for our surroundings. Something else that greatly appealed to me.
“This way.” She tightened her grip and guided me into a wide passageway between two buildings.
We’d attracted some frowns and inquisitive stares from a few of the locals, a mixture of humans and natives alike, who were venturing along the city walkways. It would have been wiser to remain within the crowds, yet she’d chosen a less safe route. I wondered if she was aware of how easily I could overpower her.
We were halfway down the passageway when Kowhl stepped from the shadows. He moved to the center of the walkway. “Going somewhere?” He now carried the stun stick and was smacking it against his palm.
“Damn lizards. I knew they were going to be trouble,” she mumbled, then shot me an apologetic glance. “Sorry, no offense.”
“I had not taken one.” Normally, the comparison of an inhabitant from my planet with a lower reptilian one from hers was considered an insult. The fact that she cared about my interpretation spoke to her character. Not all Earthers who had been stranded here after their space vessel crashed nearly a decade ago held a high opinion of my people. It did not matter that the humans had been welcomed and assisted with making Ketaurrios their home; there was still a minority who hated my species.
It did not help that the humans had been pulled into Sarus’s war a few years after their arrival. He might not have succeeded, but the long years following his initial attack had taken many lives, destroyed many families. Not only had he targeted other ketaurrans, he had gone after humans as well. He showed no mercy, no willingness to spare females and children. The devastation was great, and many were still trying to recover from it.
LARIA
“I have changed my mind about my current agreement with Burke.” Kowhl remained at the end of the passageway exit, blocking our path. He was far enough away that he had to raise his voice to be heard. I returned his sneer with a glare, wishing this had been one of those times when my instincts were wrong.
Besides the handful of human mercenaries I’d encountered after the war, the luzardees were at the top of the list for the most untrustworthy creatures on the planet. I knew ducking between the buildings wasn’t the best plan, but the ketaurran was drawing too much attention. If I ended up in a fight with the luzardees, I wanted to ensure that no innocent bystanders were harmed.
“How so?” I asked, knowing I wasn’t going to like his answer.
“I believe he will pay more if your return is part of the negotiations.” His sneer puckered his scaly lips and was all kinds of creepy.
Kowhl’s earlier proposition raced through my mind, making me question if he still planned to collect on the pleasure thing, with or without my permission. Even so, I laughed. “You obviously don’t know Burke. He doesn’t renegotiate, not ever.”
“That isss too bad. There are others who will pay for a human female to warm their beds.” His tongue slipped out, the end rapidly twitching. “Unless I decide to keep you for myself.”
“Burke is not going to be happy you detained us. Are you sure you’re willing to risk getting on his bad side?” I shifted sideways to check the direction the ketaurran and I had traveled. “Now, where are the other two?” I muttered to myself, not expecting an answer, especially not from my prisoner. He’d be seeking freedom, and now would be a great opportunity for him to escape. Instead, he raised his gaze, alerting me to the other two males who were using the claws on the their hands and feet to move along the rough exterior of the buildings on either side of us. Their slow and steady movements were synchronized. Once they made it to the roof, they could crawl along the wall until they reached us.
Draeck. The luzardees might resemble humans to some extent, but they were still part lizard and possessed climbing abilities similar to an Earth reptile. Worse, they could launch themselves through the air from considerable heights, making it difficult to fight them.
I kept my voice low so only the ketaurran could hear me. “I don’t suppose you know if these guys have any additional friends lurking around, do you?” Kowhl still hadn’t moved and appeared to be waiting for the other two to attack and do all the work.
He kept his gaze on the luzardees moving in their direction. “Not that I am aware.” He sounded sincere, no fluctuation in his voice that would make me think he was being untruthful.
I was good at reading people, but if I was wrong about him, and there were other luzardees in their crew, then we were definitely in trouble. Taking on three males would be difficult, but it wasn’t the first time I’d been in a fight where the odds weren’t in my favor, and I was determined to make sure it wasn’t my last.
I lifted the hem at the back of my shirt, grazed the horizontal sheath attached to my pants, and withdrew the short, thin blade. In my opinion, displaying weapons until they were needed gave your opponent an advantage. Having easy access was also a plus. It was the reason I kept my weapons hidden, and in more than one place on my body.
His eyes widened when he saw my blade and realized what I planned to do with it. I knew he was shocked. Women on Ketaurrios didn’t fight, at least not the ketaurran ones. In their culture, the males were trained for battle and were required to protect them.
His disbelief turned into a frown. “I can be of more help if you remove my bindings.” He held out his cuffed and chained wrists.
My trust had to be earned. “I appreciate the offer, but there’s a reason you’re in shackles.” Not that I was judging, I had a past filled with my own offenses. My wariness stemmed from deceit and betrayal. I had no way of knowing if he’d help me or slit my throat the first chance he got.
The two luzardees on the wall had reached the roof. It wouldn’t take long for them to reach us.
With a growl, the ketaurran stepped backward. “Female, you are outnumbered. Release me now.” His deep voice made my insides flutter and warm. The hard set to his jaw said he was a male who expected his commands to be followed.
Too bad I’d never been good at taking orders. “First off, my name’s Laria, not female. Second, it’s not going to happen.” Not until I’d had a long chat with Burke to find out why he’d sent my friends and me after the ketaurran. Thinking about Celeste and Sloane reminded me that they should have found me by now. They might have a problem with punctuality, but they always made an appearance. I hoped the uneasy churning in my gut had nothing to do with their tardiness.
“My apologies, Laria. I am Jardun, and you will do well to let me assist you.” He raised his shackled wrists again, expecting me to comply.
Irritating male. Since arguing would be pointless and I wanted to save my energy for dealing with the luzardees, I snapped, “Even if I did trust you, I don’t have the key, so stay out of my way and let me handle this.”
He snorted, then turned to face the male closing in on us from the right. I split my attention between the male scaling toward us on the left and Kowhl. I gripped the blade handle tighter.
“You will be coming with usss, and it would be easier if you did not fight,” Kowhl said, motioning for the two luzardees to hold their position.
“You will not touch her.” Jardun rattled his chains, his growl echoing off the walls. The next few words he spoke were a ketaurran slang dialect, and my translator had difficulty equating them with Earth English. I knew enough of his language to know that it was an insult, that he’d compared Kowhl to animal feces.
Kowhl cringed, taking a step back before gaining his prior composure.
I’d never had much use for overbearing males, but Jardun’s fierce protective behavior was refreshing. It spiked the ember of heat building inside me since we met.
“Take them,” Kowhl ordered.
Instead of the direct leap I’d anticipated, the luzardee closest to me launched himself over my
head, springing off the opposite wall and diving at Jardun. At the same time, the other luzardee landed on the ground and rushed me from the side. The impact knocked me sideways, slamming me into the wall, pain shooting across my shoulder.
He was quick to collar me by the throat, then pin my blade-wielding wrist to the wall’s hard surface, the rough sandy finish scraping skin and digging into my arm. As he tightened his grip, the lack of blood flow blurred my vision. Angry that I’d be bruised by morning, and refusing to drift into unconsciousness, I turned and aimed my knee for the luzardee’s male parts. I missed him by inches, connecting with the hard muscle on his thigh. It didn’t have the crippling effect I’d hoped, but he still groaned and staggered a couple of steps backward.
My blade was mid-swipe when I caught movement in my periphery. The distraction cost me. The aim I’d planned for my opponent’s chest missed, grazing his arm, leaving a thin trail of blood on his flesh. He snarled, his gaze darting from his arm to the opposite end of the passageway. “You are outnumbered, female.” He smugly sneered as three more luzardees advanced in our direction.
Chapter Three
Jardun
Luzardees were notorious for their treachery, but they had the resources to obtain the information I’d needed. I knew the risks I’d face when dealing with them, the possibility of betrayal once they’d been paid. It was one of the reasons I had involved Burke. Now those same risks were impacting Laria, and once again, I wondered why Burke chose to put a female in harm’s way.
Seeing her retrieve a blade, then handle it as if it were a natural extension of her arm was perplexing. During the war, I had heard whispers about human females skilled with the ability to fight and had shrugged them off as embellished rumors. Was it possible Laria was one of these females and the reason she was associated with Burke? If that was the case, and the stubborn female intended to defend herself against the other males, then she would not be doing it alone.
