by Hope Hart
“I’ll let you get back to work,” I say, and he leans down, brushing my mouth with his. My cheeks heat as someone whistles, and I pull away to glower at Javir, who gives us a gap-toothed grin.
“You seem happier,” I say as we head back to our kradi.
“My mother managed to get a message to one of Dexar’s sentries, who sent it to Zarix. She’s okay. She’s staying with her friend, and she asked Zarix to keep me safe.”
Ah. That explains Javir’s constant smirk. Not only is his mom alive, but she’s given him permission to hang out with his hero. It must be like Christmas for the brat.
My smile drops as I realize I still haven’t told Zarix about his father. I gnaw on my lip again as I slump on my furs, tuning out Javir’s gossip.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, and I glance across at him.
“Nothing,” I sigh. “I just have something to tell Zarix, and it’s going to hurt him.”
Javir frowns, obviously confused. “Why do you have to tell him, then?”
“Sometimes we have to know the truth, even when the truth hurts.”
“Like when I thought my mother was dead?”
I nod. “Even if it hurt, you needed to know what had happened, right?”
He tilts his head. “Is someone from Zarix’s family dead?”
I shake my head. “No,” I sigh. “But I think Zarix would find that news easier to take.”
Zarix
After hours of strategizing with Tecar, I find Beth asleep in our furs. I run my gaze over her graceful, long-limbed body and instantly harden. Something about this female makes me lose all reason.
She has been doing nothing except shooting her crossbow, over and over, for hours each day. I haven’t missed the fact that Verkas has been the one to teach her. The one to make her smile.
Verkas is the perfect male for a female like Beth. Quick to tease, he always seems on the verge of grinning or laughing at some private joke. He’s popular with the females of this camp, flirting good-naturedly with many of them, who blush and giggle in response.
I grind my teeth at the thought.
In contrast, I am known for brooding and for refusing to take a mate. Females are wary of me. But Beth treats my rare smiles as if I have given her a gift.
If anything happens to her…
She opens her eyes, and I drop to my knees, taking her mouth. She instantly winds her arms around my neck, and I sink into her, wishing we could stay in this kradi and block out the world.
I pull back with a sigh.
“We need to remove the thread,” I say, gesturing to her leg. She is already steadier on her feet, putting more weight on her leg each day.
She pouts, and I lean down, nipping at her lower lip.
“You have two choices,” I say, my voice rough.
“What’s option number one?” Her voice is coy as she pulls me close, running her hands up my back.
“I take you to the healers.”
She wrinkles her nose. “And option two?”
“I bring the healers here.”
She scowls. “Those options suck. I thought you could do it?”
“I could, but since we’re in camp, I’ll leave it to those who have more experience.”
“I guess I may as well get a little exercise.”
I help her to her feet, and she eyes her crutches. “I’m going to see how I do without them,” she says. Then she grins up at me, fluttering her eyelashes. “Will you catch me if I fall, cowboy?”
I don’t know what a cowboy is, but something about her flirtatious tone and the amusement on her face hits me in the gut. Almost before I know it, I’m grinning back at her.
Her smile drops, but her eyes are lit with laughter as she reaches up and runs her nails under my chin. “You should do that more often.”
I lower my head and bury my face in her neck. “You make me want things,” I admit, the words almost getting stuck in my throat. “Things I should not want.”
She strokes my head, and a low laugh leaves her throat. “I think it’s about time you started wanting things,” she tells me.
I pull back, memorizing her face. Then I watch her carefully as she limps out of the kradi.
It’s not far to the healers’ kradi, especially now that it’s been moved, but Beth pants quietly, wincing occasionally. I scowl, opening my mouth to suggest I carry her, and she sends me a look.
“Sometimes you have to work through the pain,” she says, and I scowl but nod, opening the flap of the kradi.
It’s warm and cramped in here, and I make a mental note to check that Tecar has set up other healers’ kradis throughout the camp. It’s likely that we will have an influx of wounded warriors, and even though my tribe has brought healers and supplies, they are almost guaranteed to be overrun.
One of the healers steps forward, chatting with Beth as she gestures for her to take a seat. I tune out the conversation but crouch, examining the wounds in her leg as the healer removes the bandage.
I blow out a breath, shaken by the force of the relief that hits me. The wound is not swollen or red, and there are no signs of infection. The healer washes the area, applying something that makes Beth wince but likely sterilizes the wound.
Then she begins cutting the threads and working them out of the skin. She nods when she is finished, obviously pleased, and slathers a thick balm on the wounds before bandaging it again.
“Keep this clean and dry,” she says. “Come back if you notice any pain, swelling, or red streaks.”
Beth nods. “Thank you.”
Despite her protests, I carry her back to the kradi. She reaches for me as I lay her back down in the furs.
“Do you have time for a quickie?”
“A quickie?” I frown in confusion, and Beth winks at me, her quick hands making her meaning clear.
I groan, every muscle in my body tensing. Moving away from the temptation of her body is the most difficult thing I have ever done.
“I promised Tecar I would train with his warriors today,” I say. “What will you do?”
She shrugs. “The usual. Get a little exercise, practice with my crossbow.”
I nod, pleased that she is working to improve her skill. We don’t have much time, but she will at least have that weapon available to her if the camp defenses should fall.
My mood turns dark as I stalk through the camp to the small area that serves as the camp’s training arena.
If the camp falls, the Voildi will take pleasure in cutting Beth down. If they don’t slaughter her, Lafa’s warriors will likely take her for themselves. The thought makes me crazed, and I spend the next few hours sparring with warrior after warrior.
“Pick up your sword!” I roar as one of them falls to the ground. “How will you defend this camp if you can’t even defend yourself?”
The warrior grits his teeth and reaches for his sword. He jolts forward, and I step aside, a growl leaving my throat.
“Too slow,” I grind out. “Go practice until your enemy can’t see your sword coming from yards away.”
I spin to fight the next warrior, but there are no more left. They have either finished their training or have slunk off, unwilling to face me in this mood.
“Are you trying to undermine the morale of this camp?” a deep voice asks, and I whirl, meeting Tazo’s gaze.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Yes,” he says simply. “Whatever your frustrations, choosing now to vent them on Tecar’s warriors is a bad move.”
“They’re too gods-damned slow,” I grind out, and he shrugs.
“Perhaps. But they will live or die by their skills within days. They will not become fast enough to please you within the next few hours. Why don’t you tell me why you are fighting with such fury?”
I grind my teeth until my jaw aches. “It’s none of your concern.”
Tazo shrugs, his shoulders rolling with the movement. “Fine.” He steps closer, drawing his sword and throwing it to the ground
. “If you’re looking to brawl, fight me, then.”
I don’t even pause to consider and simply drop my sword next to his, nodding.
Tazo is light on his feet for a man of his size, and he hits hard and fast. But he is predictable, and he attacks with the same right hook he favored when we were children.
I block it, landing a fist in his gut. He steps back slightly, but it still forces the air from his lungs.
“You have not changed at all,” I say, disgusted.
“Oh,” he replies, clamping my arm in a lock and using it to knee me in the balls. “I believe I have a few surprises for you.”
I gasp out a curse, and he laughs, lifting his elbow to hit the back of my head as I fold in half. I turn the motion into a roll, coming up behind him and kicking out at the back of his knee.
His leg buckles but holds. However, he’s too off balance to counter when I pound an uppercut into his ribs.
“You’ve gotten faster,” he gasps out, twisting around to face me. “You were strong but slow when you left camp.”
I scowl at him. “I was never slow.”
He grins, obviously pleased that I responded to his taunting. A crowd is gathering, and I grind my teeth as he once again reaches forward with a right hook.
I don’t fall for it this time, and he grins, twisting into a backhand, which I barely dodge.
“Why don’t we talk about what’s really bothering you?” he says, and I lash out, smashing my forehead into his nose.
“Gods’ shirts!” he curses as blood drips down his face, and he bares his teeth at me. “Does this work for you? Fighting warrior after warrior, all so you can try to forget that you might actually care about people? And that those people might die?”
I growl, and he laughs, stepping forward with unexpected speed. He manages to throw me, and he’s on me before I can roll to my feet. He smashes his fist into my face, and I work one knee up, slamming it into his gut. He growls but hits me again, and I manage to reverse our positions, repaying him with a punch that makes him groan.
“How long?” he demands. “How long will you punish yourself for not saving my sister?”
I roll to my feet, ignoring the gathering crowd. “It was my job to protect her.”
He shakes his head, wearily getting to his feet. “That honor was mine, and I failed her too. You think I haven’t thought the same? I never blamed you, Zarix. Hana refused to listen. No one could stop her when she made a decision.”
I know another female who thinks the same way. Who has the same stubbornness running through her veins.
The thought makes me sick with fear. “You will find three of your best warriors and instruct them to take Beth back to our camp before this battle.”
Tazo shakes his head as he wipes blood from his face. “You think this will help? You think you will worry less about your female if she’s out of sight?”
“She will be safer away from this camp.”
Tazo narrows his eyes at me. “And the boy?”
I grind my teeth. “He will stay. Under guard. The Voildi killed his father and burned his home to the ground. He needs to see us achieve his revenge.”
Tazo looks past me, and I turn my head, scowling as I take in the crowd that has formed.
Beth stares at me, crossing her arms. “You said you wouldn’t send me away,” she says.
“I changed my mind.”
“I won’t go.”
I bare my teeth, infuriated by Tazo, the crowd watching us, and the stubborn female gazing at me with wounded eyes.
“You’ll do what I tell you.”
Beth looks at me for a long moment. “Don’t come to me until you’re ready to apologize,” she says, turning and walking away.
The crowd collectively inhales, and I raise my head, running my gaze over them. Suddenly many of them have somewhere to be, and I watch as the crowd thins.
Tazo slaps me on the shoulder as he walks past. “You’ve learned nothing, my friend.”
Chapter Fourteen
Beth
I attempt to hold back my tears, but I’m obviously not successful, since Javir leaps to his feet when I walk into the kradi, a scowl on his face.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I had a fight with Zarix, that’s all.”
Javir snorts, immediately disinterested. For some reason, it’s his unconcern for anything remotely related to adult relationships that makes me choke out a laugh.
He eyes me like I’m a bomb that’s about to go off as I slump down onto my furs.
“I’ve been gathering information,” he announces, and I sigh.
“You know what Zarix said about snooping.” I glance away, immediately pissed again. Even saying his name hurts right now.
Javir waves that away. “We could be in trouble,” he says, and I sit up straighter.
“What do you mean?”
“No one expected the Voildi to gather in such a huge number. And Rakiz hasn’t replied to Dexar’s messenger. Some people believe he’s waiting until this tribe has been slaughtered and he can take out the Voildi and grow his territory.”
I frown. Zarix’s voice has always held respect when he talked about Rakiz.
“I’m sure he’s coming,” I say, and Javir snorts.
“Well, if we don’t get more warriors soon, it’ll be too late.”
My stomach swims at the thought, and I sigh again as I remember the look in Zarix’s eyes when he gave me his decree.
I’m trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, since he hasn’t allowed himself to care about anyone for so long. I’m well aware that it’s his protective instincts that are coming out to play and urging him to send me away.
The problem? He won’t talk to me about it. He won’t say, “Hey Beth, I’m worried about you. Let’s think about a few ways we can make sure you stay safe.” Instead, he thinks he can just decide to send me out of camp. I think he knows, deep down, that I wouldn’t be any safer away from camp, especially considering how many Voildi are gathering nearby. But his control-freak ways are making him behave like a barbarian.
You dumbass. He is a barbarian.
“Beth?”
I blink, and Javir’s face comes back into focus.
“You’re thinking about Zarix again, aren’t you?” He rolls his eyes and suddenly looks so disgusted that I almost expect him to declare that girls have cooties.
I can’t help but grin. “I sure am.”
He tilts his head as his wide nose wrinkles, and the dim light highlights the flat, almost poreless nature of his blue skin. “You know, you should just talk to him. Mama always says that communication is the most important part of any relationship.” His face turns sad at the mention of his mother, and I lay my hand on his knee.
“She’s safe, Javir.”
“I know. It’s just…that hut was all we had. What are we going to do now?”
“I promise it’ll be okay. I’ll do whatever I can to make sure you guys have somewhere to live. And you know Zarix has your back.”
Javir looks at me for a long moment and then gives me a gap-toothed grin, looking strangely angelic and nothing at all like a kid who could slit a Voildi’s throat.
No matter what happens on this planet, I’m going to make sure this kid and his mom are okay. There has to be some fairness in this universe.
“Voildi!”
We both turn as screams sound, almost tripping over each other as we rush out of the tent. I haul my crossbow into my arms as I move, and then we join the crowd, heading toward the camp entrance.
There are no more warriors joining the camp right now, which is likely why the Voildi has taken his chance. My breath catches in my throat as he gets closer—still far enough away that he’d have a chance of escape.
But only because he’s riding a mishua.
The poor thing has only stubs where her horns should be. The Voildi have tied her mouth closed so she can’t bite, but I’m still stunned that they were able to take her.
>
“She’s pregnant,” Javir murmurs, and I realize he’s right. Her belly is swollen, and the Voildi are using her to send us a message.
We’ll take everything you hold dear and break it.
The Voildi stands on the mishua’s back—something a Braxian would never do. Zarix and Tecar watch the Voildi with blank faces, and I move closer to them as we all watch.
“Surrender now,” the bastard calls with a grin, showcasing his pointed teeth. “And we will let the females and children live.”
I almost roll my eyes. Killis sent this asshole while knowing damn well he wasn’t coming back. The Voildi’s gaze moves past Tecar, and his eyes narrow, the grin falling from his face as he locks eyes with me.
“You,” he hisses, and I frown. The mishua moves forward slightly, and Zarix bares his teeth, moving in front of me.
It hits me. This is Jasit. The Voildi that took me. The one who carried me from the other women. The reason I got stuck in that trap and almost died.
Bile rises as I remember terror. Wondering if we’d be eaten. Not wanting to split up from the other women, jumping into that river and knowing I might die. That last, panicked run through the forest.
“You killed my friend,” Jasit hisses, and for a moment, the rest of the world falls away and it’s just him and me.
I glance down at the mishua, who is practically vibrating, her red eyes glowing with what seems to be rage.
I nip in front of Zarix, ignoring his low growl. Then I raise my crossbow and let my bolt fly.
It goes through Jasit’s throat, and he falls from the mishua, choking on his own blood.
“That’s called karma, bitch.”
The mishua immediately stomps him until he stops twitching, and warriors rush forward to take her into camp. She allows it, although none of them are stupid enough to remove the rope from around her mouth just yet.
Tecar turns and stares at me, raising his eyebrow. Maybe I wasn’t supposed to do that.
My bad.
“Sorry,” I say, conscious of Javir cracking up beside me. A male I haven’t yet met lets out a low growl.
“We could have used him.”
