by Anna Hackett
“I can’t confirm that, but she does leave the bones of her victims surrounding the oasis as a warning,” Corsair said.
Neve’s mind whirled. Okay, so this witch didn’t sound like much fun, but if she had a map, Neve was going to this damn abandoned oasis.
Galen shook his head. “I don’t like this. This could just be a trap to lure new victims.”
“We need to check it out,” Neve said. “We have no other leads.” She forced herself to stay still, but it was hard. They finally had a lead, and she wanted to get out there. Now.
“We need to gather more information on this witch and her lair, first,” Galen said. “I want to know everything I can about her, and the Solitude Oasis.”
Madeline, the former space station commander, nodded. “I’ll get Ryan and Zhim working on it.”
Neve knew human hacker Ryan, and her intelligent information merchant lover, were already working to find Zaabha. If anyone could find out about this witch, it was those two. But for Neve, that would take too damn long.
A rumble of conversation grew, and Neve slowly slipped to the back of the room. Her gaze fell on Regan and Corsair, deep in conversation, and her mouth pressed into a firm line. Gauging the right moment, she turned and snuck out of the room. She hurried to her bedroom, grabbed her backpack, and stuffed her few belongings inside. She didn’t have much, despite Regan and the other women trying to force clothes and other things on her. Swinging the pack onto her back, she grabbed her long staff. The wood felt familiar and calming under her hands.
She stole into the corridor, checking that no one was searching for her, then hurried to sneak out. She used one of the other exits she’d scouted, waiting for the guards to look away. Moments later, she was out. And then, it didn’t take her long to leave the arena and enter the city streets of Kor Magna.
The city was a strange mix of old and new. The ancient, stone walls of the arena, the low, two-story buildings, and the cobbled streets made her think of some medieval Earth town. But as a sleek transport zoomed past, hovering just off the ground, and as the tall skyscrapers of the glitzy District rose up to the right, she was reminded that the place was very far from low-tech.
Neve didn’t rush, trying not to gain anyone’s attention. When she could, she stayed close to other groups, so people wouldn’t remember a woman walking alone. Soon, the streets got wider, and the air was filled with a warm, desert breeze that brought the ripe smell of animals. On the edge of the city were the stables that supplied beasts to those who traveled the desert. The caravans, the traders, and the adventurers. She turned a corner, and ahead, she spotted a group of young men eyeing her. One man elbowed his friends, and swaggered forward. She snorted. He’d need a bit of practice before he could match Corsair for swagger.
As she got closer, she lifted her gaze, and swung her staff off her back. She lifted her weapon up against her shoulder, and glared at him.
He swallowed visibly and instantly backed off.
Her mood improved, she continued on, and finally reached the very edge of the city. A hot wind was blowing in from the desert.
Here, temporary pens had been erected, each containing various animals. Some big, some small, some fast, some lumbering. A crowd of people jostled around her, all doing a brisk trade. Nearby, it looked as though a caravan had just pulled in. Sweaty, tired-looking people were sliding off huge, six-legged tarnids.
Neve slipped through the crowd. She asked a few quiet questions, and traded some coins. It wasn’t long before she had general directions to the Solitude Oasis—as well as plenty of shocked warnings to go nowhere near it.
Then she moved over to where some tarnids were tied to a post, chomping on some sort of feed. She quickly pulled out her knife and cut the rope to one, before quietly leading it away.
“Hey there, big guy,” she murmured. The beast had dark-green scales and solemn eyes.
Finally, she stopped and climbed up onto the beast. He snorted, but stayed still. She settled in the simple saddle and stared out at the desert ahead. It was open, empty sand as far as she could see.
She breathed deep and smiled. She liked it. She liked the emptiness.
She patted her tarnid’s neck. “Time to get going.”
Suddenly, hard hands gripped her waist, and snatched her off the beast.
Neve gasped, her pulse spiking. She spun, ready to fight…and looked straight into annoyed amber eyes.
Chapter 3
“Are you insane?” Corsair ground out.
Neve looked up at him, her face furious. “Let me go. I have to find my sister.”
“I’m trying to help you do that. The desert is a dangerous place. You could die out there.”
That stubborn chin jutted out, and Corsair didn’t know if he wanted to kiss her or shake her.
“I survived it before.”
He shook his head, his arms tightening on her. “What happened to you to make you so distrusting?”
She looked away.
Edgy frustration slid through Corsair. For so long, he’d made his life exactly the way he wanted it to be. Running his caravan was his passion. He took the jobs that suited him, and on his caravan, everyone obeyed his orders. Always.
This woman challenged him every second.
“I need to find the desert witch,” Neve said. “By the time Galen collects data and plans, I could already be at Zaabha.”
Or be dead. Corsair ground his teeth together. “Ask me for help.”
That all-too-familiar glare was aimed his way. “I don’t need help.”
“I know the way to Solitude. I’m sure you’ve asked around, and gotten some vague and conflicting directions.”
She shifted on her feet and he knew he was right.
“I can cut your journey time by at least half, and be your backup. I know the desert far better than you. Ask me for help, Neve.”
A conflicted look crossed her face and she remained silent.
“You are so drakking stubborn,” he growled, backing her up against the tarnid. The beast snuffled but didn’t move, used to being jostled by people.
She shoved a hand against Corsair’s chest. “I get the impression you’re pretty stubborn yourself, Corsair.”
Infuriating. Following instinct, he yanked her into his chest, and crashed his mouth down on hers.
He was prepared for her to punch him. Or maybe kick him again and knock him down.
What he wasn’t prepared for was for her to kiss him back.
Neve’s hands sank into his hair, and she went up on her toes, her tongue thrusting into his mouth. By the sands. She kissed him like she was a woman dying of thirst, and he was water she’d just discovered.
He lifted her closer, deepening the kiss. She wrapped her legs around his hips, shifting against him. Desire roared through him, hotter than any sun.
They devoured each other, and Corsair rocked his hard cock against her. She moaned against his mouth.
Suddenly, a piercing cry broke through the air. One Corsair recognized. Reluctantly, he lifted his head and her feet dropped to the ground.
They stared at each other for a hot second, before he stepped back. A bird of prey swooped overhead with another sharp cry. Neve tensed, but Corsair held out an arm. The desert shrike gracefully landed on the scarred leather guard on his forearm.
“Perfect timing, Rogue,” Corsair said, his voice dry.
The bird tilted its head, staring at him with intelligent yellow eyes.
“Who’s this?” For the first time, Corsair heard awe in Neve’s voice. She was staring at his bird, a smile on her face.
“This is Rogue.” He stroked a hand down the bird’s beige-and-black-speckled feathers. He was made to camouflage into the desert. “He’s a desert shrike.”
“He looks like a hawk from Earth.” She reached out and stroked the bird. Rogue leaned into her touch, his claws flexing on Corsair’s arm.
“He’ll accompany us into the desert. He’s an excellent scout and warning alarm
.”
“He’s gorgeous.” She was silent for a moment before she looked at Corsair. “Will you take me to Solitude Oasis?”
He knew those words hadn’t been easy for her. “Yes.”
“But no more kisses. You keep your hands to yourself.”
He winked at her. He was planning to have her look at him the same way she looked at his bird. “That, I can’t promise.”
His words earned him a hot glare. He’d clearly lost his mind, because he was starting to like that glare. “Let’s return your stolen tarnid—”
“Borrowed.”
He shook his head. “Do you argue about everything?”
A sharp smile. “Yes.”
He smiled back. “Should be an interesting trip.”
Neve had finally gotten into the rhythm of riding the tarnid. Even after several hours traveling under the hot suns, she decided she liked the desert. It was quiet, wild, and open. It did everything on its own terms, and she respected that.
She breathed deep, but instead of fresh air, she smelled Corsair—dark spice, man, and healthy sweat.
She exhaled sharply. She was excruciatingly conscious of his big body pressed up behind her on the tarnid. He’d quietly returned hers, and come back with one of his own beasts. A healthy, muscled animal that obeyed even the slightest press of his leg.
Over the last few hours, memories of that scorching kiss kept echoing around her head. She pressed her hands to her thighs, her nails biting through her trousers. That kiss was only so hot because it had been a long time since she’d been kissed. Or, hell, even been held close by anyone. Let alone a sexy man who was everything she didn’t know she liked in a man.
Liar. Big, fat liar. She sniffed. She could lie to herself if she wanted to.
Behind her, Corsair made a clicking sound with his tongue, and the tarnid shifted with a flex of muscles. Corsair didn’t sit still, strong thighs continuously moving behind her.
She squeezed her eyes closed. God, he upset her equilibrium. She didn’t like it. She didn’t need it.
Ever. Her only goal was finding her sister.
Neve opened her eyes, and looked up into the faded-blue sky. Rogue’s black shadow soared overhead, against the round, orange orbs of the dual suns. The bird was doing wide circles, and every now and then, the shrike flew back to check in with Corsair.
Suddenly, the bird let out a screech. Behind her, Corsair stiffened.
She glanced at him over her shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
His brows drew together over his amber eyes. “Rogue’s spotted something.”
The bird arrowed down, and landed on Corsair’s arm. Rogue bobbed his head a few times.
“He spotted something coming up behind us.” With a frown, Corsair looked back. “We’re being hunted.”
Her pulse jumped. “By what?”
“I don’t know,” he said darkly.
Rogue took back to the air again, and Corsair kicked the tarnid into a fast trot. They surged forward, the beast’s hooves kicking up sand behind them. Neve swiveled in her spot, turning to sit facing Corsair. She tried not to think about how her legs were splayed around his waist. She looked over his shoulder, squinting against the bright sun reflecting off the sand. It wasn’t long before she spotted a huge, skulking beast in the distance.
“It’s a beast about half the size of the tarnid. It’s running on all four legs, with shaggy fur.”
“One of the desert beasts,” Corsair said, voice tight. “Sounds like a grina. They usually only hunt at night.”
Neve looked toward the western horizon. The two suns were still well off the sand. “We still have a few hours of sunlight left.”
“Something has it agitated.”
All of a sudden, the beast appeared to kick into high gear, loping toward them.
“It’s gaining on us,” she cried.
“We’ll have to fight it off,” Corsair said.
Neve smiled. “Bring it on.”
“Bloodthirsty.” He grinned. “I like it.”
She reached behind him and pulled out her staff.
“There.” Corsair pointed ahead to a patch of rocky ground. “That’s where we’ll make our stand.”
They reached the rocks, and both slid off the tarnid. Corsair shooed the creature away from them. Then, he pulled out a large knife. It was shorter than a sword, but only just barely. It was the biggest damn knife she’d seen.
He touched something on the hilt, and the blade lit up with an electric-blue light. She’d seen him use it once before, in the Illusion Mountains, when he’d led the House of Galen there to rescue Mia and her mate, Vek.
Both of them swiveled to face the oncoming predator.
Sand. Nothing else. No beast.
“Where is it?” Her muscles tensed, and she scanned the desert.
“It’s good at hiding.”
They both watched. Corsair held that deadly blade at his side, and Neve held up her staff, ready and waiting.
Suddenly, the beast reared up out of the sand. The damn thing had burrowed underground on its way to them. Neve got a close-up look at a shaggy hide, huge fangs, and vicious, sharp claws.
The grina let out a deafening roar.
Startled, Neve stepped back. But Corsair lunged in, going in low, and slashing at the beast. Neve channeled her adrenaline and moved forward, swinging her staff.
As Corsair pulled back, she leaped forward, whacking the beast on the back. As claws swiped at her, she jumped away, and Corsair was there, raking his knife down its side. They fell into a fighting rhythm, working to tire out the beast and stay clear of its claws.
“Corsair.” Neve spun her staff, and anticipating her, he ducked below her weapon. She caught the grina in the head and it gave an enraged roar.
Before it could move, Corsair lunged in, his blade opening up the creature’s front right leg.
Damn, the man could fight. And she was surprised to see they fought so well together. She’d never played well with others before.
Corsair went in again, his electroblade sizzling. But at the last second, the desperate beast shifted, and brought one huge claw down on Corsair’s shoulder. He stumbled, driven down on one knee by the weight of the beast.
No. She rushed in, jumping high into the air. She brought her staff down with a sharp thwack. It cracked against bone in the grina’s back. The beast reared up, aiming for Neve. Sharp claws raked her left leg, leaving a trail of fire.
“Neve!” Corsair yelled, back on his feet.
She raced back, lifting her staff.
“It’s not bad.” It burned like hell, but it wasn’t deep. “Let’s finish this.”
A dark shadow dived down from above. With a squawk, Rogue attacked the grina, pecking at its eyes. The beast growled, shaking its giant head and trying to swat the bird.
It was just the distraction they needed. Corsair skidded in low, and Neve jumped high. She swung her staff hard, slamming it into the creature’s face. It knocked the grina’s head back. Corsair dropped onto his side, dangerously close to the beast, and jammed his electroblade into the animal’s belly.
This time, there was no roar. Just a dying gurgle, as the beast collapsed on the sand.
Neve and Corsair stood there for a long moment, both panting.
“Nice moves,” he said.
Hell, yeah. She glanced his way. “You weren’t so bad yourself.”
His full lips curved into a grin, and Neve reached out, fisted her hand in his shirt, and jerked him toward her. Their mouths slammed together. Oh, God, yes. The kiss was hot and hard, and matched the blood pumping thickly through her veins.
But then he pulled back, scowling. “You’re bleeding.”
She looked down at the three claw marks on her desert trousers. Blood seeped into the fabric. “I’ve had worse. What about your shoulder?”
He shrugged the shoulder in question. “Just a bruise.” Then he looked up at the darkening sky. “It’ll be nightfall soon. We need to get to shelt
er. There are beasts far worse than the grina that prowl the darkness.” He frowned. “But I still don’t know why it attacked in the daylight.”
Neve moved closer to the beast’s body. Something light-colored lay deep within the shaggy fur around its neck. “Do they usually wear collars?”
“What?” Corsair strode forward and dropped down onto one knee. He fished through the fur and then held something up.
It was a length of rope, with a clump of small bones attached to it. Neve grimaced.
“The desert witch,” Corsair murmured. He stared at the beast a moment longer, before he stood.
He let out a sharp whistle, and a second later, their tarnid trotted up to them. Corsair pulled out a rope. He tied it to the back of the tarnid’s saddle, then looped the other end around the dead beast, securing it tightly.
Neve raised a brow.
“They’re good eating,” he said. “And this one has a good hide. Perfect for making tents or saddles. In the desert, we never waste anything.”
She climbed back onto the tarnid, wincing at a few new aches and pains. Corsair settled in behind her. When he wrapped an arm around her belly, pulling her back tight against him, she didn’t complain.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
He urged the tarnid into a run. “You’ll see. Somewhere safe.”
The sting in her leg felt worse, now that the danger was past and her adrenaline was leeching away. She forced herself to ignore it.
The first sun slipped below the horizon, and a multitude of stars blinked on in the night sky. It wasn’t long before she spotted a glowing light in the sand ahead. She leaned forward, trying to make it out.
It was a large fire. In the flickering light, she made out several tarnids, and some other beasts, set up in a large circle. A number of tents sat in the center.
Corsair’s grip tightened on her, but she felt some of the tension leave his muscled body. “Welcome to the Corsair Caravan.”
Chapter 4
As soon as they passed the caravan sentries, Corsair felt a sense of rightness move through him, along with a flash of relief. He was home.
