by Hope Hart
Frustration courses through my body as another Dokhall replaces him. I snarl as my arms tingle, finally working again, and this time I manage to swipe my sword off the ground before beheading the creature in one movement.
The ground shakes, and my ears ring as Rakiz’s next roar is echoed by something much more dangerous.
Dragix.
Charlie is on his back, a long knife in her hand. The dragon swoops, blowing fire at the Dokhalls at the edge of the group attacking us.
They turn to ash.
Dragix banks, cutting through the sky as he turns for another dive.
Dokhalls scatter, screaming. I don’t bother chasing them. Instead, I attempt to discern which direction Zoey and Nevada were taken. The attack has likely made it much more difficult for us to find them, the Dokhalls erasing any tracks.
I grind my teeth.
Kroniz reaches me. His color is slightly better, but he can barely meet my eyes, and I know he is filled with shame at his failure.
“There were no reports of Dokhalls in the area,” I tell him. “Our sentries failed. Our guards failed—”
“And I failed.”
My hands fist as I think of the karja, who warned us of a scent he didn’t like in the forest. I planned to talk to Rakiz about it but hadn’t yet found the time.
Because I was too busy figuring out how to get out of my mating with Malis.
“We all failed,” I grind out.
“You were working with the information you had,” Jozet says as he approaches us. “There was no way for you to know you should have been closer to the females.”
Kroniz’s jaw tightens. “I failed them. But I won’t fail them again.”
I survey the area as Dragix flies in Rakiz’s direction.
Hewex arrives, out of breath after fighting alongside Rakiz’s group.
“There is a small cave northeast of here,” he murmurs, closing his eyes, and I know he’s picturing a map of this area in his head. Few people know directions like Hewex. He has spent most of his life away from camp.
“A cave?” I attempt to picture it, and he opens his eyes with a nod.
“It’s in what used to be Voildi territory. No Braxian would choose to go there unless they were specifically hunting any remaining Voildi in the area.”
My stomach muscles clench. “If the Dokhalls have taken the females to the cave, any Voildi who still believe it is their territory may also attack.”
“There is also another cave to the west,” he says. “It’s a karja’s lair.”
I tense. A karja in the wild will fight any who attempt to claim its territory. If it’s full-grown, we will need to be on our guard.
“What else?”
He closes his eyes again. “If we continue north, we will be heading toward the Colossal Water.”
I don’t believe the Dokhalls can travel across the water, but I remember the sentry telling Rakiz they were seen speaking with the Zintas. Could this kidnapping be part of some larger plan?
I glance at Jozet. “Send one of the younger warriors back to Rakiz. Tell him we are moving north.”
Zoey
I watch out of half-closed eyelids as the Dokhall with the broken nose takes a cup of water.
Maradoza berries taste bitter, but the Dokhall doesn’t seem to notice, guzzling the water down and dipping his cup for more.
I chew on my lip. Maybe I didn’t squeeze enough juice into the water?
There’s nothing I can do about it—it’s not like I have any more berries to add.
One Arm follows him into the cave, muttering about the Dokhall that left earlier. He still hasn’t returned, and it seems as if their plans are now falling apart.
That’s what you get, motherfuckers.
Nevada clenches my hand, and my heart aches at the pain and fear on her face. Labor is the most vulnerable time in a woman’s life, and if the warriors don’t find us soon, Nevada might be giving birth in a cave.
One Arm follows his friend’s lead, drinking a cup of water. He doesn’t take any more, and I chew on my lip. I only had a few berries, and there was a lot of water. I need them to at least fall unconscious, although honestly, I wouldn’t be all that upset if they fell over and died.
Nevada groans again.
“Be quiet,” One Arm says.
I glare at him. “She’s in labor, asshole.”
I turn back to Nevada, and I don’t see his fist coming. It slams into the side of my head, and fireworks appear in front of my eyes.
“Zoey,” Nevada gasps, and I take a moment, wrestling with the pain that explodes through my brain.
“I’m okay.”
The Dokhall sneers at me, walks back to the front of the cave, and sits down, waiting.
Long Horns is clearly enraged, pacing back and forth in front of the cave entrance, shooting Nevada and me furious looks. If he didn’t need us, I have no doubt we’d already be dead.
Where are you, Tagiz?
I’m not allowing myself to imagine the worst. That this was part of some bigger attack and Tagiz is lying somewhere, dead.
“Where the hell is Rakiz?” Nevada growls. “I’m going to kick his ass when I see him next.”
I laugh softly at that, and Broken Nose glowers at me from where he’s leaning against the cave wall.
Do his eyes look blurry? He blinks, and my heart stutters in my chest as it takes him a second to reopen his eyes.
Nevada lets out a wail, and Long Horns glowers, stepping back into the cave.
That’s when Broken Nose slumps to the ground.
“Zoey,” Nevada gasps, hunched over. “Reach under my dress and hand me my knife. Cover my body so they can’t see.”
Long Horns is standing in front of his friend, nudging him with his foot. One Arm steps toward him and stumbles, his brow furrowed in confusion.
I shove Nevada’s dress up, my hand searching for the hilt of the knife. I grab it, passing it to her, and One Arm drops to his knees.
Long Horns narrows his eyes at his friend as he loses consciousness, and my hands begin to shake as he swings his head, eyes focused on us.
“What did you do?” he snarls.
He stalks over to us, grabbing me by the front of my dress and hauling me up to my knees. In a perfect moment of unity, I reach back as Nevada slides the handle of the knife into my hand.
Long Horns shakes me, and I gasp. He raises his fist, and I swing my arm wildly.
Surprise is on my side.
Blood sprays my face as I slash the knife across his throat. I may not know much about self-defense, but I sure as hell know where the carotid artery is in humans. And it looks like Dokhalls have a large artery in a similar spot.
He drops me, gurgling as he clutches at his throat. It’s not pretty, and my stomach is swimming as he falls to the ground.
“Holy shit, Zo. Remind me never to piss you off.”
I swallow down bile. I’ve never killed anyone before. I don’t know if the other Dokhalls are dead, but I get to my feet, still clutching the knife in my hand.
Nevada is silent as I step close to One Arm. I hesitate, my heart pounding. If he’s conscious, this could be the last move I make.
Nevada groans, the sound more like a sob, and a surge of protectiveness makes the decision for me.
I lean down and slice his throat.
Broken Nose is already dead, his mouth covered in foam. I step over him, my movements mechanical, my body numb. Am I in shock?
Nevada gets to her feet, leaning against the cave wall as she rocks from side to side. I move further out of the cave, throw my head back, and scream as loud as I can.
I continue until I’m hoarse, and Nevada nods approvingly.
“You’re not worried about more Dokhalls?” I ask her.
“We’re close enough to camp that if the Braxians are looking for us, surely someone will have heard that. Besides, if the Dokhalls get here first, maybe you can offer them some water.”
I narrow my eyes at her.
“Ha ha.”
She grins and then clenches her eyes shut, moaning. I rub her lower back, and she leans into my hands.
“That helps,” she says.
“I need to examine you. I’m not going to touch you until I can wash my hands, but I need to see what’s going on. Is that okay?”
She nods, and I help her sit back down against the cave wall.
Nevada has had her bloody show. And within a few minutes, she’s no longer interested in talking between contractions. I go outside again and scream some more.
I have my head tipped back, the knife clutched in my hand, and I’m screaming furiously at the sky when Tagiz and Hewex burst through the trees, a group of warriors behind them.
I take one look at Tagiz and burst into tears.
He grabs me, pulling me close. Behind him, Hewex checks the Dokhalls, glancing from the Dokhalls to the knife in my hand, and his eyes widen slightly.
Tagiz’s huge hands cup my face, and suddenly I’m gasping into his mouth as he devours me.
His lips are hot and hard, and one of his hands slides to my back, pulling me even closer. I tilt my head sideways, and he plunders my mouth, not holding back this time.
I revel in it.
The tiniest moan leaves my throat, and it’s that sound of pure want that shakes me from my daze.
I push away from Tagiz, trembling. “Where’s Rakiz?”
He opens his mouth, his eyes dark as he begins to explain something about another attack, but Nevada calls my name.
I glance back at the cave. “We can’t move her without a mishua. Send someone for Rakiz.”
Tagiz nods and turns to one of the warriors. “Run,” he says, and the guy sprints back in the direction they came from.
“I’m scared more of them will come.”
“We have Kroniz and some of the other warriors guarding the perimeter.”
Relief rushes through me. “Okay. I need you guys to boil some water,” I tell Tagiz.
He glances at Jozet, who is staring at the cave, horror on his face as Nevada groans in pain.
I elbow Jozet. “Water. Now.”
He gets to work, gathering sticks for the fire, and I head back into the cave.
Nevada opens her eyes, squinting at Tagiz.
“Rakiz?” she pants.
“He’s coming,” I say. “It’s going to be okay.”
I glance at Tagiz. “Tell me they’re bringing a healer.”
“Moni was with Rakiz. We were all separated during the attack. Dragix arrived and handled the Dokhalls we were fighting, and he was circling back toward Rakiz when we left.”
Nevada gets onto her hands and knees, a long groan leaving her throat. Tagiz’s face turns white.
Jozet approaches. He’s managed to find another bowl from the sad collection of utensils in the corner. The Dokhalls must have been here for at least a few days. Maybe even longer.
Steam is rising from the bowl, and I smile at him.
“Place it right there, please. I need some string, a knife that hasn’t been used to kill anyone recently, and the cleanest, warmest shirt we have.”
The guys get to work, murmuring amongst themselves, and I turn to Nevada, who is currently in her own little world, dealing with the pain.
I examine her, and my chest fills with dread, although I manage to keep my voice light, confident.
“Okay, Vada. Soon, you’ll probably get the urge to push. Wait until you can’t do anything but push, and then you’ll give it all you’ve got.”
She nods, and I take some of the clean water, giving her a few sips. I rip the sleeve off my dress and bathe her face.
Jozet’s eyes are wild when I glance at the warriors, and Tagiz still looks pale. They have no problem slaughtering any creatures who threaten us, but the sight of a woman in labor has stunned them into terrified silence.
Jozet breaks that silence as Nevada lets out a sound of such agony that my heart flips in sympathy. “Rakiz needs to be here.”
“Well, he isn’t. Pass me that shirt.”
“She can’t die without him.”
I swing my head so fast I’m surprised I don’t get whiplash. “Excuse me?”
Nevada stares at him, her face creased in exhaustion as she recovers from her last contraction. “You think I’m going to die?”
“The baby…” His voice trails off as he glances between Nevada and me. Then he seems to get some courage from somewhere because his jaw tightens. “The-The size of the baby. Human females cannot birth it.”
I don’t think I’ve ever seen this kind of fear in Nevada’s eyes before, and the sight makes me tremble with rage as I get to my feet.
“Get out.”
“But—”
I point to the entrance. “Stand there, guard us, and don’t say another fucking word.”
I narrow my eyes at Tagiz as Nevada lets out a sound that reminds me of a wounded animal.
It’s followed by a masculine roar. “Nevada!”
Oh, thank God. Rakiz runs into the cave, his eyes wild as he reaches for his mate. Nevada is in the middle of a contraction, and she slaps his hands away as he attempts to cup her face.
“Give her a moment,” I murmur. “Where’s Moni?”
“We had to send the healers back when we were attacked. She’s on the way now.”
Nevada reaches for Rakiz’s hand, panting. “I knew you’d get here. I knew you’d make it. If I die, you have to tell the baby all about me. Teach them to be brave and strong but to ask for help when they need it. Teach them about family and friendship and tell them their mama loved them more than anything in the world.”
Rakiz’s face pales. “You’re not dying.” His eyes are wild when they meet mine. “Tell her she’s not dying.”
I throw my hands up into the air. “For the love of God, enough with the dramatics,” I say, keeping my voice light. “Women have been birthing babies—even huge babies—for thousands of years.”
Nevada ignores that. “Promise.”
“I promise,” he says, and then his eyes meet mine again, and my chest aches at the sight of our tribe king filled with fear.
Chapter Twelve
Tagiz
“I need to push,” Nevada says.
“Go ahead,” Zoey replies, her voice calm. But I know the little healer better than anyone else. I have studied her expressions, her body language, the tilt of her head, everything about her since the moment I first laid eyes on her.
She is not calm. Not at all.
She rinses her hands in the water, scrubbing them over and over.
Nevada clutches at Rakiz, pushes him away, and then pulls him close again, wailing. “You did this to me, you bastard. If I die, I’m going to haunt you forever.”
Rakiz leans over and presses a kiss to her forehead. “I would welcome your presence any way I could have it, karja, but you will not die. You would not leave our baby without a mother.”
I move closer to the cave entrance in an attempt to give them more privacy, but I can’t help but be fascinated by the way my tiny healer takes control. She directs Rakiz into position until he is sitting behind Nevada.
At one point, Zoey glances at me and orders more water, and I relay the instruction to Jozet, who jumps into action, his shoulders still hunched in shame.
Nevada vomits, noisily, and Zoey declares it “perfectly normal,” gently wiping her mouth.
Jozet arrives with more water.
“I saw Moni through the trees,” he says.
“Oh, thank God,” Zoey murmurs, her eyes still on Nevada as she pushes.
“Don’t leave me,” Nevada groans.
“I won’t. I promise.”
Nevada screams a curse, and Rakiz flinches. His eyes meet mine for a long moment, and I can see the regret.
He knows this was a mistake.
Zoey raises her voice, drawing Nevada’s attention. “Mouth closed, Vada. If you’re yelling, the energy is going out of the wrong hole.”
Nevada manag
es to choke out a laugh. “I hate you.”
“I know. The head is almost out. Push.”
Nevada pants. “I can’t do this.”
“Look at me. At me. You only have a few more pushes and you’ll get to meet your baby. You can do this. I promise.”
Nevada shakes her head, but then she lets out a scream that’s filled with so much pain that I instinctively move closer, wishing I could do something…anything to help.
“What do you need?” I ask Zoey.
She glances at me, wincing in sympathy as she murmurs something about a “ring of fire.” “More water.”
I jump into action, striding out of the cave, and it’s not until I return that I realize there are still two full bowls of water next to her. Zoey is clearly just trying to keep us busy.
Rakiz’s eyes meet mine, and I know he feels even more useless than I do.
Zoey glances at me. “I need that sharp knife. Boil it in water and bring it to me.”
I do as she says, and as soon as I return, Moni comes bustling in.
She kneels next to Zoey between Nevada’s legs, nodding approvingly at whatever she sees.
Zoey glances up at me. “Hold the knife and don’t let anything touch the blade.”
I nod, moving next to Rakiz. From here, I can see Zoey’s face, her brow furrowed in concentration.
“The head is out, Nevada,” she says, her voice low, encouraging. “I can see a beautiful head of hair. It’s just the shoulders now. One more push and your baby is here.”
I glance down at Nevada’s face. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone look so exhausted before.
Rakiz nuzzles her hair. “You can do it, karja. Let’s meet our child.”
One more howl, and Moni and Zoey jump into action. Within moments, Zoey is holding a tiny creature, one of her fingers gently stroking its nose. She takes Jozet’s shirt and uses it to vigorously rub the baby’s back until it lets out a wail that makes everyone smile in relief.
Zoey’s eyes are damp as she grins up at Nevada. “You have a baby girl.”
Rakiz takes the knife from me, slicing through something long and coiled that makes my stomach roll. Then the baby is placed on Nevada’s chest, and Rakiz is beaming, eyes lit in pure joy as he presses kisses to both their heads.
