“What is it?” He held it out for me: a small shuriken sheathed inside an arm wrap with Velcro.
He wrapped it snuggly around my left upper arm, and then I slid on a mauve long-sleeve shirt, which hid the shuriken well.
After pulling on my cargo pants, I slipped into black boots and secured two more daggers inside, one in each.
Already dressed, Murda held out his hand. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
We met the others—around ten in total for the first wave. More would follow further back. Their black and chrome uniforms seemed to shift, making it hard to focus until I stood right in front of them. Strange. They carried some sort of odd-looking weapon.
Gar handed Murda a small device, which he tucked into his right ear. I guessed it was some type of communication device.
We entered the tunnel, and without a word, Murda swung me up in his arms, and everyone took off at an impossible, inhuman speed. It made me wonder what else I didn’t know about the Tizuns—about him.
We arrived in half the time. When he stood me on my feet, I smacked his chest. “You could’ve done that the first time and saved us a lot of walking!”
He smirked, then faced the stone door. After placing a disc on the indentation, the door creaked open. Slowly, Murda led everyone forward.
My heart roared in my ears with every step, which pissed me off.
I stopped dead in my tracks.
Everyone around me stopped moving.
“Millie?” Murda sounded concerned, but I couldn’t look at him right now.
“Just give me a second.” Closing my eyes, I needed to become the angry Millicent who wanted to kill all the Andores, the one set on revenge. Taking one slow, deep breath, I felt my resolve. My shoulders relaxed and I rolled my head from side to side. I probably looked like I was gearing up for a fight. Opening my eyes, I shook my shoulders free of tension. “Ready.”
Murda nodded and we all moved forward once again.
Around the corner, just outside the colonel’s door, Murda turned to face Gar.
“Stay here until we are inside,” I heard him say in a barely audible whisper. “I will keep the channel open.”
They stared at each other, almost as if something else passed between them, some unspoken order that only they understood. Gar nodded.
Murda glanced at me. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
We took the last few steps. Murda knocked twice. The door slid open and I followed him inside.
Colonel Petroff did not look pleased as he stared at me with murderous eyes. In contrast, the colors revealed he was also extremely happy to see me. It made no sense.
“Murda, Millicent,” he purred with false charm. “So glad you could join us. Please, take a seat.”
I didn’t want to sit. Jyan stood on the other side with a blank look on his face, almost as if he was bored. And yet…
Tugging Murda’s arm, he leaned down, and I made sure to speak into the ear with the communicator.
“Something isn’t right.”
“What do you see?” he barely whispered.
“The colonel is very happy, but Jyan—triumph and giddiness. Almost as if he’s won something. I’m thinking ambush.”
Murda nodded. “Stay alert.” I knew that was meant for Gar and the others.
“Ahem.” The colonel pointed to the chairs. “Shall we get started?” It wasn’t really a question.
We took our seats while Jyan sat on the opposite side, all of us facing the colonel. With his elbows resting on the desk, he stared at me.
“Murda, you have been accused of harboring a Human who was promised to another. How do you answer those charges?”
“They are false.” The way he said it so confidently made me want to smile. But I didn’t.
“And yet, I am Millicent’s guardian, and here she is… with you.”
I didn’t need to look to know Murda was staring at him with hard brimstone eyes. With any luck, those teeth of his also showed from under his top lip.
Finally, he spoke. “I know not what you speak of. Millicent is my wife, and no longer under your protection. She cannot be promised to another unless you want war.”
Eyes widening, the colonel paled a little.
“Your wife?” he nearly shouted.
“Yes. I thought you knew and that is why you insisted on this meeting.”
The colonel’s face turned red as he chewed on the inside of his jaw. When I looked over at Jyan, I saw jealousy, anger, and hate, even though physically he still looked bored. Definitely an ambush at some point.
“You have proof of this wedding?” The colonel crossed his arms and leaned back. “Millicent, why are you not speaking? Were you forced?”
I scoffed and shook my head. The asshole had been prepared to force me into marriage himself, but now, if I said the word, he would make an example out of Murda. Or at least, he would try.
“Forced to marry Murda? No. He was my choice.”
To see the rage on the colonel’s face was totally worth coming here. I never thought I’d get so much satisfaction just from watching him squirm in his chair. He’d been outmaneuvered, and he knew it.
“You have proof of this…marriage?” he asked again, sneering over the last word.
I held up my hand, palm forward, showing off the glyph. “It was a Tizun wedding.”
Apparently bored with this line of questioning, Jyan looked straight at Murda and asked bluntly, “Where’s Raun?”
“How would I know?”
“My men spotted your people near where he disappeared.” His eyes shot to mine, and I knew he suspected something.
“We occasionally have detainees that trespass. Perhaps he is there.”
“You killed him!”
“I assure you, I did not.”
Jyan leapt up from his chair. “Lies!”
Murda slowly got to his feet. I followed.
The colonel stood next. “Now gentlemen…” he began, but it did no good.
I knew the moment Jyan decided to act so I drew my dagger as Andores rushed through one door, Tizuns dashing through the other.
Murda would take care of Jyan, but I wanted my uncle—the lying, worthless asshole who would have given me away to be gang-raped and eventually murdered.
Another secret panel behind his desk opened, and he slipped inside.
I followed.
It wasn’t a secret passage exactly; more of an escape hideout.
When the panel closed behind me, the colonel grabbed my neck with one hand and squeezed. I almost panicked, until I remembered I had my daggers and the shuriken.
Unable to breathe, I placed the tip of the dagger against his throat. That made him loosen his grip and step back.
“You little bitch!” he hissed, not wanting to raise his voice and draw attention. “You’ve ruined everything. Everything!”
“My worthless ‘uncle.’ You would’ve given me to them to rape and abuse, just like you do other women.” Silence. “Aren’t you going to deny it?”
“You…those women…you’re nothing to me.”
I’d always known he felt that way about me, but it still hurt to hear it. “That makes this a little easier. Almost enjoyable, really.”
I stalked forward, dagger pointed at him.
He stepped back, hands up.
“What are you going to do?”
I advanced menacingly. “I killed all of Jyan’s men until I finally killed Raun. Would you like to know why?” His eyes widened, and for the first time, he saw me for what I really was: a pissed-off killer. “Because Jyan's right-hand man killed your sister and my entire family. And you—you’re helping him.”
Not wanting to get in too close and let him overpower me, I grabbed the shuriken and with all the hatred I possessed, reared back and let it fly. I watched as the star-shaped weapon spun until it hit David square in the center of his chest. His eyes widened in shock, and when he looked down at the trickle of blood, I dove
at him.
“Wha…” he began, but I was already slitting his throat.
He slumped to the ground. I reached down, yanking the shuriken from his chest. “Goodbye David.”
And then I walked out, ice-cold with rage.
The Andores and Tizuns fought hand-to-hand, although some held guns. But it was too close quarters to risk hitting one’s own people.
My eyes sought and found Murda. He was holding his own. Quickly surveying the room, Venge had two Andores backing him into a corner. I slashed, kicked, and ducked my way through the crowd, until I stood behind one of the two attackers. Grabbing his hair, I yanked his head back and slit his throat.
Venge plunged his dagger into the other one, gave me an odd look, and moved on.
The fight was winding down; more Andores than Tizuns lay wounded or dead. Murda had fared well, but Jyan… where was he? I scanned the fallen men, but couldn’t find him. I didn’t realize my mistake until it was too late.
Someone grabbed me from behind, pulling me inside the Andore passageway. When a scream tore loose, he slapped his hand over my mouth.
I elbowed him in the stomach.
“Umph,” he grunted. “You like it rough? We can certainly give it to you rough.”
Something hard hit the side of my head and knocked me unconscious.
____________
My head throbbed with each step, my mind fuzzy. Someone had me slung over their shoulder. The darkness hid any clues as to my whereabouts.
When I recognized the feel of the silken Andore clothing though, my mind cleared in an instant.
Oh hell no!
I would not be a helpless victim who endured God knew what. If I was going to get out of this, I needed to keep my head and think, be smart.
Lifting only my eyes, I saw concrete walls, smelled damp mold. We were inside a man-made tunnel, probably one the government had built for secret Andore travel to and from their territory.
I needed to get away before we reached wherever Jyan was taking me. If I didn’t, I doubt they’d give me any chance to escape.
My heart started galloping. I needed to slow it down. What if he had excellent hearing like Murda?
One breath in…
One breath out…
That was better.
Okay, my daggers were missing, and I didn’t think I could take him in hand-to-hand combat; sure, I’d taken down Raun, but that was in a small enclosed space and the fact that he thought I’d be an easy kill gave me an enormous advantage. Jyan obviously had no such illusions.
Slowly, so as not to alert Jyan, I reached up to pat my arm and felt instant relief. The shuriken was still secured to my bicep. Now I had a fighting chance, albeit a small one. Carefully, and as silently as possible, I reached inside my sleeve and unsheathed the star-shaped weapon, covered in my dead uncle’s dried blood. I tensed, waiting…nope. I exhaled softly. If Andores had the same powerful sense of smell as Tizuns, he’d have reacted by now.
My shoulders relaxed a little as I held the cool metal, but I needed to wait until the timing was right. Everything went limp, except my hand. I needed him to think I was weakened from the blow to my head; surprise would be the deciding factor of this soon-to-come battle.
He traveled for a while, perhaps several hours, who really knew for sure? My head hurt; my stomach bouncing off his shoulder felt none too good. I secretly kept hoping that Murda would show up, but quickly reminded myself that I didn’t need a man to rescue me. At least not without first giving it a shot myself. I’d fared well enough over the last few years, and today should be no different.
It felt like an eternity before Jyan stopped. A metal door groaned, as though it hadn’t been used very often.
Interesting.
Still early afternoon, a light breeze brushed my face, the fragrance of wildflowers tickling my nose. The absence of other voices told me I needed to act soon.
Jyan swung me from his shoulder until I hit my back on the ground with a thud. My shoulder throbbed but I didn’t react, playing stunned. Staring at him from the slits in my eyes, I calculated the distance between us.
As soon as he placed his hands on his hips and looked one way and then the other, I kicked, my right boot hitting the center of his groin.
He cupped himself for a couple of seconds and then rage covered his face. He would kill me—there was nothing holding him back now.
“You little bitch!” he snarled, advancing fast.
I scuttled backward, trying to get away and onto my feet.
“This is all your fault,” he growled with another menacing step. He seemed to enjoy stalking me and watching the fear on my face. “And now you’re tainted by that Tizun.”
I hoped that meant that they wouldn’t rape me if given the chance…
With shuriken in hand, I flipped onto my hands and knees and tried to crawl away. His boot slammed into the center of my back and I landed hard—face down.
Jyan came down, straddled me between his thighs and grabbed a handful of hair, yanking my head back before slamming my face into the ground. He kept ranting snide accusations, but I did my best to tune him out, focused on staying alive.
The shuriken cut into my palm, but I didn’t dare let it go. I could take the pain—my life depended on it.
After slamming my face into the ground two or three times—it was hard to keep up—he flipped me over, trapping me between his thighs.
A fist connected with my left eye, which immediately began to swell.
He got in another hit or two before panic ensued; if I couldn’t see, I couldn’t fight.
Jyan reared back with his fist. Half-blind, I let out a blood- curdling scream, letting my arms fly wildly over and over.
And then I hit something.
After two or three swipes he grabbed for my weapon hand and tried to wrestle the shuriken away.
Not happening!
I bucked like a wild animal, the shuriken connecting with his face. A line of blood formed and dripped from his nose and chin.
I don’t know how, but when he leaned back, I managed to wrangle myself out from underneath, and then I took off running as fast as my legs would carry me.
21
Murda
Standing in the colonel’s office, I surveyed the room. The Andores had fared far worse than we did. I’d lost men before, but knowing that the Human had set us up—set Millicent up… When I found him, he was dead. I was finished playing their games, following their rules.
Stalking over to my second in command, I asked, “Where’s the colonel?”
“Gone.”
“He got away?” I took another quick glance, and then my hearts skip a beat. “Where’s the Ryges?”
Gar paled, also taking a quick survey.
Venge came over. “She was here just a few moments ago. She saved my life.”
“Spread out and search. There may be more hidden access tunnels,” I commanded.
Each man checked under fallen comrades and enemies, making sure she wasn’t trapped underneath. I followed the strong scent of Human blood. Behind the colonel’s desk, it permeated from beyond the wall. Carefully skimming my fingers along every edge, I found the touch lever and the door opened.
A hiding spot. The coward tried to hide while everyone else fought. Walking over, I knelt to inspect his wounds.
Gar stood over my shoulder, peering down. “What happened to him?”
Assessing the perforations in his chest and slit throat, there was no doubt. “Millicent.” A wave of pride washed over me.
Back in his office, I still didn’t know where she was. My pride quickly turned to concern and unease.
Strikr drifted in front of me. “She is not here.”
I inhaled sharp and deep, lifted my chin and began issuing orders in a low, deadly tone—my command voice. “Search the building. Venge, take a team and search the Andores’ passageway.”
Venge nodded, turning on his heels as he stalked away.
“And the Human
s?” Gar asked, but he already knew the answer.
“Kill any who attack; leave the rest.”
The men filed out. Immediately I heard shouts and screams, followed by sporadic gunfire. I knew how our feral appearance terrified the Humans.
Let them be scared, I thought coldly.
It only took three minutes before I heard: “Hold your fire!”
Silence, followed by footsteps.
I stood in the center of the liaison’s office, arms crossed, when Gar entered. “One of the officials wishes to speak with you.”
One slight nod and he let the older man with graying hair inside. His eyes shifted to all the dead before finding mine with unease. His constant hand movements, the way he shifted his weight from side to side…he was nervous.
As he should be.
He had only a few moments before I decided if he lived or died.
I waited.
After a beat of silence, he asked, “What happened here?”
I debated answering. After all, I didn’t answer to him. I didn’t answer to any Human, save my wife. Without the help of others, they would be starving…or dying of diseases. No, it was he who needed us. I said as much.
“I do not answer to low-dwellers.”
“Excuse me?” His grayish eyebrows shot up.
“Humans trade their females to the Andores to be used as breeders, and for what? Clean air and medicine, because you destroyed your own world? And yet the females pay the price. And now your colonel set up an ambush. My Ryges is missing. On my world, you are considered low-dwellers—those who cannot be trusted and who do not value their own people.”
“Breeders?”
He seemed genuinely surprised, but I remained unfazed. They’d had ample time to prove themselves, and yet they continued down the same destructive path.
Still, I elaborated. “Breeders. Andori has no females. Once they find a compatible race, they take the females and breed with many at a time. The offspring—always male—is taken away and raised by the Andores, only to repeat the process when the young becomes of age. And the females? They are abused, tortured, and discarded when their minds and bodies are too broken to serve as play things.”
He paled. It only proved their stupidity. How could they place so much trust in a species they knew nothing about?
Falling for the Alien Prince Page 17
