They were pacing now, both of them, their heads glancing toward the door every now and then.
Whoever they were working with had still not shown up—not that she wasn’t happy about that.
It was buying her time to get out of her predicament.
And she needed that time because the outcome was clear.
She was going to be sent to the Tasqals.
The image Aker had on his computer of the beasts was enough to drive fear into her.
She didn’t need to meet one in person.
And she was pretty sure that once she left the base, the chances of the rebels finding and rescuing her were slim to none.
Testing the restraints at her wrists once more, she pulled in a breath as they rubbed over the sensitive skin there.
Fuck.
There must be a way out.
That’s when she heard it.
A sound by the door.
It was so slight, she’d have thought she imagined it, but it was so silent in the room that she was pretty sure there had been a sound.
Her eyes flew to the two purple aliens.
They were so caught up in their worry, it didn’t seem as if they’d heard the sound.
Her lungs started working harder as her eyes focused on the door.
Their friend.
He’d arrived.
Fuck it. She was running out of time.
Her wrists hurt some more as she pulled against the restraints, ignoring the burn.
She was determined to break it, even if it meant tearing off her skin in the process.
This couldn’t be the end for her.
She couldn’t have survived all this only to be taken to the enemy anyway.
Her spirit left her body as a loud bang echoed into the room. Dust flew everywhere, the lights went out, and it took her a few moments to realize just what had caused the noise.
She could see the dark sky and knew that, somehow, the door wasn’t there anymore.
In the dust that rose and now obstructed her vision, something moved.
Something big.
One of the aliens cried out and she heard that cry die on his lips, silenced by the unmistakable sound of bone snapping.
For the next few moments, terror crawled all over her spine.
It was dead silent and then there was the sound of feet scrambling against wood.
The other alien.
He was trying to escape or find cover.
But he didn’t get far.
Through the darkness and dust, she could make out the other alien trying to make it out the door, but a hand reached forward and grasped him by the neck, pulling him back.
There were more cries, and something crashed behind her.
Kerena ducked her head, squeezing her eyes tight.
Glass broke, and things fell and then there was silence.
Did the aliens get betrayed? Was she going to get killed now too?
Fear had a tangible feeling.
Thick and heavy, it weighed down her spine and crawled over her like an invisible cloak. She could feel it brushing over her skin as she felt the air shift behind her.
Whoever had taken out the aliens was behind her.
She could hear him breathing now and she didn’t know what to do.
She was tied to a pole, weaponless and vulnerable.
The only defense she had, was her mind.
Think, Kerena, think!
“Keh-reh-nah…”
That voice.
Her name.
Only one person said her name like that.
Motherfucker.
“You.”
The dim light flickered on and Ajos moved so he was standing in front of her then, the dust settling enough that she could see better.
Ajos stooped, his chest heaving, his eyes roving over her.
He moved his arm toward her before his gaze landed on his outstretched hand.
His entire skin was covered in dark fluid.
He paused and dropped his hand instead.
“Did they touch you?” he asked. “Did they harm you?”
Kerena stared at him.
He looked absolutely…terrifying.
His eyes were wild, and his skin was drawn as if he hadn’t eaten in a while.
She didn’t know what to think.
“No. They didn’t touch me,” she managed to say.
“Did they harm you in any way?”
“No,” she answered, fear ebbing away to be replaced by anger. “Just…can you release me?”
His chest was still heaving but he moved behind her and soon her hands were free.
Kerena rubbed her wrists as she stood on shaky legs.
She could hardly believe what had just happened.
“Did they harm you, Keh-reh-nah?”
What the…?
Maybe he was more mentally unstable than she’d thought?
Maybe he was bipolar.
“I didn’t think you cared.” She spun on him, her eyes raking over his body.
He looked even worse than she’d first realized. “I don’t know how you knew I was here. I have to thank you for that,” she motioned around her, wincing as she saw one of the bodies. It lay crumpled in such a way, it didn’t look like something that was once alive.
Realization hit, and she stared at him.
He’d killed for her.
“You don’t have to thank me for anything. I should have been by your side.”
Kerena blinked. Her anger rising again. “I don’t understand you. First you disappear on me, then you appear and pretend as if I wasn’t there, now you’re back and pretending like nothing has changed between us.”
“Have things changed?”
Kerena threw her hands up and headed toward the door.
She couldn’t deal with this.
She needed space to think.
Strong arms lifted her before she could even cross the threshold, and she was suddenly over his shoulder.
“Put me down. You have no right.”
“I have all the right. You are mine.”
His words stunned her, but she still hammered her fist into his back.
“The hell I am.”
“You are. I know this now. I cannot run away from it. You are mine and you will always be mine, Keh-reh-nah.”
“You really have some nerve.” She had the view of his feet and realized he was walking. “Are you just going to leave them there? The dead guys? Shouldn’t we call someone?”
“V’Alen already knows. I contacted him just before I entered the room.”
“You killed them.”
“And they deserved it.”
She couldn’t argue with that. They were about to sell her off to the enemy.
Kerena released a breath.
“Put me down, damnit.”
“No.”
“Ugh!”
“Say that again later, when I’m inside you.”
That stunned her and made her speechless.
He really did have some nerve.
“You completely ignored
