Alice stepped to the side of Luka, her fists balled. “Verakko.” She nodded, her voice almost too quiet to hear.
Verakko’s nostrils flared as he approached, but his face remained passive. “Sal has agreed to help whether or not you speak with him, but if you’re willing, he’d like to repent.”
A wave of bitter fear hit Luka’s nose. He twisted his neck from side to side, the satisfying popping and cracking doing nothing to settle his nerves.
Rounding her lips, Alice took a deep, shaking breath in through her mouth and out through her nose, then said, “I’ll talk to him.”
Verakko crossed to the second cruiser and gave it a few swift knocks. Alice slipped her hand into Luka’s, gripping his fingers with what seemed like all the strength she had.
The first person to exit was Kadion, a military general and member of the Tremantian Council. It made sense one of the Queen’s most trusted generals would be assigned this task.
Behind him, Sal emerged, scowling. As the two males made their way over, Sal’s yellow eyes scanned his surroundings then settled on Alice.
Luka had to concentrate all his energy on not clenching his fists and pulverizing his small mate’s hand. He leaned down and pointed to a thick metal band circling Sal’s neck. “Do you see that?” He then pointed to a smaller metal band circling Kadion’s large bicep. “It’s magnetically attached to the one on the soldier’s arm.” Alice peered up at him while nibbling on her lip. “He won’t be able to walk more than a few feet away from Kadion’s band.”
Alice pressed a soft kiss to his shoulder and rested her other hand on his forearm. “Thank you.”
Kadion halted, forcing Sal to stop as well, about five feet away. Both male’s noses crinkled for an instant, picking up the scent of his mate’s fear.
She and Sal stood staring at one another, the silence becoming deafening.
“Say what you want to say,” he barked at Sal, making Alice flinch.
Sal didn’t so much as glance at him but began speaking to Alice in a croaky voice. “I want to apologize for my role in your abduction.”
Seeming to find her voice in anger, she snapped, “Why? Why are you sorry? Why are you helping now? You didn’t seem to give two shits when you were pushing me into a cell with a stranger.”
A vein ticked in Sal’s forehead, his gaze swinging briefly to Luka. “I knew he wouldn’t hurt you, even drugged, but you’re right. I didn’t care. I was angry with our world and how our people have been forced to live, but when I found out what Helas did, what they all did, I knew I had to do what I could to make amends.”
“What he did?” she repeated quietly.
Sal’s throat worked, gaze going distant before he spoke again. “I was told the non-human and non-Clecanian prisoners were transported to another facility. But—” He looked to the ground and shook his head. “I didn’t sign up for indiscriminate slaughter. I wanted to help our people. To make a difference. I didn’t understand the lengths they’d go to.”
Luka glanced between Alice and Sal and inwardly groaned. He could see it on his mate’s face. The compassion he loved was welling inside her. This traitorous animal who didn’t deserve acknowledgment, much less her pity, would earn her forgiveness.
To his surprise, rather than softening, she dragged her hands onto her hips and nodded imperiously. “You want to redeem yourself? Fine. Prove it. Show us how to free everyone who’s still trapped.”
Pride swelled in him. His mate was compassionate, yes, but not weak.
Turning, she presented Sal with her back. Instinctively, Luka stepped between them to shield her.
After Kadion and Sal had walked away, Alice faced him. She pressed her hands to his chest and whispered, “Are you okay?”
He gave a humorless chuckle. “I won’t be okay until we’re gone from here, but I’m content to sit back and admire you for the moment.”
“I’m glad.” Her smile became nervous. “But I’m worried how you’re going to handle this next bit.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re not going to like this, but I need to talk to Helas.”
“No, absolutely not,” he growled, wrapping his palms around her wrists. He would rip Helas apart before he allowed the male to so much as look at Alice.
“Luka,” she said, her voice pleading, “I have questions. Questions only he can answer.”
“I’ll ask him for you. Tell me your questions.” A stone dropped in his gut. The look spreading over her face was one he’d seen before. “Why do you think he’d tell you the truth, anyway?”
“Because he’s a pompous ass. Whenever he came to talk to me, he’d always talk about himself and his plans. He craves attention, and he probably hasn’t talked to many people while locked up. Besides, there’d be no point in lying about the things I want to ask. There’s nothing to gain.” She pushed her shoulders back and raised her chin. “I need to do this for me, Luka. This is how I’ll get closure.”
Verakko motioned for the party to start moving through the forest. Sal led the way. Luka glanced toward the second cruiser again, fury and frustration edging his thoughts.
From the dark interior, Helas emerged, face as smug as ever. Luka’s muscles burned. His fingers itched to wrap around the male’s thick neck.
Alice pulled him back. “I think it’d be better if you hung back and let me talk to him on my own.”
Luka felt as though he’d been slapped, and the look of concern that flashed over her features told him she clearly saw his hurt.
“I wouldn’t ask except I don’t know if you’re going to be able to control yourself. You seem like you’re ready to tear his head off, and you’ve
