“What about Rita and Vanessa?” she demanded.
“Who?”
Alice felt her whole body shoot tight with fury, and Luka was behind her in an instant, gripping her shoulders.
A snarl exploded from him. “The females you abducted and caged like animals,” he bellowed.
Through clenched teeth, she bit out, “Rita, the older woman, and Vanessa, the tall brunette—she has a sister.”
“Ah.” Helas stepped over a fallen tree, appearing unconcerned that he didn’t know the names of the women he’d kidnapped. “Well, I don’t know why Vanessa didn’t list her sister, but she didn’t. As for Rita…” Helas scowled. “We made the mistake of hiring the Tarfoo to retrieve females after the disappearance of our Cae contacts. The imbeciles didn’t learn enough about humans and misread her age.” He curled his lip and narrowed his eyes on Sal, walking ahead of them. “Good help is hard to find.”
Luka’s grip on her shoulders tightened, and she saw a small stone building come into view ahead of them. She had to wrap this up. “How many women are still being held?”
“Many.” His matter-of-fact tone made her skin crawl.
“Is there someone in charge of all the Insurgents?”
Helas’ face paled. Interesting.
Traef slowed his steps again when Helas remained silent.
“You can shock me all you want. There are some things I’ll never tell. That zap is like a clippet bite in comparison to what’ll happen if I’m found to be disloyal.”
Before Alice could argue, Verakko called from the head of the group, “Bring Helas. We’re here.”
“One more thing,” she said, halting Traef, who’d begun to drag Helas toward the cabin. Both men turned to look at her. Helas appeared bored. “Your group—Purity. Reform. Integrity. Clecania.” She waited for Helas’ attention to shift back to her after angrily flashing toward Luka. “On our planet, PRIC means tiny dick.”
She let the unnecessary blow hang in the air and repressed the cruel mirth she felt when undisguised fury roared onto Helas’ face. Traef gave a hearty laugh and dragged a glowering Helas away.
Some of her tension lightened. Knowing why and how’d she’d been taken had helped her come to terms with her situation, and she was excited to be able to provide the other human women with some answers as well. Rounding in place, she leapt into Luka’s outstretched arms.
As if sensing she just needed his reassuring touch, he stayed silent. Cupping her nape and leaning his cheek against the top of her head, he held her.
Eventually, when her heartbeat slowed and the lingering nausea rolling through her subsided, she moved away. Grasping his hand without a word, they walked slowly to the cabin.
Chapter 25
The interior of the small building was crowded yet comfortable. A large lavish couch and bed took up most of the small space, leaving only enough room for three or four people to occupy at a time.
Bile rose in her throat to imagine Helas lounging in here comfortably while watching Insurgent members do God knew what to innocent victims.
From the open doorway, Alice peered in and saw Sal directing General Kadion. Pointing at a rough white stone, surrounded by identical stones set into the wall, he explained they’d need to raise Helas’ hand and press it to the exact area.
Strong arms wrapped around her chest, locking her own arms to her sides. The curving black designs along the wrists told her they belonged to Luka. Lifting her, he carried her away from the scene.
She squirmed. “Hey! Luka—”
“No, Alice,” he interrupted, his deep voice rough. “I stood back while you accepted an apology from Sal. I didn’t interfere when you questioned Helas. This is just curiosity, though. You aren’t needed right now, and if Sal is leading us into a trap, I don’t want you anywhere near that hut.”
He was right. Knowing he couldn’t see her childish reaction, she pouted. When he’d judged them to be far enough away, he set her down.
They looked on in silence as both guards and prisoners moved in and out of the cabin, Sal directing and Helas unwillingly following directions.
Now you know how it feels, asshole.
Verakko remained inside. Has he found the computers or systems or whatever they were called yet? Can he see the women? Are they alive?
Alice couldn’t take it anymore. She began walking forward, but Luka stopped her with a hand on her arm.
“I need to know what’s happening,” she begged. “Helas wouldn’t blow up the building with him still inside it. I just want to know if the women are alive.”
Luka’s lips thinned. His brow furrowed as he studied her. Straightening, he surveyed the woods around them. “I will go see what’s happening, and you will stay here. Do you hear me, Alice? You. Will. Stay. Here.”
She frowned, sticking her hands on her hips. “Yes. I understand.”
Stomping away, he leaned into the hut doorway, then waited for the guards and prisoners to clear the room before entering.
As he disappeared inside, a seed of doubt sprouted in her. What if it was dangerous? Had she just risked the man she loved because she couldn’t wait a few minutes? Feeling her heartbeat pick up, she rocked on her feet.
I promised not to move. She hesitated for only a second longer. Fuck it.
She’d no sooner taken two steps toward the house when rustling from above made her stop.
Dropping from the trees in a flash, five winged men rushed Kadion and Traef. Frozen in place, she watched in terror as a pulse of blue light shot from a black glove covering one of the winged men’s palms and hit Traef in the head. He slumped, unmoving at Helas’ feet.
The small door to the hut swung open, and an infuriated Luka stepped into the fray, closing the door behind him. Meeting her terrified eyes, he
