“I want them sold. Quickly. Before the weak one dies. I’m tired of waiting, and we need payment so we can afford more weapons.”
Hook nods. “I will make your wishes known, milord.”
I slump in my cage. If we’re sold, at least we’ll have an opportunity to escape.
Killis and Hook leave, and I move closer to Zoey, keeping my voice low even though the room is empty.
“Did you hear that, Zo? We may be getting out of here.”
“Yeah, before the weak one dies.” Zoey’s voice is a hoarse whisper, and I reach my hand between the bars, angling my arm until I can brush the hair off her face.
“Let them underestimate you,” I tell her. “‘He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.’”
Zoey shifts, getting slowly to her knees. “Is that from the bible or something?”
“The Art of War. And we’re going to take these bastards down.”
She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “I need you to promise me something,” she wheezes.
“Zoey—”
“Shh. You know what I’m going to say. The exact same thing you said to Beth. You see an opportunity, you take it.”
“No.”
“What happened to ‘We do whatever is best for all of us. If even one of us can get away, we can get help for the others,’ huh?”
I scowl. “That’s some memory you’ve got there. It’s different now.”
“Because I’m dying.”
“You’re not dying.”
“Did you forget our conversation when I told you I’m a nurse?”
I sigh. No, I didn’t. We don’t chat much, but we’ve shared enough that I know that Zoey is from New York too, and I often bring patients to the hospital she works at. It’s a small universe.
“Fine,” I say. “If I have a chance to escape, I’ll take it, and I promise I’ll bring back help.”
Zoey nods, slowly lying back down. That simple conversation seems to have exhausted her, and I pass the next few minutes by kicking at the wooden slats of my cage again.
A shadow appears in the doorway, and I freeze, my hands behind my butt, feet still poised in the air. The shadow moves, and I gulp at the huge creature, who strides into the room, unexpectedly quick given his size.
“Aroth,” Killis says, his tone surprisingly diffident, “we believe you will enjoy these alien females.”
Aroth’s claws remind me of Wolverine’s, and his body is covered in…fur. From the way the creature is scanning my body, I’m guessing that he’s the Zinta that Killis was talking about.
I shift until I’m leaning against the back wall of my cage, but the furry monster drops to his knees, peering in at me.
“Flame Hair,” he rumbles. “Take her out.”
Killis is standing behind the Zinta, and he nods toward Hook, who moves forward, unlatching my cage and opening the door.
“Out,” Killis orders, and I stay where I am.
Aroth laughs, seemingly delighted with my defiance. He leans down, reaches into the cage, and drags me out.
I fight, but the guy probably has a solid two hundred pounds on me, if not more. As soon as I’m standing, he steps back, running his gaze over me.
His eyes are a deep green, cold and shrewd. His head is also covered in fur, although it’s thinner around the center of his face.
“Like what you see, Flame Hair?”
I raise one eyebrow. “I’ve never seen a talking bear before. Forgive me for staring.”
Unless they have bears on this planet, he won’t get the reference, and yet he seems to understand that he’s been insulted. He grins at me, displaying sharp white teeth.
“I like her,” he tells Killis, and I mentally kick myself.
“What about the other one?”
I glance at where Zoey is curled up in her cage, making herself as small as possible.
“I can smell sickness on her,” Aroth says.
Killis lets out a low growl, and the Zinta turns to him, raising his eyebrow.
“I have business here in Nexia, and also in Malufic later today. You will take the female to Malufic, and I will take her from there.”
“I’m not leaving Zoey,” I say, and everyone ignores me. Aroth reaches out to touch my hair, and I bat away his hand with a curse. He laughs, and I realize he’s getting off on the fact that I want nothing to do with him. This doesn’t bode well for me.
Hook shoves me back in my cage as the males discuss payment. For me. I’m going to need some solid time in the dentist’s chair when I get back to Earth. My teeth will probably be nothing but stubs after all this grinding.
They all leave the room, and I pound at the wooden slats in my cage.
“What the hell did they reinforce this thing with?” I snarl. “Concrete?”
Zoey is quiet beside me, and I glance over to see her facing me, her eyes serious.
“You know what to do,” she says. “This is your chance.”
I slam my fist into the cage, but it doesn’t make me feel any better.
“Come back for me,” she whispers. “I want to die with the sun on my face.”
“You’re not dying,” I growl. “But I’ll get help and come back. I promise.”
We’re quiet for the next few hours until another Voildi returns. I haven’t seen this one around, and he seems bored as he unlocks my cage and gestures for me to get out.
I get to my feet, my head down, shoulders hunched. The Voildi reaches for my arm, and I swing my other fist at his jaw. It connects, and he shouts as his head slams back into the wall. I shove past him, but Voildi are pouring into the room. I meet Zoey’s gaze, and she gives me a tiny grin before I’m dragged away.
Ivy
Killis comes with us to Malufic. Hook keeps a close eye on me, and I grin at him, wincing as the movement stretches my split lip.
My escape attempt wasn’t productive, but it sure was fun.
We’ve been walking for a few hours now. Killis left most of the Voildi
