Page 48 of Primal Vow

"No." Taryn's tone brooked no argument as he dragged himself closer, their faces now inches apart through the bars. "I won't accept that. Not for you."

Rhys's gaze fell, his shoulders slumping with resignation. "It's okay, Taryn. I'm just a human. A nobody. My life holds no value, not even to my own kind. Worry about yourself, not me."

Taryn's eyes blazed with an intensity that stole Rhys's breath away. "Your life has value to me, Rhys." His voice dropped to a fierce whisper. "I will fight until my last breath to keep you safe, do you understand?"

The raw conviction in Taryn's words shattered something within Rhys, the walls he'd erected around his heart crumbling under their weight. He reached through the bars, his fingers trembling as they found Taryn's face, tracing the sharp angles with a tenderness he scarcely recognized in himself.

"You shouldn't waste your life on me," Rhys murmured, his thumb caressing Taryn's cheekbone. "But… I don't want you to die, either."

Taryn leaned into the touch, his eyes slipping shut as he relished the contact. "Then we fight, Rhys. Together. Because I cannot bear the thought of anything else."

Their foreheads pressed together through the bars, sharing the same breath, the same heartbeat. In that moment, nothing else mattered — not the war raging beyond their prison, not the divide between their species.

All that existed was the warmth between them.

Rhys's lips curved into a soft, wondering smile. "Together, then, big guy."

The moment was shattered by the sound of approaching footsteps echoing through the hard stone of the corridor outside.

Taryn and Rhys jerked apart, bracing themselves. Rhys's heart raced, a cocktail of adrenaline and fear bubbling through him.

The newcomer wasn't one of the guards that had thrown Rhys or Taryn into the cell. This Borraq was bigger than the others. Scars criss-crossed his chest, and one of his horns was broken, its jagged edges catching the low light.

At the sight of him, Taryn's expression shifted to something too complex for Rhys to understand. "Zarrack."

The older Borraq's gaze flicked between the two prisoners, and a sneer curled his lip. "I couldn't believe that the reports were true. Taryn, consorting with a human? You hate them more than I do."

Taryn's jaw clenched. "I'm acting in accord with my honor."

"And I'm left trying to salvage what's left of it," Zarrack growled. His eyes bored into Taryn's. "What could make you lower yourself to this? Humans are nothing but vermin. You know that better than anyone."

Rhys bristled at being talked about as if he was nothing but a piece of furniture. "I'm right here, you know!"

Zarrack didn't even acknowledge Rhys. His gaze was locked on Taryn. "Tell me, Taryn. Make me understand. What was so important that a man like you would betray us to ally with our enemy?"

Taryn met Zarrack's steely gaze without flinching. "Rhys is not our enemy. He warned us of the impending attack at great personal risk."

Zarrack scoffed, his disdain evident. "And you believed the word of this… creature?"

"I did," Taryn stated, his voice hard. "Because Rhys has proven himself trustworthy time and again during our journey."

Rhys watched the exchange with bated breath, his heart thundering in his chest.

Taryn continued, his words laced with conviction. "Everything I told you was true. I captured Rhys from the human mining operation that trespassed on our planet. The others fled, but Rhys remained."

He paused, his expression softening as he glanced at Rhys. "Soon after, I learned the other humans had come with the sole intent of bombing our cities. A fact Rhys was completely unaware of."

Zarrack's brow furrowed, but he remained silent.

"Rhys chose to aid me in tracking down the other humans to stop their attack." Taryn's gaze bored into Zarrack's. "And when he finally found out where they were, he risked his life. Knowing that his life was forfeit on sight, he came in here to warn the outpost. All to protect our people — his enemies!"

Rhys felt a lump form in his throat. He had never imagined anyone would champion him so fiercely, let alone a Borraq warrior. Unbidden tears stung his eyes, a swell of feeling threatening to overwhelm him.

For a long moment, Zarrack simply stared at Taryn, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he turned his gaze upon Rhys, scrutinizing him with that terrifying coldness.

"Is this true, human?" Zarrack rumbled. "Did you truly seek to warn us, knowing it could mean your death?"

Rhys swallowed hard, meeting the warrior's penetrating stare. "It's true," he replied, his voice steady despite the turbulence within him. "I couldn't let innocent lives be lost. Not when I had the chance to stop it."

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