Page 42 of Guard

The Zevrian’s black eyes narrowed. “You think you hold the power here?”

“You want me?” Rixx turned the nozzle of his blaster to the side. “Then take me, but release the females.”

The Zevrian’s brows peaked. “You for them? You will come without a fight?”

Rixx clenched his jaw. He had been so close to escaping, so close to returning to his crew. But this was what he had to do, what he wanted to do. “I will.”

Myrria managed to shake her head. “No.”

Rixx was not sure if the regret that stabbed him was his or hers, but it overwhelmed any fear. He walked slowly toward the Zevrians, his gaze locked on Myrria. “I have no regrets. Take Zala and go.”

Not without you.

Rixx could hear her words as clearly as if she’d spoken them out loud.It is the only way.

He stopped and dropped his blaster, letting it clatter top the ground. The Zevrian shoved Myrria to the side, grabbing Rixx and ramming the blaster into his ribs.

“Leave them.” The Zevrian barked to his crew mate and yanked Rixx toward him. “Let’s go.”

I love you.

The words echoing in his head made Rixx whip around to get a final glimpse of Myrria, but they had rounded the corner. She was gone.

Chapter

Forty-One

“Zala!” Myrria didn’t waste a moment once the Zevrians were gone. She rushed to the end of the alleyway where her daughter had gone and was almost knocked over as the girl ran headlong into her.

She took a few steps back from the force of Zala running into her and throwing her arms around her waist, but then she wrapped her own arms around the girl.

“I’m sorry,” Zala mumbled into her stomach. “I know you’re angry, and I know I shouldn’t have run off, but I couldn’t—“

“It’s okay.” Myrria stopped her daughter’s rambling apologies. She had been mad and shocked, but now she was so relieved to have her back safely that all the other emotions evaporated. “I’m just so happy we found you.”

Zala lifted her head and tipped it back to meet Myrria’s gaze. “We?”

Serena and Velen walked up, with Velen wiping blood from her chin.

“You gave your mother quite a fright.” Serena gave Zala and stern look, and Myrria was surprised by how maternal the madam seemed.

Zala dropped her gaze. “I know. I’m sorry.” Then she glanced back up, her eyes flaring. “I didn’t know she would get you to help her find me.”

Serena touched a hand to her mussed blue hair. “I have many hidden talents, child.”

For the second time that day, Myrria wondered how much she didn’t know about the madam.

“My talents are not so hidden,” Velen said with a wink and a flash of her teeth that were still dripping blood.

As Myrria fought the urge to shudder, Rose ran up from the other side, skidding to a stop when she saw Zala with her mother.

“She got away from me,” she said between snatched breaths.

Zala lifted her chin defiantly. “I couldn’t run and let everyone else get hurt.” Then she swept her head from side to side. “Where’s Rixx?”

Myrria’s joy at finding her daughter deflated at the reminder that she’d lost Rixx. She held Zala by the shoulders and met her questioning gaze. “He sacrificed himself to save me.”

Zala’s expression hardened into one of fierce determination. “Then we have to save him right back.”

---