Page 87 of Bred by the Alien Prince

I heard the patter of feet once more. "Look, I have key!" The child returned, holding up the metal key.

"Oh, thank you!" I sighed, ready to nuke this planet from orbit once I got out of here.

Cormac's screams echoed through the distant halls again.

"Unlock me!" I demanded.

The boy complied, starting with my feet.

"I can't reach the hands."

I gripped the chains and used them as leverage to lift myself high. "Put the keys on my feet," I said. There was no way in hell I would stay here because my savior was too damn short to free me! I maneuvered the key between my toes and lifted my legs to work the piece of metal into the hole. "Got it!" I said, turning with my feet and dropping to the floor.

My armor wasn't inside the room nor anything I could wear. Dammit, if I had to run from here naked as the day I was born, then so be it!

I peeked out into the halls; they were empty, which was good. And I could see it was night right now. The darkness combined with these primitives using candles as their main light source made me confident in my escape.

I darted out and stayed along the walls until I reached what looked like a kitchen. The hearth was burning strong, emitting a strange smoky aroma of meats. They filled the wooden table with herbs, vegetables, and fruits, along with a basket of baked goods.

Cormac groaned from the corner, and I went to him to see how bad his injuries were. His leg was gone, and they had seared the stump shut and covered the ugly wound with a bandage.

"Those motherfuckers took my leg," he cried.

"I need you to stay silent," I warned, moving away.

"Please don't leave me here. I swear I will fly that fucking ship to hell and back if you tell me, no complaints. I'll tell you everything about Earth." He must have seen the tension and hesitation in my actions; he knew I would leave him. He was a crafty boy, and I'm sure he had left his fair share of possible comrades behind, including my Caspian. Trust me, I wouldn't have left him out of malice. It was a mere question of survival, and there was no way I could sneak him and myself out of here. I owed it to him to at least tell him face-to-face what my intentions were so he could make peace.

"This is bad. You might slow me down." I grabbed a knife from the table to cut his throat. "I'll make it quick."

He watched me, his features contorted with anger and then sadness. There was still fight in him. Under any other circumstances, I would at least give it a try to save him, but I also had Caspian and my child to think of, and getting to them was first in my thoughts.

"I'll tell you about the Valisian on Earth! That ship beneath the colony belongs to him! The name he goes by is Mr. Evans…Erevan Evans" Cormac cried. "Please get me the fuck out of here!"

Did I hear him correctly? "The Valisian's name was Erevan?"

"Yeah, I swear it! And I know more!"

"How do you know my brother?" I asked, ready to drive this blade into his throat, peace be damned.

"That information dies with me!"

This fuck. I had to admit, I admired his balls and brains. If he hadn't mentioned my elder brother's name, a name I don't recall speaking to him, I would have killed him and left.

Looks like the chef was checking in. I grabbed the greasy Valisian, pulled him inside, gripped my hand over his mouth, and drove my blade into his heart.

Slipping on the tunic and pants of the now-deceased chef I dragged the body to the corner. I was still thinking of leaving Cormac. I didn't even know what my brother looked like, and I was reaching a point where I considered myself withdrawn from the race to compete for the crown. Whatever my eldest brother was up to, what did it have to do with me? Nothing. It did, however, have something to do with Caspian.

The child opened the floor hatch inside the pantry. Hm. If we could escape underground and I didn't have to fight my way out of here, then perhaps I could handle bringing Cormac along.

"Perhaps your luck hasn't run out yet." I grabbed Cormac and tossed him inside. He groaned but knew better than to cry out. "Come on." I jumped down and lifted him on my back and followed the boy as he led us through the small, dark passage.

He topped at a ladder. "My friends are locked up there," he said, pointing to another hatch.

"I don't care."

"I will get them!"

"Leave them!" I ordered, gripping the boy and preventing him from climbing up.

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