Page 36 of His Brazen Bride

Zadren clears his throat. “Ryz…time to leave.”

“Yeah, Ryz,” Vex adds, waggling his eyebrows. “Get lost. But leave your wife.” Ryz lets out a snarl.

Vex tsks. “Thisis the thanks I get for saving your asses?”

Ryz scoffs. “You want Gwen for…who knows what. You’re an opportunist, Vex. Always have been. You don’t deserve any gratitude. Now, where’s your vehicle? So you can, you know, get in it and leave.”

“Behind yours. It’s half the size.” He looks toward me and winks. “You know what they say about Kraetians who drive excessively big craft.”

“Go. Now.” Ryz points his weapon at him. “Before I decide to lock you up.”

“How sweet that you think any prison could hold me. I’ve got skills, brother. And, well, friends in low places.”

Ryz huffs. “Friends? More like rubes you’ve conned into helping you.”

“You see it your way, I see it mine,” Vex replies, and saunters toward the other side of the craft.

Suddenly, there's a rustling by the cargo door. Jekril is leaning against the doorway, out of breath, a laser gun pointed at Ryz.

“No!” I scream, throwing my body in front of Ryz as the weapon goes off.

Another gun goes off, and perhaps another. It’s all a blur.

I smell burning flesh again, then feel hot, fiery pain.

10

RYZ

The flash of the laser blinds me, Gwen hits the floor with a thud, and my heart stops.

I glance over to where the laser was fired. An Ocrevv stands there—Gwen had used his name, but I can’t recall it just now. There’s a look of pure horror on his face before he’s hit by Zadren’s laser and slumps to the ground.

Not Gwen.Please, no.

The laser has hit her in the shoulder, the wound black and sizzling.

“What did you do, my sweet Gwen? What in Quorr’s name did you do?”

I slip the fabric of her clothing off her shoulder so it doesn’t stick to the wound. We can save most species in our galaxy with an injury like this, but I’m not sure about a human’s delicate structure.

“Zadren, into the craft. Now!” I scoop Gwen up into my arms. She’s whimpering. I know the pain must be excruciating.

Zadren rips open the door and I carry Gwen inside, laying her down on a platform. There are no med bays in these smaller fighter crafts, but I find a sterile cloth for her wound.

“Get us home as fast as you can without killing us, Zadren.”

“As you wish,” he nods, leaping to the controls.

Gwen’s wound is spreading over her entire shoulder. I press the cloth to it. The heat must be unbearable, but hopefully the iced gel will help.

“Hold on, my Queen. We’ll get you to Chom and Ferg and they can work their magic.”

She groans. “Fuck, it hurts.”

“I know. Just look at me. Look into my eyes.”

As she does, the tears spill down my cheeks.

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