Page 30 of Cherished By the Alien Outlaw

“Tonight.”

“How?”

The guard signaled that it was time for us to return to work.

“Watch and be ready.” Brax stood, his gaze sweeping through the cavern.

As we returned to the cave and started filling our next buckets, a fierce determination surged through me. We were going to escape tonight. I'd do whatever it took to get Talia out of this place, even if it meant tearing apart every Veerenad inside this cursed mine.

Chapter 15

Talia

At the end of the work day, as we trudged back to our small room, I noted a change in the guards, with only one lizard in the front and a second in the back. Not the full force like usual.

While we’d worked, Firion had carefully shared Brax's news. The dignitary's visit was pulling guards away from the mine. This was our chance.

Firion and I exchanged a charged look as we were locked inside our cell. We sat on the bunk together and other guards delivered our tray. As before, the stone god in the wall fed us something better, but it was all I could do to eat. My hands shook as I picked up my food, adrenaline pumping through me, making me nervous.

I'm coming,Maggie,I kept thinking.Soon, we'll be back together. After that . . .My gaze sought Firion's. My future was with this male, and my sister could come with us no matter where we roamed.

We ate quickly, whispering about our plan. Firion'sprotective gaze never left me, and the hope swelling within me made it nearly impossible to think. Fear had become a constant in my life, but soon, that would be over. Firion would make sure I never had to be afraid again. He was my rock, my protector, and I knew that together, we could make it through this.

Brax ate as well, watching us from his cell across from ours.

After we'd gotten rid of our tray, we sat again, saying nothing. I wanted to hold Firion's hand, but other Veerenads would see. The three who'd stared at me today knew I was female, as did Brax, but I didn't dare show the others that it could be true.

At least the three hadn’t appeared to squeal to the guards. Once they did, the guards would probably take me. The three must know they’d never get near me after that.

Finally, the lights went out.

Firion’s hand sought mine, and he linked our fingers, squeezing comfort.

As we waited in the darkness, my heart pounded and sweat trickled down my spine. I could sense Firion's tension as well, his body coiled and ready to spring into action. The belief that we might finally escape this nightmarish place had been growing inside me all afternoon, fueling my determination to keep my spirits high.

Over the past few days, Firion had become so much more than just a fellow captive. The bond we'd formed had deepened, and I found myself falling for him. Despite his alien appearance, he was kind, brave, andfiercely protective. The thought of finding Maggie and then planning a future with him filled me with joy and hope.

But that joy was tainted by the constant worry that gnawed at my soul. What if our plan failed? What if we were caught and punished, or worse, separated? The lizard guards had shown us no mercy so far. They definitely wouldn’t if we tried to escape.

As the minutes ticked by, my anxiety grew. Firion's soft, even breathing was the only thing keeping me from leaping up and pacing. How he could keep control of himself was beyond me. He must feel as anxious as me.

Scooting closer on the bunk, I leaned into him, taking in his warmth and strength.

Finally, a faint sound caught my attention. We rose and quietly went to the door of our cell, finding Brax standing at his own. With an almost feral grin, he lifted a pryer he must've stolen today in the mine. How? They counted them, watched to make sure each of us turned ours in.

The distracted guards. This truly was our best chance.

Brax began to quietly work on the lock on his door. Even as he struggled, his soft grunts ringing out, I couldn't hold back my excitement. My feet danced on the floor, and I ground my teeth together to keep from shouting at him to go faster. The thought of leaving this hellish place and starting a new chapter with Firion was the only thing keeping me going.

Firion's teal eyes gleamed in the dim light. Weexchanged a silent nod, a promise that we would face whatever lay ahead with each other.

Finally, a satisfying click rang out. Brax creaked open his door and crept into the hallway, staring wildly up and down both sides.

Other prisoners rushed to the doors of their cells and called out for him to release them as well. Their raised voices echoed in the narrow space.

But it was the sharp gazes of the three Veerenads who'd whispered about me today that sent fear bolting through me. They’d been placed in a cell a few down from Brax’s. One of them took a piece of metal and started banging on the bars.

Brax snarled. He raced to our cell and began to work on our lock.

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