Page 64 of Stalker

The last guard drops his gun and raises his hands. "Please, I have a family..."

Bruticus's claws take his head before he can finish begging. The courtyard falls silent except for our heavy breathing.

I turn to face my love, both of us covered in gore. His red eyes meet mine with fierce pride.

"We need to go back for Vorpa and Prova," I say.

Bruticus and I burst through the lobby doors, our bone spurs still dripping crimson from the guards outside. The marble floor squeaks beneath my clawed feet as we skid to a halt.

My father stands in the center of the room, his silver hair wild and his uniform splattered with blood. His arm locks around Vorpa's throat, pressing a heavy pistol against her temple.

Vorpa's eyes blaze with fury above the metal muzzle strapped to her face. The straight jacket binds her arms tight against her body, leaving her helpless. Her scales gleam dully under the fluorescent lights.

My stomach churns at the sight of my father using such a cruel device on her. The collar at my throat pulses with Bruticus's rage, matching my own.

"It's over, Maryse." My father's voice sounds hollow, nothing like the warm tones I remember from childhood. "Surrender, or I'll blow this scaly bitch's brains out."

The gun clicks as he thumbs back the hammer. Vorpa doesn't flinch, but I see the tension in her shoulders. My new reaper senses pick up the acrid scent of her fear beneath her stoic expression. If she wasn't gagged, she would probably tell us to take the shot, no matter what happens to her.

"I have the finest scientific minds in the galaxy at my disposal." My father's grip tightens on Vorpa's throat. "We can reverse this... this abomination. Fix whatever he's done to you."

A laugh bubbles up from my chest, dark and menacing. The sound echoes off the marble walls. "You still don't understand, do you?"

"What that monster did to you-"

"Bruticus didn't do anything to me. This is what happens when jalshagar find each other." The collar pulses against my throat, warm with Bruticus's love. "Our souls are bound together. No force in the universe can break that connection."

"There's no such thing as-"

"Soul mates?" My bone spurs lengthen as I take a step forward. "The Precursors knew better. They knew love transcends species, transcends your petty prejudices."

The gun wavers against Vorpa's head. "You're confused, sweetheart. Let me help you."

"The only help I need is for you to surrender." My claws flex at my sides. "Put down the gun and face justice for what you did on Rakura IV."

"Everything I did was for the greater good."

"Was torturing Prova for the greater good? Selling people into slavery?" Each word drips with venom. "The only way this ends is with you in chains."

Through our bond, I feel Bruticus's pride mixing with my own righteous anger. The transformation may be temporary, but my father doesn't need to know that. Let him think his precious daughter is gone forever, replaced by the very thing he hates most.

"Last chance, father." My lips pull back from sharpened teeth. "Surrender."

My father shoves Vorpa forward. She stumbles, falling to her knees with a grunt through her muzzle. The straight jacket keeps her from catching herself, and she hits the marble floor hard.

His gun clatters across the floor as he tosses it aside. "Fine. You win. Today. For now."

A cold smile twists his lips. My enhanced senses pick up the smugness radiating from him in waves.

"But I OWN the courts. I'm going to beat this rap and be right back in business next week." He spreads his arms wide. "You think Strongbow is the only slave I have brainwashed in the IHC power structure?"

Ice spreads through my veins despite the heat of Bruticus's power still surging through me. The bone spurs along my arms quiver as horrible understanding dawns.

He's right. The corruption runs too deep. Even with proof of his crimes, he has judges and politicians in his pocket. Bureaucrats and officers programmed to do his bidding.

Prison won't stop him. He'll run his empire from behind bars, hurting more people, destroying more lives. More families torn apart. More slaves. More torture.

My claws flex at my sides as I take a step toward him. "I can't allow this to continue," I whisper.

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