Page 44 of The Highseer's Mate

The redhead gets a leg free and kicks one of the Thachiens hard, its leg snapping in half before it tumbles to the ground. The heinous wail that erupts from its throat sends a chill down my spine.

Visions flash across my mind.

My father.

My mother’s wail.

I couldn’t get to him either.

And I couldn’t save her.

The fiery redhead turns around to the other Thachien, not showing a lick of fear. She rears back and slaps the bony face before her, screaming out loud like a battle cry. In one powerful swoop, the Thachiens swings forward and punches the female hard, sending her flying off her feet before she thuds against the damp ground.

She lies still. Unmoving.

A snarling growl erupts from Draxel at my side. Both Paige and I look over at him as he rises. His eyes are narrowed, anger radiating off him like steam. In a flash, the left side of his chest lights up—lines tearing across his skin and down his left bicep. It flexes as he raises his spear.

“Mate,” he grunts.

Before I can stop him, he charges forward.

Chapter 17

Paige

Draxel launches forward, his chest bright and shining like Varek’s does.

Does that mean…

Varek lifts off me and I roll over, propping myself up on my elbows. My friends are fighting the Thachiens, desperate to get out of their clawed hold. Then I see Ryan lying unmoving on the ground.

Varek leans in close to my ear. “Stay here. I must help Draxel.” He takes off and leaves me alone on the ground.

Draxel gets to the first Thachien and slashes through him in one swipe of his spear. Black blood sprays and splatters all over the ground as the thing collapses in a pile of limbs. My heart pounds in my chest as I watch it, fear clawing through my gut. Varek sprints for another creature, grabbing it and tearing the thing in two with his bare hands.

More Thachiens emerge from the ship and I see an opening.

Ryan is lying on the ground. Lara and Cristina are screaming as they are dragged off, but Draxel and Varek areright behind them, slaughtering the Thachiens to save my friends.

That just leaves Nicole and Melina. They must still be inside.

I rise up on my bare feet and hurry forward. I stay low, praying Varek doesn’t see me or that I draw the attention of our enemies. My feet burn and sting as I step over gnarled vines, but the pain is nothing compared to the tightness in my chest. I can barely breathe as I near the ship.

I huddle close to the metal and tip-toe forward until I can slip inside the door.

Nicole is huddled over Melina, dirt covering her face as she stares at me with wide eyes. She grips a metal pipe in her hand, the end covered in that nasty black blood.

Melina looks lifeless behind her.

“Paige?” Nicole asks, her voice a weak rasp.

“Oh my God,” I whisper, falling to my knees in front of her. Knots tangle through her blond hair and her cheeks look sunken. Like she hasn’t slept or eaten in a week. “Are you—”

“Melina is,” she trails off, her voice wavering. Heavy tears fall down her cheeks as she turns to look down at the woman she’s protecting. “I don’t think she’s going to make it,” she cries.

I shake my head. “No. She’s going to be okay. We’re here to save you guys, I promise.”

I can’t stop the words as they tumble out. Promise after promise.

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