Page 71 of Aria's Ascension

Catching himself, he limped back up to her and sneered, “Jeleking rzklii. You will pay for what you have done to me.”

With a final kick, Zhrovni turned and limped back to his glide. Collapsing onto its luxurious surface, he led the way back to the conveyor, almost shaking with glee and anticipation.

* * *

Aria jerked upright with a gasp,then immediately hunched over, coughing and clutching her middle. Her breasts and stomach ached like a sonofabitch. It felt like she’d cracked a couple ribs, but how, she didn’t know. The last thing she remembered was… was…

Frowning, she pressed a hand to her forehead. Everything felt fuzzy, it was hard to think, and there was a bitter taste in her mouth. Forcing herself to focus past the pain in her head and stomach, she dredged up a memory of Tirox trying to wake her up.

“What the fuck happened?” she groaned. Squinting, she turned, trying to pierce the darkness. “Kix, wake up, babe. I can’t see.”

Reaching out, she shook him until he grunted then patted her other side, trying to feel for Tirox.

He wasn’t there.

Heart stuttering in her chest, she barked, “Kix. Wake up, now.”

Another grunt, and blue light lit up the space around them.

“Aessa? What… Where is—”

“He’s gone.”

Pushing to her feet with a hiss, she turned in a circle, looking for her barbarian. Kix followed her up, brightening to illuminate the entire cave.

“Tirox!” she called, unable to hide the alarm in her voice.

She started for the shaft leading out, but paused mid-step when Kix said her name.

“Aria. Our weapons are missing.”

Jerking her head around, she looked at him, then down at where he was staring.

He was right. All their weapons were gone. A quick scan of the rest of the floor didn’t show them laying anywhere else, either.

“My ring is gone,” she realized, glancing down at her hand.

“Mine as well.”

Footsteps at the entrance had them both whipping around in time to see the dragon come into view.

Before she could do more than blink in surprise, he drew in a deep breath then snarled.

“Zhrovni,” he rumbled lowly.

Aria’s lungs seized as realization hit.

Tirox’s voice rousing her from sleep, urgent and demanding.

The feeling of lassitude she couldn’t fight.

They’d been drugged and Zhrovni, he…

“He took Red,” she choked.

Why?

But the answer was as obvious as it was horrific.

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