Page 34 of The Blind Hordesman

He’s gonna die on me. End him or don’t end him. Decisions, decisions.

There’s a soft thud on the floor, then, “Seer,” Dreikx says behind me. More thuds. It’s raining Teleans in here.

“This is a challenge,” I parrot. “Get out of here.”

The door hits the wall, and familiar breathing enters the room. Several of my males. At least five. Great. An audience. I shake my head. It’s spinning pretty bad, and I’m gonna vomit. Better finish this male before I do. I pull his arms.

“My king is in the hive, and I know where the hive is,” the male says.

“We need him alive,” Dreikx says.

I pull, but my strength wanes, and now I’m just pissed because I’m too weak to rip him into pieces.

Dreikx palms my shoulder. “If you spare this challenger, I will personally ensure your Omega is…de-collected.”

“You brought Arkin.”

“Did not. He responded to the initial collection request.”

“I will get her myself.” I squeeze the male’s wrists. Under my fingers, his armor starts bending, digging into the skin.

“Your vitals are weak,” Dreikx says. “You will die, boy.”

I release the male and turn to Dreikx, take a step, wobble on my feet, shake my head. I grab his throat instead and bring him to me. Dreikx smells fresh, foreign, yet I can’t bring myself to hurt him. Perhaps he’s grown on me like he grew on everyone else. Besides, Tamey would be devastated, and I would hate to break apart my crazy family. “All hear me and witness. If my Omega isn’t delivered by the time I awake, the Telean alliance is broken and this land we’ve ravaged looking for the damn imposter is ours.”

My males cheer.

“Okay, Telean. Bring me my queen.”

Chapter 14

Kiki

The hounds avoid the streets and inhabited areas of any size, and after the night falls, they carry us over open fields, treading through the snow as if it’s nothing. They’re fast, and the Collectors ride them like thunder rides the sky. The saddle, although more comfortable than bareback, is no place to sleep, and my eyes are closing. I sway on the hound, grip the saddle when I feel I’m gonna fall off, snap open my eyes. “I’m okay. I’m okay.” That was close.

Next to me, Arkin sticks two fingers into his mouth and whistles. My hound slows down. One Collector separates from the group and moves ahead. I’m strapped on tightly. My legs throb, my ass is numb, and I need to use the bathroom.

“I have to pee.”

Instantly, everyone stops, and I’m hurled forward, bending over the saddle, nearly knocking my breath out. Grunting, I straighten, trying to get the rope off me, but the male strapped me on so tightly, I can’t move it. These Alphas sure like rope.

The Collector Alpha dismounts and approaches, his gaze roaming over the evergreen forest on the right. He unties me and grabs my elbow, then helps me off the hound. Across deep snow, he leads me behind a tree and simply turns around.

“Are you kidding me?” I say.

“I wasn’t speaking.”

“I’m not gonna pee while you’re a foot away.”

“You may pee on the ground or in your pants over the hound. All the same to me. Know that I will not let you leave my sight.”

“I can’t.”

“You can, and if you must, you will. I’ve seen worse things. Go on, Omega, it is simply fluid waste.”

Face burning with embarrassment, I take down my pants and squat, trying to be all quiet. The stream runs and makes noise, and I want to die. DIE. When he hands me a roll of toilet paper, I take it without a word and finish up my dirty business. Dressed, I clear my throat. “All done.”

“After you.” He motions with his hand.

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