Page 6 of Akur

Everyone else was dead.

“The citadel is in the next quadrant.” The words of a gator-guard reached her ears.

Constance stiffened. There wasn’t enough time.

Daring to peek at where the guards were stationed outside the cell, her eyes landed on the one that spoke. He was larger than the other.Obviously older and more experienced, judging from the battle scars on his scaly skin. The other was younger-looking. Thinner. Possibly new. Or maybe that was just her hoping. Praying on his inexperience.

“Prepare for arrival,” the guard continued before turning and heading down the corridor. “Get thejekinsready. ”

Now?

Constance swallowed hard and dipped her head once more. The alarm in her eyes reflected that in Meredith’s. Giving the other woman a slight signal with a dip of her chin, she watched as Meredith mimicked the action. Meredith was more than ready.

Eyes sliding to the only other female in the cell, worry tickled the edges of Constance’s senses.

Even in the dim light, the woman was hard to see. Dark hair hung over her head, concealing her features, and she sat with her legs drawn up to her chest. The woman seemed frail, as if she hadn’t been eating since waking up from cryo. But none of that was why the worry was now crawling up her spine. For she knew this woman. Had seen her from those very early days after they’d all been rescued from the cryo hold.

She was the one that didn’t speak. The one who had been awake during the entire journey from Earth to the stars. Locked in stasis but completely conscious. And she didn’t need her psychology degree to tell her the woman’s mind was still processing that trauma.

Had she even been listening while they’d whispered this very shaky plan? Did she even care?

She couldn’t see the woman’s eyes, but she was sure they were open. Staring dead ahead like they usually did. No recognition. No awareness.

She wasn’t living here in the present. Wherever she was, it was far away from here.

Fuck. That was just going to make this a lot trickier.

Gulping, Constance’s gaze flew back to Meredith’s. She gave her another slight nod of the chin and readied herself. As soon as the opportunity provided itself, they would take it.

For a few moments, nothing happened, and she wondered if the rookie was going to follow his orders or not. But when he finally moved toward the cell, she knew it was time.

And he was alone.

Even better.

It was obvious they didn’t think humans would give any trouble. To them, humans were only good for one thing. A gross underestimation. Because if the Tasqals wanted humans so badly, they should have researched and learned one thing about humanity:

Humans didn’t know when to give up.

Tensing, every muscle coiled itself tight as the lone gator-guard approached. This was it—possibly their only chance. One quadrant remained. They were almost at their destination. And if she had it her way, they would never get there.

The gator-guard stopped in front of the energy barrier, peering in, and she had to force herself to remain still, feigning unconsciousness. With a snort, yellow eyes glowing, the guard tapped something on his wrist, and the barrier dissolved.

“Wake up, pitiful creatures,” he growled. “You jekins expect me to carry you?”

Her pulse roared in her ears as he stepped into the cell. Just a little closer…

He stopped just inside, claws hanging loosely as he peered down at them, so arrogantly certain they were helpless. And she continued pretending to be…until he reached for her.

It must have been a reflex because her hand closed around his scaly wrist so quickly, her eyes widened in surprise.

“Trauma’s a bitch that way,” she frowned at her hand before meeting the yellow eyes staring down at her. “It sticks around.”

This was it. Time to get out of this mess. She could do this.

The gator-guard growled. A low hiss that traveled through his gut and up his frame. But she held on, jaw set.

“The last time one of you fuckers reached for me in my sleep, I got punched in the face,” she grated out. “Not this time.”

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