Page 78 of Akur

The Tasqal’s eyes darted between them, lingering on Kon-stahns in a way that made his rage rise. There was something possessive in that gaze, something that spoke of intentions that made him want to send his blade home without this stupid hesitation.

But he couldn’t be rash. He had to think about her. He had to get her to safety.

“So…this is where you are,” the Tasqal gurgled. “Those fools have greatly underestimated you, rebel.”

Akur growled. He couldn’t even speak. Qrak. He couldn’t even see. Rage was blinding him.

The sound of bubbles popping filled the air. “The Restitution is dead. You are too late, rebel.”

Kon-stahns appeared by his arm, a snarl on her lips, too. “Too late forwhat? What have you been planning? Why are the women in this room lying dead with no visible wounds? Why do you have a psychic tied up here?”

The Tasqal stared at her. Its black tongue slipped out, running across its lips as it watched her. “You dare speak directly to me, a High Tasqal… I will enjoy seeding you, little one.”

A sharp crack echoed through the chamber. The Tasqal’s head snapped to the side, its body momentarily frozen. There was a flicker of surprise, quickly masked by a cold fury in its eyes, a dangerous fire ignited by Kon-stahns’ audacious slap. The Tasqal lifted a hand to its jaw, its digits tracing the spot, a chilling smile spreading across its lips. “Spirited,” it hissed. “I will break you yet, little human. And then…I will seed you.”

That’s it. Why even let this scum breathe?

Akur’s blade slid into skin and he watched the Tasqal’s lifeblood coat the metal, his eyes locked with his enemy’s before a soft hand stopped his arm.

“Wait,” Kon-stahns said. “Don’t kill him yet.”

A wet sound released from the scum as more bubbles popped.

“My patience has never been more tried than on this mission.”

She actually smiled. “And all for me.” She squeezed his arm before turning her attention back to the Tasqal. “Where’s the machine?” she stepped closer. “The one that controls the orb?”

The Tasqal’s eyes widened a fraction, a subtle flicker of surprise it couldn’t quite suppress. It recovered quickly, its expression hardening into a mask of disdain. “You seem remarkably well-informed for a…captive,” it sneered. “Who told you of our plans?”

Constance’s lips pulled back in a snarl that made him proud. “Akur,” her eyes narrowed. “Kill him.”

The Tasqal winced, its bravado faltering in the face of imminent death.

Qrak, he could press his mouth against Kon-stahns’ again. Rejoice in her intelligence. Because if it’s one thing these scum didn’t like, it was facing death. That was the whole reason they destroyed so many lives. In a desperate bid for their own survival.

“Such a primitive thing, asking such obvious questions,” the Tasqal said. “Did you think we needed a machine to bridge the gap between worlds?” Its eyes fixed on Kon-stahns again, that malicious glee returning. “The Arois is our bridge. They are powerful. So powerful, this one’s mind spans the gap between dimensions, and through him, we’ll reach across the void.”

Akur stiffened, as did Kon-stahns. “Reach across space?” she whispered.

Bubbles popped as the Tasqal laughed. It felt like the world slowed down.

How did the Restitution not know? What else did they not know? All this time they had been fighting, thinking they were getting somewhere, and the Tasqals had been leagues ahead.

“The orb,” he breathed, the horrifying realization dawning. “They won’t use it to go to your world.”

Kon-stahns blinked. “I don’t understand.”

“They’ll use it to create some kind of… gateway.” He breathed hard, fighting the heat that was qrakking rising again at the worst possible time. “They’ll use it to create a gateway,” he glanced over his shoulder at the Arois. “Through him.”

In the silence, the Tasqal’s entire body shook, bubbles popping as it laughed harder. “You Shum’ai aren’t as dumb as you look,” he said. “You have our orb, but once we retrieve it, you will not stop us.” Its eyes glazed over as if it was seeing a pleasant dream in the back of its head. “Soon, thousands of humans will simply…appear. Pulled by the power of the orb and our very own Arois servant. They will come right here in our citadel. Ready for processing, for breeding, for—”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“Over my dead body.”

He and Kon-stahns spoke at the same time, a moment before the Tasqal sobered, a strange look coming into its eyes. When its hand shot out, reaching for a panel on the wall, Akur’s blade moved in a flash of silver. The Tasqal slumped, its final breath escaping in a wet bubble.

“Qrak!” Akur snarled, letting the body fall. “We need to—”

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