Page 66 of Obsession

Chapter

Forty-Six

Kann

The pain was a beast, tearing into my thigh with razor-sharp teeth every time I attempted to lift my leg off the stone floor. I did not need to walk since two sets of hands gripped me under my arms, but it was instinct to try. The sensation of being hauled down the academy corridors that I had walked so often felt wrong. This all felt wrong.

I forced my eyes open, even though my surroundings were a blur. Tov's face swam into view on my left, his jaw tight as he half-carried me. Even though my awareness was flickering in and out like the walls around us, I knew him. He was the Drexian who had gotten me out of thatgrekkingdungeon, although since I was an integral cog in his plan, maybe we had gotten each other out.

Then I glanced right, and my heart stuttered. Volten. What was he doing here? He was supposed to get Britta out of the holo-simulation.

"Volt?" My voice was barely a croak.

"Save your strength." His eyes were hard as he adjusted his grip on me. A flash of silver caught my attention, and I spotted Britta running alongside us, her hair flying behind her since the cloak she’d used to hide the silver strands was long gone.

Anger burned through the fog in my brain. "You were supposed to get her out."

Volten's laugh was dark. "Try making that woman do something she doesn't want to do." He cut a glance at Britta. "Actually, try making any human female do what she doesn't want to do."

I had seen firsthand how stubborn human females could be when I had watched Volten fall for Ariana, and then Torq fall for Jess. When not even Commander Vyk could keep the upper hand with Fiona, I had known that Earth women were a force to be reckoned with. Up until now, I had done a good job of steering clear. Until Britta.

Thinking of the Iron and remembering our limbs entwined on the bed sent fresh waves of frustration through me. Or was it arousal? I was in too much pain to know the difference anymore.

Before I could argue with Volten about what he had promised me, a figure barreled around the corner, nearly colliding with us. Tov and Volt skidded to a halt as Britta emitted a gasp of recognition.

“Zokren!”

The cadet straightened, his chest heaving. “It is good to see you again. I have been leading the hunters on a convoluted chase.” He paused and swept his gaze across our group. “You acquired extra assistance since we parted.”

Tov jerked his head to me. “We escaped from the dungeons together.”

Zokren nodded, as if assessing Tov.

“Are you coming with us or going on your own?” Britta asked.

Zokren ran a hand through his short dark hair that still held bits of foliage. “I can help you stay one step away from the Drexians patrolling the corridors. I know the best routes.”

Tov cleared his throat. “The west passage leads to the old tunnels. We should use them. No one does anymore."

Zokren shook his head. "Guards patrol the tunnels now. We need to go through the old tower.”

Tov wrinkled his nose. “Too dangerous and too easy to get trapped.”

"Trust me, I know every hidden alcove in it.” Zokren's gaze locked with Tov's, and they exchanged curt nods. "You have to admit, I bested you in Strategy."

Tov tensed next to me. “Not everything is strategy.”

Zokren's lips quirked. “True. You dominated me in the grappling ring."

My mind drifted to the historical records I'd studied before adding them to the simulation. "None of that matters," I mumbled. "You'll find out why when you work together to establish Inferno Force."

Both Drexians stared at me. "What's Inferno Force?"

“Grekkinghell, can you two stop with the alpha male crap?” Britta's sharp voice cut through their confusion. "We need to move."

Both Drexians gaped at her, clearly shocked by her outburst.

Volten chuckled. "They've never met a human female before—and it shows."

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