Page 40 of Rathgar

He can — and probably will — hurt me. But the longer I play to his ego, the longer I keep him talking…

The longer I can stay alive. And the longer the alphas have to get here.

“I am Kovarx Car’Thallan,” he says again, as if I’m supposed to be impressed. “And your little ‘alphas’ fell right into my trap.” He makes air quotes with a snarl. What was he talking about?

“Yes, yes, I planned this.” He lets out a low chuckle; if I had anything left in my stomach, it would have come up. All I get is a burning sensation in the back of my throat. “After they so foolishly left me during our last meeting, I bet they thought they’d taken the high road. Left me to rot instead of doing the killing themselves, hm?” Kovarx circles around my chair till he’s standing behind me. One finger trails over my shoulder and down my arm, and I’m powerless to resist.

I would scream, but who would even hear? I was alone. Just like I’d always been.

My heart skipped at beat at the thought, and at first I thought it was just my nerves. But no, something happened just then when I thought of Rathgar’s face. Of his warm embrace, and the soft smile he reserved for Iris only. It was like someone’d lit a candle right in the middle of my chest, and the warmth spread outward, suffusing everything.

“After your so-called alpha — Rathgar, was it? — stole my woman and offspring away from me, I figured it was only fair that I repay the favor in kind.” His breath whispered against my ear. I cringed away, skin crawling, but it wasn’t enough.

“Now just what shall I do with — “

A sudden siren cuts off his words, a red light above the door flashing. My heart leaps into my throat — was that them? Were they here?

Kovarx curses furiously and wastes no time hauling me out of the chair. “Looks like we’ve got company. Isn’t that nice? Too bad they’ll be too late. Again.” And as he yanks me toward the door, he presses a nondescript button on a side panel.

There’s no point in trying to keep quiet any longer. This guy was crazy, and he was going to bring the whole building down with him! I scream as loud as I can, my voice cracking and burning my throat.

“Rathgar!” I scream so hard my voice gives out. “Soren! Help!”

His dirty, greasy palm wraps around my neck and covers my mouth. I try and kick backward as hard as I can, hoping to hit his sensitive parts, but I’m too disoriented and miss.

“Self-destruct sequence initiated. Execution in 90 seconds…89…88…”

“No!” I scream one last time. Tears run down my face. Everything hurts. Memories of everything I’ve been through flash before my eyes, and for a moment I think this really is the end.

I’m sorry, Iris.

“Time to go, sweetheart.”

Kovarx stuffs a gross red rag into my mouth and I can’t speak, can’t scream, can barely breathe. My wrists are still bound and he drags me along so fast I stumble to keep up. I know if I fall, it’ll hurt the baby. I have to keep going. I have to be strong. For Lara. For Iris. And for my unborn child.

The back door whizzes open and the cool night air hits me in the face. It’s fresh and clear, a welcome respite from the filth of the cage, but if we’re on the move again, that will make me even harder to find.

My heart does that glowing thing again, and I swear I can hear his voice in my mind.

“I’m coming, Janie. I’m coming.”

I hope so. I really hope so…

The strange alien insects which are just like Earth’s crickets clack and buzz and click against the bracing night air. Grass, brambles, and twigs prick at my ankles and sting every bit of exposed skin. With every step, we’re getting farther and farther away from Iris, Lara, and Isabella — and from safety.

But who am I kidding? It wasn’t safe back there. It isn’t safe here. And it won’t be safe wherever I end up.

I can’t hope to take Kovarx in a physical fight, but maybe if I could get my hands free, I could run…

A guttural roar cuts through the night and the birds sleeping in the trees scatter, cawing and crying out their displeasure. I’m rooted to the spot, and even Kovarx’s frozen in place, looking for the source of the sound.

And there, among the shadowed silhouettes of the branches, a pair of glowing eyes pierces the darkness.

Eyes I’d recognize anywhere.

It’s him.

Rathgar.

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