Page 33 of Ulfar

“That’s not enough. The Syndicate can’t afford any counterintelligence that could interfere with our initiatives. We simply had to eliminate the threat, that’s all.”

My stomach cramps, and I double over, one dry heave after another seizing up my muscles. My eyes burn and water, and yet still the guard sneers down at me like I’m some useless animal.

“Is that all they are to you?” I pant between labored breaths. “Just a ‘threat’? Just a number on a screen? What about all the families? All the lives you’ve ruined?”

“Irrelevant. Give up. There’s nothing you can do.”

“Are you even listening to me?” My voice breaks and I lunge toward him again. All my fight-or-flight instincts are kicking in. If not for myself, for my baby. I’ve got to get us out of here, and I’m ready to fight tooth and nail to do it.

Turns out a small human female against armored Syndicate goons doesn’t stand much of a chance. I know I’m outmatched, but I’m going to go down swinging.

I wrap my arms around the guard’s midsection, trying to head-butt him in the stomach and maybe grab the keys while he’s doubled over, but before I can blink he’s got me in a headlock and I’m struggling, gasping for air.

“Should have been a good girl and listened,” he hisses as I feel the sharp prick of a needle at my neck. There’s a final burst of panic, and then everything goes dark.

A HEART-MATE’S VOW

ULFAR

Orri was right—not that I’d ever admit that to him. He’d never let me live it down.

A few hours of rest did me good. I wake feeling refreshed and more settled than I have since I left Sarah to head back to the campsite. After eating a quick breakfast and saying goodbye to Orri, Isabella, and the little ones, I get back on the road toward the cottages.

It won’t be long now, and she’ll be in my arms again. The entire ride there, I think about what Orri suggested. How I need to look at every angle. Think about how she feels and react accordingly. Of course, there is also the nagging realization that no matter what I do, she still might reject me.

That stings, but the urgency of it makes me push Enebris faster. I have to know for sure.

While we’re following the riverbank back to the small village where the surrogate cottages are gathered, I notice one of Sarah’s favorite flowers. She’d pointed it out to me on one of our late-night walks. A pale green center surrounded by thin white petals that spread out in three overlapping layers.

I pick a few and carefully wrap them in my furs. It will be a nice gift, a gesture of my affection. At least, that’s how we court others on my world. I can only hope she feels the same.

When I reach the vicinity of the cottages, right away I can tell something’s up. Usually her smell lingers in the air like the freshest perfume, calling me in like a beacon of hope and happiness. But as I walk through the deserted streets, there’s none of that. My heart’s pounding when I hitch Enebris outside and hurriedly punch in the code for the door.

“Sarah?” I call out, tearing through each of the rooms in turn. “Sarah? Hello? I’m back, and I brought you something!”

She’s not here. That deep gnawing feeling grows stronger before taking up residence in my heart. I let out a breath and close my eyes. I backtrack on everything that happened before I left. Sarah and I both received a message that she needed a checkup at the medical center, we spent time together, and then she was going to visit her friend Vi.

A new worry dawns on me. What if something went wrong with the checkup that she didn’t tell me about? What if she had to return to the medical facility, alone and too scared to talk to me?

It’s as good a lead as any. So even though I want to wait here for her to come back, I have to go after her. If there’s a chance she’s in danger...

I won’t stand for it.

Enebris huffs and looks at me with wide, confused eyes when I return so soon, strapping on the saddle and bridle all over again. “I know, girl,” I say as I pet her. “I know you’re tired, but just a little bit more for me, okay?” I tilt my head toward her and she boops the tip of her snout against my forehead. It’s a gesture of trust and friendship we’ve built over the many long years we’ve grown and traveled and fought together.

“Just like old times,” I mumble to myself, mounting up and riding off toward the horizon once more.

* * *

Just as I’mabout to reach the gated walls of the central ISA facility, I see anotherakirider approaching out of the corner of my vision. They’re gaining fast and heading right toward me.

My hand strays to my weapon, my thighs squeezing tighter around Enebris’s back to let her know to stay alert. They don’t appear to have any weapons or even a proper saddle, it looks like. Maybe a child off on a joyride? The rider seems awfully small, and it’s not unheard of for the little ones to break into the stables before they’re ready.

But then theakidraws closer, and I realize with a shock that it’s not a child at all. It’s a woman. A human woman.

“Wait!” she cries out as soon as I’m in earshot.

Now I’m more curious than threatened. What in all the stars is a human woman doing chasing me down on anaki? Aesirheim warriors take years of training and bonding to be able to control their mounts properly. And here she is, bounding toward us like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

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