Page 55 of Bound

Maxym shrugs. “At this stage, it’s anyone’s guess what’s going on here, other than both you and Rych were wanted by the Drahon.”

“I need to find him,” I say as Klynn appears, soot smearing his face and torso. At least some of it is soot. Other streaks might be bodily fluids which are not his own.

“I promised him I’d keep you safe,” Maxym intones. “So, I’m going to take you back to the dome where we can protect you.”

“I can’t leave him. Not to the mercy of these creatures. They were going to burn the library.”

“They failed,” Klynn growls. “And they don’t fight well.” He sniffs.

The tiny amount of relief I feel at the library being saved is overwhelmed by my concerns for Rych.

“We have to find him,” I say to the pair of Gryn, each one bristling with weapons and with the desire to do what their comrade asked of them. “Whatever they want from him and from me, it isn’t good.”

Maxym stares into the sky. “Vrex,” he says. “I made a promise.”

“If you’re with me, then you’re protecting me, aren’t you?” I reply. “Putting me in a cage doesn’t make a difference. I’ve been in a gilded cage too long already. If you put me there again, I’ll only escape.”

“As much as Rych is an annoying vrexer, I don’t want these Drahon to have him either. He fights better,” Klynn rasps, wiping one of his blades on the fabric of his pants. “They’re not even worth my time as practice.”

Maxym growls low in his throat. “Rych is going to kill me for this.” He looks at me and his wings droop. “Where should we start?”

“We start where this all started, back with my old boss, Fenek. I need to go back to his dwelling and see if I can find any more information.”

Maxym shrugs and levels his gaze at Klynn. “I’m up for these games if you are, gladiator,” he says.

Klynn snaps to attention, placing the flat blade of his sword against his nose and chin.

“You have my oath and bond,” he says without blinking.

“Ignore him. He does that sometimes,” Maxym says. “The rest of the time, he’s a feral vrexer who will stab you as soon as look at you.”

“Then I’m perfectly safe with both of you.” I mutter.

This is what Rych has for his rescue. A sick human and two tortured souls.

We’d better make this good.

CHRISSIE

I step out of the ground transport as I spot the two Gryn landing within Fenek’s compound. Both Maxym and Klynn had been very clear they were not able to carry me, partially because it was likely they’d be spotted, and picking up any other creature is strictly forbidden for them, but also because both of them insisted if Rych scented me on them, he would likely remove a body part from the perpetrator.

Which only left a ground transport. I did my best to clean myself up once I was inside, but my coat is all but ruined from where the Drahon left claw marks, along with the dirt and dust of the last few days across the planet. The rest of my clothes haven’t fared particularly well either.

The doorway clicks at my approach and slides open with a slow, lazy rumble. As it does, I’m greeted by a sight I was not expecting.

Maxym has his sword raised, and as I step inside, he brings it down to split a butler bot in two. Klynn is surrounded by metal pieces and his chest heaves with violence.

“Um, I probably should have warned you about the bots,” I say.

“Bots!” Klynn spits with absolute venom. “Vrex them.”

“Neither of us do well with bots,” Maxym offers as a half apology. “I’m not sure why.” His great dark wings shudder.

“Rych doesn’t like them either.” I look at the remains. “And as a further warning, Fenek loves them, so there will be more.”

“Have to kill,” Klynn responds.

“Be my guest, I hate the things too.” I walk up to the main entrance, and the door swings open at my approach.

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