Page 66 of Bound

I can’t trust anyone with my Chrissie’s life. So, I slam the sword pommel into his head, and he slumps over the console of the flyer.

“Didn’t we need him?” Chrissie asks.

“I don’t need anyone, not when it comes to saving your life.” I rip through the transport until I find what I was looking for, a pair of bonds which I use to tie him to the console. “If the resistance is coming, they’ll release him.”

I cup her face with my hands, studying it, searing her beauty onto my eyes.

“I want to leave you here, but if I get to the scientist, I need you there with me, so she can do what she needs to do,” I say fiercely. “I want you to stay close at all times, do what I say, and”—I reach to my belt, taking out the pulsar which I hand to her—“never hesitate to fire, if you can.”

If I cannot go into battle with my fellow Gryn by my side, then ensuring my mate is completely protected is the best I can do.

Chrissie bites her bottom lip and takes the pulsar from me, tucking it into her pocket.

“Stay close, stay low, do what you say,” she repeats.

When I kiss her, it’s like all the stars in the galaxy are turned on, flaring brighter than they’ve ever shone before.

Chrissie is mine to my last breath.

And that breath will not be today.

CHRISSIE

The meat processing plant is where Axel said it would be. I admit, I struggled to trust the big Voltes after what happened with Red, so I’m not exactly annoyed with Rych. Although I do think it might have made sense to wait for the others.

But then how long have I got? My breath was already short by the time we got here, my legs feeling like they’re made of rubber. All I want is to lie down and sleep.

Rych isn’t going to let me, and if I take a moment, it could get us both killed.

“There’s the shack,” I whisper to him as we peer around the corner of a building. “How are we going to get in unseen?”

“We’re not.” Rych grins at me, shoving his sword under his wing and pulling off the weapons bandolier he’s wearing, dropping it on the ground. “We’re surrendering…for a bit. How sick can you look?”

“Sicker than this, I suppose,” I say, my words cut off with a squeak as he lifts me into his arms.

“Look sicker,” he suggests, and I go floppy.

“Any good?” I murmur from the side of my mouth.

“Perfect, as always, myeregri.”

My heart thunders in my chest as he carries me over to the shack and bellows at the door.

“Let me in! My life for my mate’s.”

This is a spectacularly dangerous game we’re playing. I already know the Drahon make up the rules as they go.

The shack door swings open, and inside I see the exact opposite of the wooden structure on the outside, a smooth, clean corridor which leads to a set of metal doors.

Rych strides in, covering the distance to them in a matter of seconds. He puts me down in a single smooth movement as he pulls out his sword and the doors open.

The Drahon inside don’t stand a chance against my seasoned gladiator. Their bodies slump to the ground even as it seems he hardly touched them.

His sword flashes in the artificial lights, swinging and moving like it’s part of him as the initial wave of Drahon are all cut down. Rych spears one and then grabs his shoulder, pulling him down the blade.

“Where is Felia?” he snarls. The Drahon shakes his head. Rych twists the sword. “Where is she?”

“Two floors down,” he gasps. “In the lab.”

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