Page 67 of Bound

“Good.” Rych pulls his blade free, and the Drahon drops.

I’m pulled against his warm body, my brain seared with the destruction he has wrought.

“It had to be done, little spark. If there was another way, believe me, I would have taken it. But the Drahon don’t want credits, not in the sense of what little we have. They want power. And power means violence.”

“The Drahon did this to me—they put the virus in my body without a care for how it would affect me, or if I lived. I should not care for their passing.” I stare at the bodies.

“The mere fact you do is one of the many reasons I love you,” Rych says, nuzzling his head into my hair as if to take solace.“After this, I will never fight again, unless it is to protect my mate.”

“You really don’t want to go back to the dome?” I ask.

“I never wanted to be there in the first place. It was all I could remember. Maybe the Drahon can reverse what they did to me, maybe they can’t, but either way, I belong to you now, Chrissie. You are myeregriand nothing will ever change that.”

A pulsar bolt zips over our heads.

“Looks like the Drahon have upped their weapons game, even if their aim leaves a lot to be desired.” Rych grins at me.

“Then it’s time to go. You’re a big enough target, after all,” I tease.

Rych’s eyes heat. If we survive this, I know he’s going to make me pay for my comment.

And I’m going to enjoy every second.

He rises as do I and uses his sword to deflect the few pulsar bolts which come our way. Having never seen him in action, I can’t help but be impressed. Rych is sexy under any circumstances, but when he goes full gladiator, he is sex on legs.

“Stop distracting me, little spark,” he growls. “Your scent will make me mate you on the spot.”

I might be about to die, the virus installed in me about to snuff out my life, but to be desired by Rych, regardless of what I am, is more than enough to keep me going.

We reach a set of ramps leading down and I’m tossed into his arms once again.

“Hold tight,” he says, opening his wings.

“You’re not going to fit!” I exclaim.

“I think you should know by now, I will fit anywhere I want to go,” he rasps.

Rych is in the air, and with a sudden, sickening lurch, he folds up his wings, and we drop until he flares them again and lands as easily as stepping off a plane.

“I fit,” he says with a wicked grin.

He goes to put me down, but I find my legs don’t want to work. I can’t stand without help.

“Rych?” I cling to him, and without a word, he pulls me back into his arms, taking the pulsar pistol from my pocket.

“We’re nearly there, my Chrissie,” he says, feathers fluttering as he marches down the passage towards a set of doors at the end. “Hold on for me.”

One pulsar blast and the doors fly open. I’m carried through into a large space filled with equipment. None of it looks very nice.

Around us, like mice, Drahon flee, all except one.

“I knew you’d be back,” the female says. “And this time you brought me my prize.”

“Save her,” Rych says. “Take the virus out.”

In a weird flash, the female is next to us. I’m struggling to hold my eyes open. I’m struggling to breathe.

“It’s too late, Gryn. The virus has bonded to her DNA,” she says, triumphant. “She is already dead.”

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