Page 70 of Chained

I glare at him in the gloom. His eyes have a slight glow to them, almost like bioluminescence.

“We do need to go, Maxym.” Cleo places a kiss on my lips. “We don’t know how long we’ve got before the Bogarok come after us.”

My chest rumbles because she’s right, but I’d rather nest for her.

“So far, other than the ones outside the dome, there seems to be no significant movement.” Retah is lit with the light from his vid-screen.

“They haven’t detected us?” Cleo asks. “What about the ones outside?”

“Maybe they didn’t see us as a threat? I’m not sure,” Retah replies. “Either way, we need to get moving before they do see us as one.”

“I’m relatively confident your friend in the passages has already informed them we are coming,” I growl at him.

Retah lifts his shoulders. “At least he didn’t kill us,” He offers.

I growl under my breath. The Oykig might have not done the deed himself, but it doesn’t mean he won’t cause our demise later.

Not something I’m going to allow to happen.

I lead my mate and Retah into the main undercroft. It rises above us, criss-crossed by conduits, by aged structures vaulted and echoing.

“It really is ancient,” Retah says as he stares around. “And the perfect hiding place for an info center you don’t want anyone to find.”

CLEO

The undercroft has lost the stench of feet and onions which the dome had. Down here, the air is thick, warm, and slightly metallic, almost as if we’re by the sea.

There’s something about this place which chills me. It’s as if it’s a receptacle for lost souls. The way Maxim’s feathers prick suggests to me he feels the same, even if I can’t catch his thoughts anymore.

Retah gives him his bright-eyed look. “You know this place. Where do you think the info center is?” he asks.

“I thought you knew?”

“I knew it was in this general area, but that’s where Maxym comes in. He knows this place,” Retah says.

“I came to the undercroft to deal with my violence, not look for data vaults,” Maxym growls, squaring up to Retah.

The stress of the situation is getting to both males. I give Retah a warning look and slip my hand into Maxym’s feathers.

“But this time, we’re here for data,” I say as I feel him relax just slightly and wish we could use the thoughtbond, a concept as alien as this planet and yet something which is so useful between lovers.

Maxym shakes his head. “I don’t know, my Cleo. It could be anywhere.”

“It won’t have been obvious,” Retah says unhelpfully.

“Was there anywhere you were unable to go or that was guarded perhaps?” I ask as Maxym closes his eyes, my fingers delving deeper into his downy feathers.

“We don’t have time for this,” Retah growls behind me.

“We have all the time,” I snap back.

Maxym opens his eyes, staring straight at me. “There were automated pulsars.” He heaves a breath. “If we went close, they’d open fire.”

He lifts all his feathers at once, then twirls them back into place, making sure not to shake me off.

“Which way?” I whisper.

My huge gladiator gives me his best smile. “With me,” he says and takes my hand from his back, kisses it, and then we’re heading into the darkness.

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