Page 81 of Chained

“It wasn’t your fault,” I say quietly.

“We were too confident. We thought if we were free, if we had ships, no one would challenge us.”

“That’s what the Sarkarnii thought,” Dirk huffs, “and they ended up in the Kirakos.”

Maxym’s brow darkens. “The Varangy cross the Sarkarnii at their peril,” he rasps.

“Why do you think there are so few of them?” Dirk responds. “They’ve crossed far too many species for their own survival.”

I’m beginning to think Dirk knows more than is good for him, or his family.

I agree.

Maxym’s thought slams into my brain in a way which is entirely uncontrolled. It makes my left eye socket ache.

“My apologies, little scrap,” he rumbles out loud. “We need to go. Is there another way out of here?”

“There is,” Nate pipes up, still clutching at his dagger, one I recognize as being Maxym’s. “But…”

“What is it, little gladiator?” Maxym rumbles.

“I’m not sure you’ll fit,” Nate finishes.

I attempt to hide a snort of amusement, but I can’t hide it through the thoughtbond, a device between mates which I’m guessing it takes some getting used to.

“Believe me, little creature, I will fit,” Maxym intones. “Show us the way.”

MAXYM

I am not going to fit.

Nate slips through the narrow opening, followed by Cleo and then Dirk. He set some traps which he claims will slow down any Varangy or disable the mind control should they send in any unfortunate Zarvu.

I don’t trust him. He’s too similar to a Drahon and they can never be one hundred percent trustworthy. With my memory returning, I’m getting so much more insight into what has happened to me and what it all might mean.

The only real blank spot is what Protoex is. I recoil at the name, but there is nothing solid to know what I’m fighting.

Slicking my wings hard against my body, I angle myself through the hidden doorway and into the passage beyond. Once I’m through, I close the door and begin to wiggle sideways, slowly, to the voices I can hear.

It’s not far, just keep coming.

Cleo’s voice echoes around my head, sweet and serene. She seems to have a handle on this whole thoughtbond thing, far better than I. Her thoughts are calming, or mirth, or positive in a way I’m not sure I can muster.

It’ll come, my love.

Her belief in me is unending. Even if I nearly got her killed. I cannot wait until I can nest properly for her.

I creep my way out into a larger room, pulling my wing free and shaking my feathers as hard as I can.

“I really didn’t think he would fit,” Nate says to Cleo.

I feel like I’ve been sucked through the insides of a ziggurag, so he’s not so far wrong.

“We need to go get Retah,” Cleo says to me.

“We need to finish the mission, and if he’s survived, he’ll be there,” I respond before she recoils.

I pull her into my arms.

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