Page 61 of Naga Warrior's Mate

Alaysia peered past Dernin’s shoulder at the two bodies sprawled across the cell floor.Fyret lay face-down, blood pooling beneath him.The knife he’d held to her face lay just inches from his outstretched hand.Bariv’s filaments had stopped moving entirely.

More footsteps echoed down the corridor, but the angle of the cell prevented her from seeing who approached.Dernin shifted to better shield her with his body despite his injuries.

“Keep your head down,” he whispered.“We don’t know if they’re friendly.”

Chapter 31

Dernin

Heavybootsechoedthroughthe underground corridor, sending vibrations through the stone floor.Dernin shifted to better shield Alaysia with his body despite his injuries.Blood trickled down his temple from Bariv’s beatings, but his warrior instincts remained razor-sharp.

“Stay behind me,” he whispered, his muscles tensing as the footsteps grew closer.

A familiar silhouette soon emerged from the shadows.Commander Thex’s green scales gleamed in the dim light, his armor bearing the marks of recent combat.

Dernin’s heart leaped.“Commander?You’re early.”

“When Kress confirmed that you were here, we doubled our pace.”Thex’s eyes narrowed at Dernin’s injuries.“We’ve searched high and low for you since you disappeared.Then miraculously, your message reached us through Kira’s network.”

Sounds of combat echoed through the underground complex—metal clashing against plasma gun fire, shouts and orders being called out.

“The compound is not secure yet,” Thex said.“Our warriors are clearing each level.”

“Commander,” Dernin straightened despite his wounds, “This is Alaysia.She needs your protection.”

Thex’s expression softened slightly.“Any ally of yours is under our protection.”

Dernin gave a nod and then turned to Alaysia.“Are you okay to walk?”Dernin asked her gently.

She nodded, though her face was pale, and dried blood stained her cheek.“I’m fine.You’re the one who’s hurt.”

“It will take more than Bariv’s fists to keep me down.”Dernin managed a grim smile, his protective instincts surging as another explosion rocked the complex.“We need to move.Now.”

Thex handed Dernin a blade.“Welcome back to the warriors, brother.Let’s get you both out of here.”

Dernin gripped the familiar weight of the blade, its balance perfect in his hand.The weapon felt like coming home after months of fighting with nothing but his bare hands.He kept Alaysia close behind him as Commander Thex led them through the corridors.

“Watch your step,” Dernin whispered to Alaysia as they passed Fyret’s lifeless body.The smell of plasma discharge hung thick in the air as they moved away from the underground holding cell.

The underground passages twisted like a maze, but Thex moved with purpose, checking each intersection before motioning them forward.Distant explosions shook loose dirt from the ceiling.

“The main force is keeping their guards occupied upstairs,” Thex said over his shoulder.“We’ll take the service tunnel.”

Dernin’s muscles ached from Bariv’s beating, but adrenaline kept him sharp.Every shadow could hide an enemy.He sensed Alaysia’s rapid heartbeat behind him and felt her fingers grip his free arm.

“Stay close,” he murmured.“Almost there.”

They emerged into a wider tunnel where the sounds of battle echoed more clearly from above.Plasma fire and shouts filtered down through the ceiling.Dernin’s warrior instincts screamed to join the fight right now, but Alaysia’s safety came first.

“Three more turns,” Thex said, checking a digital map.“Our exit point is—”

A door burst open ahead.Two of Fyret’s guards stumbled through, their weapons raised.

“Down!”Dernin shoved Alaysia behind a support pillar as Thex’s plasma rifle flashed.The guards dropped before they could fire.

“Nice shot, commander,” Dernin said, scanning for more threats.

“Still got it.”Thex gestured them forward.“Exit is just ahead.Ready yourself.The main level is chaos.”

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