Page 38 of Naga Healer's Mate

“Back to your cell,” the second guard ordered, taking a step forward.“Now.”

“I heard the alarms,” Islae said, keeping her voice steady despite the adrenaline pumping through her veins.“Something’s wrong up there.Shouldn’t you be helping?”

The guards exchanged concerned glances.Above them, another explosion shook the ceiling.Perfect—they were distracted and uncertain.Just like she had hoped for.She would use this to her advantage.

“Shut up and move back to your cell,” the larger guard snapped back, but Islae caught the nervous twitch of his jaw.Whatever was happening upstairs had them spooked.

She took a careful step backward.Her eyes darted around the corridor as her mind raced through options of how to get away from the guards.The corridor behind the Jorvlen guards led to the maintenance shaft.If she could just buy herself a few more seconds and get around them.

She shifted her weight, analyzing the guards like she would a patient’s injury.The larger Jorvlen’s stance favored his right side—an old wound, perhaps.The smaller one kept glancing upward at the sounds of combat, his grip on his weapon loose.

“I said get back to your cell!”The larger guard took another step forward.

Islae lifted her hands slowly, the stolen neural disruptor concealed against her forearm.“The facility’s under attack.Do you really want to waste time with one escaped prisoner?”

More explosions rocked the prison corridor.Perfect timing.She lunged forward, ducking under the larger guard’s grab and firing the neural disruptor directly into his knee.He crashed down with a roar of pain.

The second guard’s plasma bolt seared past her ear as she rolled on the ground, the heat making her skin prickle.Her healer’s mind kicked in again.She could almost see the nerve clusters beneath their thick slimy skin, the vulnerable pressure points.

“You little—” The standing second guard’s curse cut off as Islae slammed her elbow into his throat, right where she knew the cartilage was weakest.But before she could follow through, the fallen larger guard’s massive hand wrapped around her ankle.

Pain exploded through her leg as he yanked with brute force.She hit the ground hard, the impact driving the air from her lungs as she landed on her back.The neural disruptor fell out of her hand and skittered away from her across the cold stone floor.

“Not so clever now,” the larger guard growled, dragging her closer to him.His partner had recovered, rubbing his throat.

Islae kicked out with her free leg, catching the standing guard in the knee.But exhaustion slowed her movements.Her captivity with no food and the brutal beatings she sustained had taken their toll on her body.The larger guard pinned her down, his massive weight practically crushing her.

“You should have stayed in your cell,” he sneered, pressing down harder on top of her.“Now we’ll have to teach you a lesson.”

Black spots danced at the edges of her vision.She couldn’t breathe.Couldn’t focus.But she refused to give up, refused to let them win.Her fingers scrambled on the cold stone floor, searching for anything she could use as a weapon.

The smaller guard aimed his plasma pistol at her head.“Make one more move and—”

Another explosion cut him off, much closer this time.Debris rained down on them from the ceiling.Islae twisted desperately, fighting against the crushing weight pinning her down, but her strength was fading fast.

Pain suddenly exploded through her body as the larger Jorvlen’s fist connected with her ribs.The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.Through blurred vision, she watched the smaller guard circle them laughing.Then suddenly, he struck her face with his weapon.Her head snapped to the side, white stars bursting behind her eyes.

“Not so defiant now.Are you?”The larger guard’s hot breath washed over her face, making her stomach turn.His slimy hands pawed at her body.“Let’s see how that pretty mouth of yours tastes.”

“Get off me!”She thrashed beneath him, but her exhaustion and injury had robbed her of strength.Her healer’s mind screamed at her about the damage being done to her body—a cracked rib, another possible concussion, and possible internal bleeding.She couldn’t afford to sustain much more.

The smaller guard pressed his boot into her shoulder, pinning her down further.“Hold still and maybe we’ll be gentle.”

Tears of rage and fear burned in her eyes as the larger guard’s rough hands grabbed at the waistband of her pants.She had survived so much, fought so hard through the years, only to end up here being taken advantage of in the worst way possible.The thought of these monsters violating her body made bile rise in her throat.

“Such soft skin,” the larger guard purred into her ear, his bulbous eyes gleaming with sick pleasure.“I bet you’ll feel so—”

A deep, primal roar shattered the air, echoing off the stone walls with such fury that even the Jorvlen guards froze.The sound wasn’t human or Jorvlen.It was something ancient and dangerous, promising violence and death.

Islae’s heart leaped.Through the haze of pain and fear, a single thought crystallized: Nirrn had come for her.

The larger guard’s grip loosened slightly as he turned toward the sound.“What the—”

Another loud roar, even closer now.The smaller guard raised his weapon, his hands shaking.“Show yourself!”

Islae smiled through her bloodied lips.These idiots had no idea what was coming for them.She had seen the change in Nirrn’s eyes before they took her away in Haven—seen the warrior emerging from beneath the healer’s calm exterior.And now they were about to learn exactly what happened when you threatened someone a Niri had vowed to protect with his life.

Through her pain-blurred vision, she watched as Nirrn’s massive form filled the prison corridor.Blood dripped from his scaled arms, staining the orange and gold patterns dark crimson.His muscular chest heaved with barely contained rage, and his usual gentle golden eyes blazed with a predatory gleam she’d never witnessed before.

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