Page 35 of Naga Healer's Mate

“Such soft skin,” he groaned, nuzzling her throat.

Perfect position.She struck, her right arm wrapping around his neck in a precise hold.The guard stiffened, trying to pull back, but she locked her grip with her left hand, applying pressure to both sides of his neck.

“Wha—” he gasped, his hands scrabbling at her arm.

She maintained steady pressure, counting the seconds.The carotid arteries would compress first followed by the jugular veins.Within ten seconds, his struggles weakened.By fifteen, his knees buckled.

The bond-warmth pulsed through her—Nirrn’s strength flowing into her arms as she held the guard’s unconscious body, carefully lowering him to the ground.She checked his pulse—steady and strong.He’d wake up with a headache, but no permanent damage.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, retrieving his keys and weapon.“But I’m not staying here to be your toy or anyone else’s.”

The thrumming in her blood settled into a steady hum, as if Nirrn approved of her actions.She allowed herself a small smile, imagining his fierce golden eyes watching over her.Soon, she promised silently.Soon they would be together again.

She froze mid-step as alarms suddenly blared through the stronghold, their piercing wail echoing off the stone walls.Her fingers tightened around the stolen weapon, her heart thundering erratically against her ribs.The unconscious young guard lay crumpled at her feet, his breathing steady and slow.

Shouts erupted from somewhere above, followed by the thunder of running feet and the distinct sound of weapons fire.But not from the corridor leading to her cell.The chaos seemed centered in the upper levels.

“What the hell?”she whispered, pressing herself against the cold stone wall.

The steady warmth flowing through her veins suddenly spiked.That connection she’d felt with Nirrn was more intense than ever before.

Explosions rocked the building, sending dust cascading from the ceiling.The guards’ voices grew more panicked, their words carrying down the ventilation shaft.

“…multiple breaches in sectors three and four!”

“They’re everywhere!How did they get past—”

Another explosion cut off the rest.The overhead lights flickered, casting wild shadows across the stone floor.

She held perfectly still, analyzing each new sound.The fighting seemed concentrated away from the cellblock.Whatever—or whoever—was attacking had the Jorvlens thoroughly distracted.

The warmth in her blood spiked again, even stronger this time.The sensation felt familiar, like Nirrn’s touch but charged with a wild and dangerous energy she’d never felt from him before.

More weapons fire erupted above, followed by screams that cut off abruptly.The overhead lights flickered again, threatening to plunge the corridor into darkness.Her fingers tightened on her stolen weapon as she listened intently, barely breathing.

Something was happening in this stronghold.Something big enough to throw the usually disciplined Jorvlen forces into chaos.But what?And more importantly—should she make her move now while they were distracted, or wait to see how the situation developed?

Chapter 19

Nirrn

Nirrnmovedsilentlyacrossthe damp stone as he led his team through the twisting alleyways of Jorvla’s government district.The orange-gold scales along his broad shoulders gleamed in the dim predawn light as he pressed himself against a retaining wall, signaling the others to halt.His golden eyes narrowed at the looming Jorvlen stronghold ahead.

“Three entry points,” he whispered to Kackjin, the scarred green-scaled Niri warrior beside him.“Sectors three, four, and six.Guards rotate every twenty minutes.”

“You’re sure about this intel?”The scarred human rogue, Tyrus, adjusted his weapon harness.“Because if you’re wrong—”

“I’m not.”Nirrn’s voice carried an edge that hadn’t existed before Islae’s capture.“I’ve memorized every detail of that map.Every guard post.Every security measure.”

A patrol of Jorvlen guards marched past their position.Nirrn’s muscles coiled, ready to strike if needed, but they passed without incident.The memory of Islae being dragged away by the Jorvlens burned in his mind, feeding the rage he’d kept carefully controlled since the brutal fight in the underground fighting ring.

“Remember,” he said to the group, “we move fast, and we move smart.The medical supplies are our primary target.”The lie tasted bitter but necessary.These rogues wouldn’t risk their lives for one human woman, no matter how precious she was to him.

“Since when does a healer lead raids?”one of the human rogues muttered.

Nirrn’s strong tail whipped around, pinning the man against the wall.“Since now.”His golden eyes blazed.“Question me again, and you can find your medical supplies elsewhere.”

Kackjin chuckled low.“He’s not the same healer that first entered the pit.There’s warrior blood in him now.”

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