Page 41 of Captured
“I could just cut off pieces of you until you finally find your tongue.” Henrick speaks again and there’s a smile on his lips that reaches all the way to his eyes, the first expression of any feeling I’ve seen from him. It chills me to the bone.
I cast a glance around, blood suddenly rushing to my head. I know men like these. I know the hatred that runs as deep as breath in their bodies. They will do it. They will hurt Rakir until he gives them what they want.
And everyone has a breaking point, even one as magnificent as Rakir.
Maybe it’s the thought of that beautiful body, bruised and cut beyond recognition. Maybe it’s just the idea of his proud spirit broken down.
I won’t allow this. All he needs is a bit of time, just until his brothers arrive. I’m going to die anyway, I might as well die saving him.
“Wait!” I shout, loud enough to be heard and steady enough that they will listen. “I can give you what you want.”
All eyes turn to me and I feel the blood draining away from my face. This is it. My only plan. A stupid, suicidal stalling plan, but the only one I can come up with.
“No.” Rakir’s word is cutting, his tone like the whip of a lash. “Silence.”
I force myself not to look at him, not to see the expression on his face. The soldiers all look at me now, even Captain Henrick seems interested.
“I know where the List is.” I try to keep them all in my field of view, but it’s impossible. “I’ll give it to you.”
“Let me guess, sweetheart.” The captain doesn’t move an inch. “In exchange, all you ask is that we don’t hurt your little pet snake.”
I chuckle, loud and cruel, the sound going off the air like a whip.
“Not a chance.” I’m surprised that I don’t crumble and die under the lie, but my voice holds steady, my tone one of pure loathing. I’m a much better actress than I ever gave myself credit for. “I couldn’t care less what happens to him. He’s my enemy, same as yours.”
I try not to see it, but I can’t help it. Rakir casts me a long look, the yellow of his eyes blazing with pain. I know he thinks I’m betraying him, that I’ve been acting all this time. I can see the hurt in his eyes, some kind of unbearable betrayal that hits him right in his soul.
I’m so sorry. I have no other choice.
I want nothing more but to shout that it’s not true. That he means more to me than the moon and the stars and all the depth of space put together.
But his very life hangs in the balance and my mouth shuts closed.
“So, you don’t like this Drakian? Changed your mind?” There’s derision in the Captain’s voice, but I don’t detect any surprise. He hates the Drakians so much, he can’t see what’s in front of his eyes. I don’t like Rakir. I love him with every fiber of my being.
“Not any more than you do.” I flip my head, spreading my long curly hair behind my back in a way that I know is attractive. I purse my lips and cast a long, disgusted glance to Rakir. “I just had to pretend for a while. I mean, just look at him. He’s nothing but an animal.”
The Captain nods and a few of his soldiers chuckle. There’s a subtle change in the atmosphere as I pout and tilt my head to the side seductively. I can feel their gazes on me, the calculations in their heads.
I’m no fool. I know they’ll kill me. But I’m as good a distraction as it gets.
Just in front of me, Rakir turns away from the Black Star men. His eyes are blazing with the promise of reprisal and his fangs show as he stares me down.
“No.”
It’s a single word, but it bears more threat than the barrels of all the phasers of the Black Star soldiers put together. He thinks I’m betraying him to save myself. Thinks I’m a coward, that I’m giving him up to save myself.
He can hate me as much as he wants for my betrayal if he lives.
“I’m all ears, little lady. And no tricks.” Henrick sucks on his top teeth, the sound surprisingly loud in the open air. “I have my ways for making people talk, and not all of them are particularly friendly.”
Yes, I know. You’ll even enjoy it, you monster.But I don’t say that.
“Are you going to listen or just bore me to death with your threats?” I flip my chin, giving Henrick my best hard-ass glare. “You and I both know that your mission is to get the List back.”
I wait a few seconds, watching Henrick’s reaction to what I’m saying.
“Juliet. No.”
