Page 46 of Captured
Chapter Twenty-Two
Juliet
Their movements are too fast to see, but the screams are maddeningly clear in the pure, clear air of the shore. Red covers the rocks in great streaks where a moment ago there was only the gray dullness of rocks.
The Drakians come out of the forest like a flurry of black, scale-clad death angels, running so fast they seem to be dodging the energy beams of the phasers. There’s a kind of deadly grace to the way they move, shooting their own phasers with surgical precision. There’s no telling how many are out there. It could be a handful, a dozen, a hundred.
Soon, Black Star soldiers’ bodies litter the ground, soiling the clear water red.
And during all that time, I stand alone. My brain registers the violence happening all around me, but it’s like I’m seeing it from a distance. Like a spectator instead of a participant.
That I’m totally ignored by all parties doesn’t help. I’m invisible. Inconsequential.
I search the carnage, past the mangled bodies looking blankly at the twin suns and writhing wounded, calling for help that will never come. I’m vaguely aware of Fred’s shuttle, flying away and back to his Black Star Command ship, carrying the data frame with him.
Where is he? Where is Rakir?
I blink, darkness for a split second hiding the horrors of the battlefield. When I open my eyes again, the entire Black Star crew lie on the ground, their eyes open, dead.
I stagger forward as all black figures stand, their muscular bodies shining under the bright light like diamonds of death. Yellow eyes of different shades settle on me.
I don’t care for any of them. There is only one pair of yellow eyes that I seek.
When I finally meet Rakir’s gaze, it’s like a waterfall comes over the top of my head. The hypnotic trance washes away and all I want is to find refuge in my lover’s arms.
I move, my body obeying with a stubborn slow speed, racing toward Rakir. As I run, I see the alarm in his eyes, but it’s already too late.
Strong arms close around me, bracing against my chest as long fingers close around my throat. I’m yanked back with a cruel strength, enough to yank the breath out of me.
“Stay where you are, bastards!” Captain Henrick shouts as his fingers tighten. He reeks of blood, fear, and blind hatred as he chokes the protestation from my lips. “If you move, she’s dead.”
A Drakian moves forward, disregarding Henrick’s warning. Rakir speaks fast and harsh in his tongue and the other Drakian stops with a startled look.
“That’s right, you sniveling lizards, stay back or the lady gets it.” Henrick follows his threat with a harsh jerk and I whimper involuntarily.
“Let go.” Rakir takes a single step forward, placing himself in front of the other Drakians. His body radiates strength and power, his authority over the others as natural as breathing. “Now.”
“Not a chance.” Henrick shakes his head and I can feel the trembling in his limbs. He knows he’s going to die. “You’re just going to kill me.”
“No kill.” Rakir takes another step forward and his fangs glisten as he speaks. “Honor.”
There’s a moment when I think he’s going to let me go. Then his fingers squeeze harder and I struggle to breathe. I scratch and pull at his hands, but a hard punch to my ribs makes me stop. Pain flashes in a blinding shot and I can’t think straight. Each breath is torture as Henrick pulls me back toward the forest.
“Stay back!” Henrick shouts as Rakir moves forward.
I can feel the damp coolness of the forest behind us, its organic, rich smell coming in waves as the shade grows over us. If he pulls me back in there and away, I’ll never get out.
Rakir moves in tandem with Henrick, maintaining his distance, but always following. I know Rakir won’t let Henrick get away. He can’t. Not when Henrick has the data frame with the List of Senators on it.
If he has to sacrifice me for it, then so be it.
The other Drakians follow Rakir’s lead, staying just a few paces behind. Suddenly, they all stop.
I lock gazes with Rakir as Henrick pulls me into the shade of the forest. Pain flashes again, but it’s not the agony of my broken ribs or the burning of my oxygen starved lungs.
I was a fool to believe Rakir would sacrifice the List for me. A fool to think what we shared meant more than just a few hours of pleasure. He is Drakian and I am human. We are enemies.
“Stop,” Rakir speaks, his word almost completely swallowed by the growl in his voice. “Juliet.”
Rakir extends a hand toward us, his fingers open. The black scales retreat and along with them the protection of his exoskeleton.
“Juliet mine,” Rakir speaks again as the black completely retracts, leaving him pointedly vulnerable. His handsome, rugged features are made even more striking by the expression on his face. An expression I’m almost tempted to interpret as fear. Or at least, regret.
“She’s your mate, hey?” Henrick repeats, dragging me into the darkness. “Guess you won’t follow me into the forest, then.”
I can see the other Drakians frown and growl, but none of them makes a move. They all take their lead from Rakir.
Those wondrous yellow eyes are the last thing I see as Henrick pulls me with him into the darkness of the forest.
