Page 78 of Captured
Chapter Thirty-Six
Rakir
Wrath courses through my veins, spreads under my skin. I call on the cold veil of battle to shield me from my feelings, but my fury burns too bright. All I see is red. Blood red, everywhere.
That man has my Amara in his grip, her wonderful hair all wrapped around his fingers. He’s hurting her.
He will be the first to die.
“Don’t move, Prince Rakir.” The man twists, putting Juliet’s body in front of him. Using her as a shield. The metallic shine of a blade comes just under my Amara’s chin as he holds her there. “Unless you want to paint those walls with Juliet’s blood.”
I stop, my movement echoed by my brothers. The strike team isn’t far, just behind the corner, but under strict orders to wait for my authorization to attack.
Juliet’s life is what matters most.
Another woman’s cry catches my attention as Sara is being lifted to her feet and held in a similar fashion in front of Governor Taylor. To my left, Darhk growls, the sound more feral, more charged with emotion than anything I’ve ever heard from him. I store the information away, as stunning as it is. I never thought my brother would be so protective of his young ward.
“What is it you intend to do?” I ask, my voice a mixture of growls and words. “You have nowhere to hide. The Black Star command ship is gone.”
“That’s what you think,” Fred answers, dragging Juliet toward the hatch. There’s no way I’ll allow him to get inside with her, he must know that. “Drakians don’t have the best in shielding technology anymore. We have our own smart little monkey to build us toys. Soon, even the Pearl won’t be able to stop us.”
I take a step, but stop when Juliet whimpers. A fine trickle of blood trails down her lovely throat as Fred pushes the blade too hard on her neck.
“And then what? You can’t believe I’ll let you get away with Juliet - or with Sara.” As I speak, another kind of veil descends on my soul. It’s not the cold veil of battle I’ve trained so hard to build.
No, this veil is painted blood red and it burns. Where feelings were reduced to a cold, dark hole, they now blaze and shine, the savagery of my love for Juliet obliterating everything else.
I’m ready to die for her. Ready to kill and maim. Ready to let loose a beast I might never cage again.
“She’s your Amara. You won’t risk her.”
Fred pulls on Juliet, intend on dragging her back to his shuttle, but she resists. At her side, Sara watches, then struggles, too.
Darhk walks toward Governor Taylor as the older woman presses the barrel of a blaster to Sara’s temple.
“Let Sara go,” Darhk growls, his words nearly lost in the feral sound. His entire body radiates power and rage and he looks every bit the monster humans think we are.
“No! Stay where you are, you filth!” Governor Taylor, her eyes wide with panic.
Then she moves the barrel of the blaster from Sara’s temple to Darhk. That was a mistake, but she will never know it.
Sara takes the opportunity to shove the old woman away, then scrambles to the ground. The next second, Darhk pounces, his talons like razors in front of him. The blaster detonates, hitting him full force, but he doesn’t even slow down. Sara screams, covering her head with her arms as his talons embed deep into the woman’s chest.
She’s dead before she even hits the ground.
Darhk doesn’t even glance at Governor Taylor. He crouches beside Sara, cradling the small woman in his arms like she’s the most precious treasure in the universe.
“Now, Harko.” I give the order without taking my eyes off Juliet.
Harko grunts and gives the order. The hatch remains tightly shut as the sealed tunnel leading to the shuttle makes a painful whine. Then the forces of space tear its metallic skin apart. A moment later, the Rebellion shuttle explodes, ripples of energy making the ground shatter beneath our feet.
“No!” Fred shouts, his eyes glued on the hatch door. He can’t see what remains of the shuttle, but he doesn’t need to.
The trap has closed on him and he’s just realized it.
“Governor Taylor is dead,” I tell the human man. “Your shuttle is destroyed. There’s nowhere for you to run.”
“Shut up!” he shouts, his eyes wide, panic brimming on his features, spilling in his voice. “Don’t come close, or Juliet is dead!”
