Page 105 of Rok's Captive
Rok leads me with single-minded purpose, his movements quick as he pulls me deeper into the maze of stone.
The sand wave surges higher, nearly licking at our heels. I stumble on a hidden rock, my ankle twisting, and I let out a cry of pain. Before I can even register what’s happening, Rok scoops me up against his chest and continues running, his pace barely slowing under my weight.
Ahead, the rock formations grow denser, creating a natural barrier against the advancing sand. I close my eyes, praying hard that we make it. There are many ways I’ve imagined dying since waking up on this planet. This wasn’t one of them.
Finally, the rumbling grows fainter as the rocks force the sand to split and flow around rather than through. The terror doesn’t leave. Instead, it remains in my veins.
When I glance up at Rok, his gaze meets mine, and he leans in for a brief moment, pressing his forehead to mine.
“Safe soon,” he projects into my mind.
I cling to him, watching over his shoulder as the wave of sand crashes against the rocks behind us, spraying fine particles into the air. For a moment, I think we’ve escaped.
Then I see it—a thin tendril of sand, weaving through the rocks like a sentient thing, following our path with unnerving precision.
“Rok,” I whisper, tightening my grip on him. “It’s still coming.”
He doesn’t look back, just increases his pace, his muscles bunching and releasing with each powerful stride. The landscape blurs around us as he races through a series of increasingly narrow passages, taking turns that seem random but must be calculated.
Finally, we reach the entrance of a cave. Rok practically shoves me inside, his massive body blocking the opening, as he turns to face the desert.
I collapse against the wall, my chest heaving as I struggle to catch my breath. My heart is pounding so hard it feels like it might burst.
Rok remains completely still, his shoulders rising and falling as he scans the sand. His claws flex at his sides, his posture tense, ready for a fight.
I watch him in silence, my mind racing.
I’d be dead without him. The thought pounds in time with my heartbeat as I press my back against the cool stone wall of the cave, struggling to catch my breath.
Not just this time—but every time.
The shadow creatures. The rival clan. The unrelenting heat of this brutal planet.
I’d be dead a dozen times over if it weren’t for Rok.
I can still feel his grip on my arm, the way his claws held me firm but never hurt me as he pulled me through the labyrinth of jagged rock formations. The way his body had shielded me as thatthingin the sand chased us, relentless and terrifying.
He saved me. Again.
And now, I watch him as he crouches at the mouth of the cave, his golden eyes scanning, his massive body coiled with tension. He looks like a warrior carved from stone, every muscle prepared to strike, his claws flexing slightly as he listens for any sign of pursuit.
I should be looking out too, but I can’t tear my eyes away from him.
My heart pounds for an entirely different reason now.
The longer I watch him, the more my chest tightens, the more my breath comes faster. Gratitude swells inside me, so big and overwhelming it almost hurts. But it’s not just gratitude. It’s something deeper. Hotter.
He turns to face me, his sharp features softening just slightly as his gaze sweeps over me, checking for injuries.
“Safe,” he projects as he approaches, forehead touching mine. The word sends a shiver through me. Histouchsends a shiver through me. My breaths are still coming fast, my chest rising and falling as I stare up at him.
He reaches for me, his hand cupping my jaw, his thumb brushing lightly over my cheek. His touch is so careful, so gentle, it makes my chest ache.
And then I lose it.
Before I can think, before I can stop myself, I grab the back of his neck and pull him down into a kiss.
It’s desperate. Raw.
