Page 47 of Touch the Stars
“Attendant Tisna, leave the human female and show the sentries to the detention wing with the prisoner.”
Relief replaced fear.Baatar wasn’t going to die, yet.
Bony, aka Tisna, shoved her forward with force enough to make her stumble.She flailed her arms to catch her balance, but still landed on her hands and knees next to a wide-eyed Nak.He seemed surprised by the situation, but he was the grand asshole’s man.Or rodent, to be exact.
“I live to serve.”Bitterness tinged Tisna’s words, then the bird-alien turned and sauntered toward the now-closed main doors with an exaggerated hip-sway.
Okay, probably a she, not an it.
The creepy gong sounded again as Tisna approached the doors, and they swung open.The two Ragatian sentries bent and lifted Baatar to his feet between them.He swayed, blinked, then met her gaze, his eyes full of apology and concern.Blood oozed from one nostril, and a mottled red and blue spot marred his jaw.
Then the sentries yanked him forward toward the doorway.
Bastards.
There had to be a way to stop them.She placed her palms on the floor—
“If you try anything, human female, he will die with a knife in his heart.”
Shit, okay.Threating Baatar’s life worked on her, too.She sat back on her heels as Baatar and the sentries exited, then shot a narrow-eyed glare at Rocky.He might have the upper hand right now, but all she needed was one little opening.
“My liege?”Nak squeaked, shifting his weight from foot to foot next to her.
The emperor turned his obsidian gaze on the furry attendant.“The mysterious disappearance of Attendant Daarga prompted me to increase my personal protection.Is there a problem, Attendant Nak?”
Nak’s whiskers trembled.“They are…Ragatiansentries, Great One.”
Red flared in the emperor’s eyes, and he raised his dominant fist.A squeak came from Nak and he scampered away, leaving her to face Rocky’s rage.
“Shit.”She rolled in the opposite direction just as Rocky’s fist slammed into the floor right where Nak had been standing.
Boom!
Fine cracks radiated through the marble from the point of impact, like something out of a superhero movie.Fuck, that was too close.She jerked her gaze up, but the emperor’s attention was on Nak, who dodged and skittered toward the closing doors.Why was he staying just ahead of Rocky’s reach?He must be able to run faster than that.He couldn’t be doing it on purpose, could he?
The furry little attendant peeked over his shoulder, his gaze locking with hers.Well, shit, hewasrisking his life to keep Rocky busy and give her the opening she’d wanted.
Time to get the fuck out of here.
She clambered to her feet and let her gaze dart around the room.There, through the archway.Bushes, boulders…a garden that should have plenty of places to hide until she came up with a better plan.Or till Rocky caught up with her.Whichever came first.
She sprinted through the archway, the short room beyond, and into the garden.Muggy air coated her skin like someone else’s nasty sweat.So gross.She inhaled, and a toxic stink invaded her nostrils.Her throat tightened and she nearly stumbled as a strangled noise slipped out.
“Mother fuc…” What the hell was thatsmell?Industrial waste?
A roar came from the audience chamber behind her.A seriously pissed-off roar.Either Nak had escaped or Rocky had realized she wasn’t there anymore.
Boom.Boom.Boom.
The thudding footfalls coming closer suggested that the grand gross one was coming after her now.Fuck the stink, it was time to run or die.She darted forward, the slap of her shoes against the stone path marking each step.
It’ll really suck if I die here.
Chapter 16
Baatar.
Hestumbledalongthecorridor between his captors, three thoughts reeling through his addled mind.Kaitlyn in danger… Ragatians staging a coup… Buuren wasinnocent.
