Page 57 of Keeping Freya
“We are not the ones who destroyed an entire planet, or who tried to end an entire race.”
Gasp sound all around me, and I take another step.
“It is over now, you are all that is left, and that is nobody’s fault but your own. Your own daughter would rather kill her entire species than admit defeat to us. And you and you alone blew up the survivors.” I take another step and reach for my gun.
“You killed my brother…”
I take one final step, we are only feet apart, when a sound at my back steals my focus.
“T’Rak?”
For one moment, I look around at my mate’s scared face, her hands in front of her mouth as if she regrets speaking. The High Commander takes advantage of my distraction and pulls out his gun; only he pushes the barrel against the head of the boy he is still holding.
“NOOOOOOOO!” one of the females wails, and my heart stops as I look into the High Commander's menacing grin.
“You will let me go,” he says.
Grumbling, I have to admit that there is nothing I can do to stop him—not with the boy hostage. He is innocent.
“No…” My mate’s voice trembles behind me, and I hear her walk forward. I try to push her behind me when she nears, but she keeps walking.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers before she walks towards the High Commander.
“I will take his place.”
The grin he is sporting grows bigger.
“The minute you kill me, you know it’s over for you. That boy did nothing to deserve this. I will take his place, and you will let me live. T’Rak will let you walk out of this settlement.”
She looks back and nods at me.‘I trust you,’her eyes tell me. She knows I will not let her down. It makes the bond pulse with approval, but my heart howls. How can she willingly let him take her?
It is her honor, I know it is, but it still hurts. “When this is over, we need to have a serious conversation about putting yourself in danger.”
She smiles. “I promise, this is the last time.”
The High Commander shoves the boy aside and pulls her before him as a shield. My fingers itch, but I need to keep my Calm. He starts walking backwards and turns a corner. Thunder begins to rumble over the jungle, and nothing makes a sound, apart from the raindrops falling on the rooftops.
The Sternotheri female turns around to face me. “He is a desperate man who has lost everything. Your mate is selfless and honorable.” She bows her head. “She suits you well.”
“Thank you.” My voice is hoarse.
“Exit our home, go right. There is a tunnel that exits in a stairwell. This is the only way out. On higher ground, exit the cave but do not cross the river. There are arches above the river; he will try to get to those because there is a landing patch with a small flyer. Do not let him get away, please, Warrior. Save us from him.”
Growling, I bend my knee and bow my head. “You have my word, mistress.”
“Go,” she commands, and I start running, without looking back.
Her directions are excellent, and I get to the tunnel in no time. I hear my mate struggling in front of me, the High Commander is yelling, and I grab my gun and aim. He sees me before I can make a shot and pulls Fr’Ya in front of him and opens fire, making me duck back behind a rock formation.
I cannot get a clean shot this way, so I am forced to wait until they are out of sight. Slowly, I follow, and when I see light shining through, I sprint up the stairs, just in time to see them exiting the cave.
The cave opens into a clearing, and the weather has gotten much worse during the time we spend inside the mountain. Thunder booms and lightning crackles above us, while the rain comes pouring down. The High Commander pulls Fr’Ya along, but I see movement in the bushes. Without warning, a big feline jumps from the leaves onto the High Commander’s arm. Howling with pain, he lets go of my mate and tries to get the animal off him.
“BEGUL!” Fr’Ya screams, but the cat ignores her. Dazed, she is seated on the ground. The High Commander tries to beat the feline with his gun, but he cannot get a good hit because it is holding on to his arm.
For one moment, I catch the High Commander’s eyes. With a roar, he throws the feline off him and starts running.
I know I should follow him, but my mate comes first. Always.
