Page 78 of Captured By the Scaled Outlaw
Launching myself out of the vehicle, I slam my back into the hot metal exterior once my feet hit the sand. I squeeze my eyes shut, praying that the information I’ve just ingested will suddenly cease to exist.
I don’t want any of it to be true. It can’t be.
A door slams shut and my eyes snap open. Two Nilsanian scientists carefully sandwich the white boxes between other containers marked as supplies, food, tools, and weapons. Just as Lowell requested.
A scientist lifts the top off one of the white boxes, grabs the informational paper from the top, and crumples it before tossing it to his feet. The scientists begin hauling the supplies toward Gaia 4, keeping the poison inconspicuous.
I shuffle back to where Kinsley and Lowell remain conversing, my lips cut from how hard I’ve bitten down on them. I’m not sure what exactly Kinsley has planned, but what I do know is…
Lowell was right.
The sun sizzles the sweat on my skin, the corners of my mouth crusted and dried. I turn an ear towards the group, breathing almost loud enough to drown out their words.
“And how do I know that the rest of Nilsan’s army isn’t directly behind you, ready to seize our compound?” Lowell asks. His injured leg shakes slightly from the constant pressure of standing.
Kinsley shrugs, his smile cheeky. “You don’t. But I suggest you finda new base of operations, and don’t make a habit of showing your face around my allies in the future.”
The muscles in Lowell’s face work as he analyzes Kinsley’s words, trying to get a read on his intentions. I can tell he doesn’t believe him, as he shouldn’t.
While I now know the Nilsan army is not involved, Lowell doesnot. Somehow, I need to tell him. Tellsomeone.
“I could always make you my hostage, pending a hostile military’s arrival,” Lowell sneers. “Maybe torture you for fun until you’re negotiated back.”
Kinsley laughs humorlessly with a stiff smirk. “They’d just kill me along with all of you, idiot.”
A growl builds at the base of Lowell’s throat, claws flexing. “Then how about we test it?”
Lowell, no.
“Enough of your childish threats,” Kinsley sighs, throwing his hands up. “You people aren’t worth bartering with, anyhow.”
A vein above Lowell’s eye throbs when he shouts, “What the fuck did you just say?”
The whole compound goes quiet, all eyes focused on the argument and their respective leaders.
Shifting from hip to hip, Kinsley points his finger at Lowell’s feet. “Oh, quit your yelling. I’ve given you my best offer, so take it already,animal.I wish to rid myself of you and your thugs.”
Lowell’s anger-fueled expletives don’t register coherently in my ears, Kinsley’s wild hand gestures stealing all of my focus. He usually talks with his hands, but I know better than anyone that when in a serious conversation, he’ll keep them tucked behind his back.
Kinsley is not the type to act erratically when stern, so it’s easy to notice that the movements appear calculated and are not in time with his speech patterns.
Scanning the surrounding area, I trace his hands in the opposite position they are pointing to, but see nothing other than dunes.
“Fine,” Lowell concedes. “But if I find you around this desert again, I can’t promise my compliance.”
Kinsley glares, but his smile is indicative of his satisfaction. “I wouldn’t expect anything different from you.”
With an arm extended, Lowell shakes Kinsley’s hand in begrudging agreement. Lowell must tighten his grip because Kinsley winces and his hand recoils.
Spinning on his heels, Kinsley waves to the scientists to bring the supplies. They eagerly breach the compound’s border to place supplies near the waiting Gaia 4 members, the white boxes still cleverly hidden.
Those boxes have corrosive liquid, and Lowell still has no idea,I think, panicked.
Once Kinsley is a sizable amount of paces away, he raises an open hand. After a few more steps, he closes it into a fist.
The sight stops me in my tracks, panic rushing over me in a petrifying wave.
Although I already know where it will lead, as it is a command I’ve had directed at me numerous times, I follow the line from Kinsley’s hand to the top of a dune.
