Page 83 of Captured By the Scaled Outlaw
I don’t want to leave Lowell.
The thoughts pain me, an unfamiliar sting squeezing my heart.
“I’m not going to be able to convince you, am I?” he asks despite already knowing the answer.
“Nope. Not even the threat of Lowell’s wrath,” I say, jutting my hand out again.
Guy shakes his head, wincing each time a chunk of the barricade is lopped off by a bullet. “But there could be more than one sniper. They’ll see you. While I’m sure you’re skilled, it’s you versus an unknown number of others.”
“If there are more, they would have shot Lowell at the same time,” I point out. “There are approximately fifteen scientists with Kinsley from what I can tell. I seriously doubt he could find more than one sniper who could not only shoot piercing ammo but was willing to defy Nilsan’s protocol. In all of Nilsan, there are only five people who can reliably snipe with piercing ammo, and I’m one of them.”
Guy presses his scaled lips together. He looks like he’s on the verge of tears as he says, “I… I don’t know. I can’t in good faith ask you to abandon your home for the sake of our group.”
There’s that word again.Home.
I ease my expression, placing my hand atop his. “I’m not abandoningmy home. Kinsley and the others aretraitors.Guy, you must trust my decision. I don’t want you all to die for this.”
He sucks in a few shaky breaths, a tear sliding down his dusty scales. “I promised Lowell I wouldn’t involve you. He thinks you’re in a vehicle with Kinsley right now. Safe.”
“Lowell isn’t going to make it out of this alive to scold you if you don’t let me help you,” I say. The reservation on Guy’s face is once again apparent at my suggestion of aiding him.
“Does Gaia 4have a sniper? Someone who could make the shot instead of me?” Although tension rises around us, I try to keep my voice as gentle as possible. I must tread carefully since Guy is the only one I can realistically convince.
Guy shakes his head again, but this one is more forceful than the others. “No,” he replies. “Most of us are just civilians. No one besides Lowell, Ginny, and a few others are trained in combat let alone firearms.”
Of course, I already know this. Their clumsy attacks were proof enough of their overall inexperience. I’m the only one on this side who can make a genuine shot.
Wiping away tears with the back of his hand, Guy asks, “But what happens afterward if you fight with us?”
Truthfully, I have no clue what will happen. For the first time in a long time, I’m at the mercy of my instincts. Nothing seems to make sense anymore, and planning is out the window.
“If I live, then I report Kinsley’s crimes,” I say with a cracked smile. “He will retreat, I’m sure. He’s a coward. All this mess will all be sorted out in the Nilsanian courts when I return on my own, okay?”
All of it is a lie, but I’ll say anything to ease Guy’s mournful expression.
Guy pauses. “I…”
“Do you trust me?” I interrupt. “This is my choice, not yours.”
With a deep exhale, he reluctantly slips my crossbow and bolt bag off his back. He holds them out to me but yanks them back quickly.
“Don’t make me regret giving these back to you.”
I smile, elated to have the familiar wood grain inches from my fingertips. When Guy sets it in my palms, my smile widens to the point of pain.
“Don’t miss,” he whispers.
“It’s been good knowing you,” I say, not dropping my smile.
“Don’t say that…” Guy’s voice is so low it’s almost inaudible.
A somber energy drapes over us as I load a bolt, the sounds of gunfire becoming nothing but white noise in the background.
I turn to Guy, who watches me intently. “I need to find a better spot to shoot from. With as bright as you are, if you’re following me, I’ll be spotted. Stay and help Ginny and the others.”
Guy looks uneasy upon hearing her name. “But I can’t leave you alone.”
I stare at the spiky mess of worried scales, easing my stare. “She’ll need help, go protect her. I’ll be okay on my own.”
