Page 45 of Captured

Putting his foot to the wall again, he heaved with all his might but only earned a tiny bit more space. Panting for breath he conceded defeat to the metal.

Flea stepped up beside him, placing a hand on his forearm before turning sideways to slip through. Her leg and arm fit with ease, but she had to slow, sucking in her flat belly and squishing her breasts. He could see her wince as she forced her head past the metal, but she managed to squeak through.

“I’m in. I’m good.”

She didn’t have to call out to him, but it helped release the breath he’d held as he watched. If she hadn’t been able to get into the stairwell they’d have had no other choice but to continue on until they found another support to try, adding more time to their already long trip.

Breathing out a sigh, he tipped his head to peer into the opening, the darkness inside almost hiding Flea from even his eyes.

“There’s no lights in here at all. I’ll have to go slow.”

He nodded, looking as far as he could from the gap. He wished they’d thought to hunt down another candle or save the little that had remained of hers when they started walking, but it was too late now.

“Keep your hand on the wall and be careful. I’ll go up to the door above and head down for you.”

Flea shook her head. He couldn’t make out her features but he could imagine the stubborn look on her face.

“No need, just wait for me there. I won’t be too long.”

She turned and disappeared from his view, her footsteps almost silent on the stairs as she began her ascent. Waiting to be sure she didn’t turn back or stumble, he finally pulled away when he couldn’t pick up even the faintest hint of her steps. He debated shutting the door again to be sure no one could slip in behind her, but he worried that she would be trapped if something happened that sent her back down.

With that on his mind, he turned and looked up, trying to spot the closest opening to the level above. It was going to be a hard flight from a stand still on the cold ground with his wings still sore, but he could do it.

He struggled more than he’d like to admit. The wing he’d dislocated cramped on him halfway up and almost crumpled. Gritting his teeth, he kept going by sheer will alone, refusing to acknowledge the pain. He could feel blood trailing from the tear he’d stitched but it was just another thing he declined to recognize.

By the time he passed through to Seventh the muscles of his back were trembling, each wingbeat becoming more shallow and weak. Barely making it over the edge, he finally let his wings fold and stumbled forward to lean against the building in front of him.

The sweat on his body cooled as he caught his breath. His natural temperature usually kept him from feeling the cold, but the constant drain was starting to get to him. He couldn’t wait to feel the sun on his skin again, and the knowledge that he’d be able to soon was all that got him upright and moving.

He’d come up next to the support, and while the area looked vaguely familiar, he couldn’t tell if it was the one he’d waited in previously to lose the people who’d followed him from the recycler when Flea was taken. The stairwell door opened on silent hinges without a problem, so he had to assume it was, and he breathed a sigh of relief that there was no one lingering nearby. The surrounding area had been still, so unless someone was purposefully hiding, Flea should be safe.

As long as it had taken him to make the flight up, he wasn’t surprised to hear her footsteps not long after he entered. With the light over his head shining on the stairs in each direction he was able to spot her once she turned the last corner, squinting up at him with a smile.

“Hate to keep you waiting. Apparently my thighs are more worn out than usual.”

He flashed her an answering grin, his groin tightening at the reminder. Most omegas seemed to be meek and shy and wouldn’t have joked about the things they’d done in heat, but Flea had no shame and he liked it.

“Sorry for that. Maybe you need more exercise to strengthen them?”

Her eyes narrowed as she stopped on the landing in front of him but he saw her lips twitching. Letting out a fake huff, she turned and began heading up the next set.

“You were complaining about the short walk we took. We’ll see who actually makes it to Fourth.”

Pushing away the exhaustion that begged him to rest, he couldn’t ignore her challenge. Plunging up the steps, he forced his way past her, using his wings to block the stairwell so she couldn’t pass him. She laughed and shoved at him, calling him names as he ignored her and increased his pace. He knew they should conserve their energy but it was nice to hear her laughing.

He had a feeling she wouldn’t be doing it much in the future if she returned underground.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Flea

Flea couldn’t help fidgeting as she stood in front of Director Devereux. He always had a stern expression with her, so it was hard to tell if he believed their story or not. Elbows on his desk, hands steepled in front of him, his gaze moved back and forth between her and Gra’ar.

“You claimed her?”

Gra’ar’s shoulders lifted in a shrug.

“She was going into heat and we were being pursued by gang members. We had no choice but to hole up and wait it out. You know how it is.”

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