Page 99 of Seeded By Two

My instincts screamed at me to turn and run, to leave, to get away from here as fast as my legs could carry me…

But my heart said otherwise.

And heart always trumped head.

I walked down the hallway, leaned forward, and swung my arms as if I had a purpose.

The other guards, similarly marching somewhere, took little notice of me.

One ran his eyes over me before morphing into my shape, adopting it for whatever purpose—perhaps just to add to his own repertoire.

There were only two cell doors that had guards standing outside them.

I had no idea which one would contain my fated mates or even if either of them did—but my instincts told me one would.

Not knowing which, and unable to come up with an idea of a way to get inside, I marched in a circle—or more accurately, a square—down one hallway, before turning right, then another right, and back down towards the original starting point.

By doing this and working around a second circle, I formed a figure of eight that brought me always to the same spot:

That hallway with the guards standing to attention outside the two doors.

I made three loops before, finally, one of the doors shifted open and my fated mates stepped out.

My heart froze at the sight of them and I almost burst into tears.

I didn’t realize I was so overcome with fear for their safety.

I wanted to run to them, to scream out their names, but thought better of it.

Instead, I continued my march forward, passing them in the hallway as they looked dead ahead, their wrists lashed together with powerful-looking sets of restraints.

They had to be powerful to keep my mates from smashing them to pieces.

I reached the end of the hall and immediately circled back.

I followed the guards, joining their ranks, and paused outside the only-remaining guarded door.

It hissed open and my fated mates were ushered inside, followed by the small troop of guards.

I joined in right behind them, straightened my back, head held high as if I truly believed I belonged there.

My fated mates were dumped into small chairs back-to-back.

I kept my helmet facing forward but inside, my heart was racing, and I shifted my eyes one way and then the other.

There were six guards in this room, plus the hideous giant alien insect-like creature busy carrying out whatever business he was doing.

My mouth felt dry and I could hardly breathe.

Okay, Beth, you got yourself into this mess, so how are you going to get yourself out?

I had absolutely no idea!

I eyed the weapons the guards held and wondered how I could get my hands on one.

They were unlikely to hand it over to me with a friendly smile and politely asking—

“Where is your weapon, soldier?” a tall guard snorted around his yellowed tusks.

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