Red Sands: Warlords of Atera

by Kyle, Celia

  He pulled a few more devices from his pack. He took a sample of Drazan’s blood, along with some of the Biomed gel. Sheri remained out of the way while he worked, wishing there was more than she could do for her mate. She took Drazan’s hand and gave it a squeeze for comfort. Her feelings for him were still confusing, but no matter what, she didn’t want him to die.

  Sometime later, Prirk readied a syringe filled with a synthesized substance. He injected it into Drazan’s abdomen. “This may not cure him completely, but it should hold off the worst of the symptoms.”

  There was no response at first so the healer injected Drazan with a second substance, which he said would stimulate Drazan’s heart and force him to waken. They remained in place, Sheri’s heart pounding out a rapid, uneven beat.

  Drazan stirred, his eyes opening, and he stared up at Sheri. She let out a relieved sigh, never happier to see a pair of demon-like red eyes in her life.

  He tried to speak but his voice was hoarse, so she handed him a cup of water. After he drank, he moved to sit up, but Sheri and Prirk both pushed him back to lie on the couch.

  “Leave me be,” Drazan grumped. “I am well.”

  “No, you are not.” Prirk glared at the warlord. “You were poisoned. You are fortunate your kode recognized the toxin and helped me synthesize an antidote.”

  He showed Drazan the vial of Biomed gel. Drazan studied it and then stared at Sheri with wide eyes.

  “It’s medicine to humans.” She shrugged. “I guess it doesn’t work the same for Aterans.”

  Drazan tasted the scents emanating from the vial and then made a face as he pushed it away. He harrumphed. “I will enjoy killing Krunt with my bare hands.

  “You do not know it was Krunt, Warlord.” Prirk spoke as he packed his supplies.

  Drazan snorted. “I will get a confession. Fetch the guards. Tell them to find Krunt and bring him—”

  He jerked upright, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. He remained silent for a moment, eyes moving back and forth with some internal thought process that Sheri couldn’t grasp. Then a wicked sneer touched his lips.

  “Tell no one I recovered. In fact, tell all that I am weak. I am at death’s door but expected to recover. Let the word spread among the warriors. Then we shall see what happens.”

  “What? Why?” She frowned at him.

  Drazan looked up at her, wide smile in place. “Because Krunt is a coward who knows he cannot defeat me in honorable combat. If he learns I have recovered, he will await another opportunity to strike. I intend to give him one.” He grinned widely. “And when he comes to end my life, I will be ready for him.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Drazan sent Sheri to stay in the barracks with the human females that night. He did not wish to be parted from her, but he could not risk her safety, either. Not when he intended to use himself as bait. Her protests went on and on, his female telling him that he was a fool to take such risks.

  He had refused to listen.

  Eventually she had agreed to leave though not before telling him he was acting a fool several more times.

  No one else was allowed inside his suite, not even his guards, but he knew Krunt would not be so foolish as to attempt fighting his way past his warriors to reach his inner quarters. Krunt might have been a coward but he was no fool. In order for Drazan’s plan to work, he was forced to give Krunt the perfect opportunity for revenge.

  He arranged the details with Prirk before the healer left. Midway through the evening, Prirk had agreed to manufacture an emergency, which would draw most of the warriors within the building away from their posts. If, as Drazan expected, Krunt waited for the right moment to strike, he would be unable to resist the opportunity he gave the other male. Then when the warrior snuck into his quarters, Drazan would leap from the bed and remove the coward’s head.

  He laid there for some time. Waiting. Waiting was the hardest part of any successful battle. He had spent many evenings hiding in the sands or mounted atop a ceaq while he waited for an enemy to approach the field of battle. Once a battle began, they ended quickly regardless of his victory or defeat. But the endlessness of waiting for a foe to reveal himself, the anticipation of what was to come, always weighed heavily on his mind. He would never let his warriors see the weakness he experienced when plagued by his fears, but he experienced those fears nonetheless.

  He simply did not allow them to rule him.

  As time passed, he imagined every angle of attack Krunt might attempt, planning his counter movements to any he could bring to mind. Eventually, he grew weary of waiting and allowed his thoughts to turn to Sheri. Were it up to him, he would have her at his side, in his bed. The poison had left him weak, even after Prirk created an antidote, so mating would have been out of the question. But beyond mating her, he simply craved Sheri’s touch, the feel of his arms wrapped around her, the sensation of her warm body against his. He had never slept so well as he did when Sheri was by his side. It was truly the will of the goddess that he had found her.

  He wondered if they would be able to create young. He knew nothing of Ateran biology nor how human women bore hatchlings. Or whether an Ateran’s seed could plant and grow inside someone not of their world. Perhaps Prirk could find a way to test their biological compatibility. If not, they may discover a medical method to impregnation. Only time would tell.

  With his thoughts venturing to her, he found himself picturing his kode within his mind. She was in the women’s barracks speaking with her friends. He could imagine her pleasure and relaxation and could almost hear the tinkling sound of her strange laughter in his mind. It seemed so real…

  He had heard tales of such things, bonded pairs with especially strong connections able to sense the other’s feelings. It was said the mind of a powerful warrior and his kode became as one and they would always be in each other’s thoughts.

  Yes, that was exactly what he experienced at that moment. Her. His mate. His one. Every emotion and thought that flitted through her.

  The new sensation of Sheri’s emotions distracted him for some time. Then the emotions he experienced from her changed. He sensed panic, fear, and a moment later, pain. Sharp, physical pain that sent his adrenaline rushing through his body as if he experienced the agony himself.

  He sat up, muscles tense. Something was wrong with his kode.

  Without hesitating, he strode toward the door. He listened for sounds of any commotion elsewhere and didn’t hear any alarms. Nor were there any signs of Prirk or the distraction the healer was ordered to create. If Prirk’s distraction wasn’t the cause of Sheri’s fear, there must have been danger in the stronghold.

  His kode was not safe.

  He pushed open the doors to the hall, his warriors startling with his sudden appearance. They both stared at him, their eyes wide. “Warlord. You are out of bed?”

  Drazan did not have time for stupid questions.

  “Follow.” He marched past them and headed for the front doors. He did not offer any explanation and the males did not need one. They were well-trained enough to know when to fall silent and follow orders. They kept pace with him as he raced out the door and across the yard. Their hands were already on their weapons and their gazes scanned the yard, searching for any sight of danger or a threat. Drazan scanned the area as well but saw nothing. No sign of attackers. No sign of Krunt. No indication that anything was out of the ordinary.

  Yet he knew in his gut that something was wrong—very wrong. He still sensed Sheri’s fear and he thanked the goddess they had completed their bond. Else he would not have sensed her emotions, would not have known of the danger.

  The moment he reached the barracks, he saw that something was, indeed, very wrong. The guards outside lay on the ground, unconscious or dead. He saw no blood but when he ventured closer, he spied a dart in each male’s back. He could only guess that the men had been poisoned with the same compound that had been used on him.

  He grabbed for the door and yanked but it
refused to budge. He yanked again with the same result. He growled and beat a fist against the solid panel, but he couldn’t get it to move. Neither of the fallen warriors had the keys on them. The assailant must have taken them and locked the barracks from the inside.

  He spun and snarled at one of the warriors that trailed after him.

  “Go for help. Immediately.” He snarled at one of the males. The warrior whirled and hurried off without another word, but Drazan could not wait for others to assist him. He needed to get within the barracks.

  Now.

  He scanned the building, seeking another entrance. Its only windows were placed high on the walls and too small for a warrior to climb through. He remembered making that decision when the stronghold was first built, so that the barracks would be secure against intrusion. He had also ordered the doors be reinforced for added security.

  A loud crash came from inside, followed by the sound of clanging metal. Someone screamed—a human female.

  “Sheri!” Drazan slammed his shoulder against the door with all his might. The remaining warrior helped, but even with the both of them barraging the panel with continuous blows, it would not open. He released a scream of frustration and reached for his blade. Yet it was not there. He had stripped himself as he waited for Krunt’s attack. He’d kept only a dagger hidden beneath the bedsheets in his quarters. In his haste to get to Sheri he had forgotten to grab his weapons.

  He knelt beside one of the fallen warriors and pulled a short sword from the male’s belt. With a fierce grunt, Drazan stabbed the blade into the crack between the door and the wall. He twisted and wrenched the blade, attempting to break the latch and pry the door open.

  “Sheri!” He withdrew the blade and stabbed again. With a twisting screech of metal, the lock broke under his assault.

  He leaned back and kicked the door inward before barreling into the room with his blade raised and ready for anything.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Drazan and his stupid plan meant that Sheri had been banished to the barracks and no amount of arguing changed his mind. Even though he’d given her complete freedom to come and go as she pleased, he was still in charge when it came to matters of safety and security. His word was law and the law said she had to sit and wait. There wasn’t anything she could do if he decided to be a reckless alien idiot.

  “I’m sure he’ll be fine,” one of the women patted Sheri on the arm. “He’s got lots of warriors, right? How much danger could he really be in?”

  “He’s overconfident.” She crossed her arms. “He thinks he’s the most powerful warrior on the planet. It gives him a big head.”

  One of the others laughed. “Sounds like someone knows her mate pretty well, already.”

  The rest joined in the friendly laughter. They were in this situation together and they were all going through the experience of being claimed by an alien warrior who slowly won their hearts. Though Sheri doubted the other women was kode to someone as stubborn and pig-headed as Drazan. It was what she got for drawing the attention of the leader of the lands.

  She sighed and shook her head. “I’m just worried about him. He’s using himself as bait.”

  “Which means he has a plan, right?” The third woman in their group gave her a reassuring smile.

  “I guess so.” Sheri wasn’t convinced but being paralyzed by worry didn’t accomplish anything.

  “In other news,” one of the others called out. “What’s the word on communication equipment? Have you gotten ahold of Kalinda, yet?”

  Sheri winced. “Not yet. I’ve been… busy.”

  The truth was, she’d forgotten about contacting her friend. The situation with Drazan had stolen all her attention and she hadn’t given a thought to contacting Kalinda. When the danger was past, and the current situation was resolved, she’d speak to Drazan and make the necessary arrangements. In the meantime, they continued to experiment with the comm unit they’d been given. Though they couldn’t even so much as figure out how to get a signal to the distant lands in the south. Let alone send a message that would reach the stars.

  They soon settled into more casual conversation, soft chatter acting as a backdrop to Sheri’s racing thoughts. Then a muffled noise from outside reached her, a deep thud as if something heavy fell to the ground. She frowned and headed toward the door. Another thud. Instead of continuing, she took a step back, hand going to her chest for a bare moment before she reached for the door handle.

  Yet before she touched it, the panel swung wide. A hulking Ateran figure stepped into the barracks, pulling the door shut behind him.

  Sheri recognized the Ateran’s features—Krunt.

  She held out her hands in front of her, palms facing the intruder as if she could stop him. “What are you doing here?”

  The others backed away as well, putting bunk beds between them and the newcomer.

  Krunt grinned and flashed a wicked dagger. “As I told you before, Drazan owes me the Right of Ka’Eana.”

  Sheri put more space between them, stepping around furniture and moving so it was in his path. “And I told you that has nothing to do with me.”

  “Ahhh, but it does.” He advanced slowly, teeth bared. He tossed the dagger from one hand to the other and back again. “You see, I have been searching for Drazan’s weakness.”

  Sheri straightened her spine and pointed her nose in the air. “He doesn’t have a weakness.”

  Krunt laugher at her—the rasping bark grating her nerves. “You are a fool to be so devoted, but he does indeed have a weakness and I have found it.”

  “Your poison didn’t work.” She stood her ground. “We administered an antidote. He’s fine and he’s going to kill you.”

  Yes, she was giving away Drazan’s plan, but it didn’t really matter at this point. Clearly his plan had failed. Krunt wasn’t taking the bait to try and kill Drazan tonight. She worried that he would decide to kill her instead.

  “The poison was never meant to kill him.” Krunt continued to advance. “It was a distraction so I could get you here alone.”

  Sheri scanned the room, searching for another way out, but there were no other exits. Her only way to freedom was past Krunt. “Killing me won’t get you anywhere. Drazan will hunt you and destroy you.”

  Krunt laughed, head thrown back as he bellowed to the skies. “Kill you? I have no intention of doing any such thing.”

  Sheri frowned. “Then why are you here?”

  “Because,” Krunt flashed the dagger. “I’ve found Drazan’s weakness… You.”

  Sheri gave him slow shakes of her head. She backed against the wall in the small kitchenette at the far end of the barracks. The others hid behind the furniture and one woman had locked herself in the bathroom.

  “I will not kill you,” Krunt grinned evilly. “But I intend to hurt you. Slowly. I intend to mark your skin.” The grin widened. “Make you bleed. Scar your pretty pink flesh. Then, when Drazan and I complete our challenge, he will have to look at you. He will have to see your pain, the way I have taken your beauty from you. In his rage, his anguish, he will be foolish and make mistakes. No warrior can fight at his finest when his kode suffers so.”

  “No,” she snapped. “I won’t let you hurt me.”

  Krunt laughed. “I do not see how you have a choice in the matter.”

  She looked left and right, searching for another out, but there was no place left for her to go. She reached behind her, scrambling to find anything she could use as a weapon. Her hand closed around something cold and hard.

  Krunt took another step toward her.

  Sheri screamed and brought her arm up and back, fingers tightly gripping her weapon. She let loose and flung the… clay bowl at the male’s head.

  The bowl shattered on Krunt’s skull. He reared back, howling in pain and clutching at his head. Blood dribbled out from under his scales.

  “Vile bitch,” he snarled and took another step closer.

  Sheri grabbed another bowl and repeated
the motion, flinging it at Krunt’s face once again. She quickly looked over the kitchenette in one sweeping glance and spied a dish basin that held the dirty dishes waiting to be washed. She pulled out a dirty clay pot, half full of mushy stew. That went flying through the air toward the jerk. It broke over his head, stew splattering in his eyes and blinding him. He howled in fury, scrubbing an arm over his face to clear his vision.

  “You will pay for that.” He lunged with a swipe of his dagger.

  Sheri grabbed a metal pan, using it to deflect the dagger. She blocked the first attack, but Krunt was far too fast for her. He slashed at her again, blade slicing into the delicate skin on her arm. Pain stabbed at her, piercing her body and jabbing at her raw nerves. Losing her grip on the pan, it fell to the ground with a reverberating clang. She reached back for another weapon, but Krunt grabbed her, hauling her away from her supplies and throwing her across the room.

  She slammed into a bunk bed, nearly knocking it over when she struck the furniture. The others screamed and Sheri almost blacked out, but she managed to scramble to her feet and work on getting away from the madman. She sought another weapon nearby, but all she found were piles of sheets.

  Krunt lunged at her, snarling. She yelped and jumped away, grabbing the top corner of the bunk bed and hauling on it with all her strength. She grunted and tipped the bed over, slamming it down on Krunt. He fell to the ground in a howling fury.

  She raced for the door, turned the handle and yanked, fighting to open it and get free, but it remained locked tightly. She slammed her palm against the door, vibrations traveling up her arm while the stinging slaps sent a rapid-fire spray of pain up her arm. She shouted and cried out, but it wouldn’t budge.

  Krunt was already regaining his feet and he slashed out at her once more. Drawing a line of blood across her cheek. She cringed and dropped to the ground, scurrying into the corner. Tears fell from her eyes as blood leaked from the wound on her cheek. She held up her hands in front of her and closed her eyes tightly.