Zaxe's Rule (Assassins of Gravas Book 4)

by N. J. Walters

  Still, her hand slid out and touched the wall. Was he asleep or awake? She closed her eyes and heaved out a breath. She needed all the rest she could get to face the days ahead.

  Chapter Seven

  The desert sun beat down, a relentless heat that was stifling and burning. They’d left Badwa just before sunrise, setting out on foot until they reached the docking station. She’d looked around, searching for any unfamiliar vessels, curious about Zaxe’s ship. Was it new or old? Big or small? He hadn’t pointed it out or given her any indication which one was his.

  She’d swallowed her disappointment while he’d made a fast job of acquiring sand sleds—sleek, lightweight, solar-powered vehicles that skimmed easily across the desert surface. At least for the two of them. Baraj and Reman’s other men, who had remained this morning, had been forced to procure their own. They hadn’t been pleased, but they’d done it.

  Had Zaxe done it on purpose to piss them off? Or was he simply driving home the point that she was his guide and they were unwanted baggage? He wasn’t pleased to now have Baraj and four others shadowing them. Either way, the result was the same. They were skimming across the desert surrounded by Reman’s men.

  Neither she nor Zaxe mentioned their kiss from the night before. They hadn’t said much of anything since he’d tapped on her door this morning. She’d taken a quick turn in the gel cleanser and donned clean clothing, along with the headscarf and goggles she used on desert trips to block the sun and sand. They’d eaten a quick breakfast before she’d packed a bag with supplies. Water and food were a necessity in the desert. You couldn’t depend on it to be anything but hostile.

  At least their armed guards would warn away any human scavengers lying in wait for unsuspecting travelers. She usually stuck to the main trade routes, hooking up with other caravans for her trips. This time, she was purposely leading them into danger.

  There was a small oasis ahead. Not much more than a handful of stunted trees and some desert grass, but it was a place to stop and get their bearings before they made the final push of their journey.

  She veered toward it, and the rest of the party followed. After parking in the slight shade offered, she pulled her goggles down so they hung around her neck and pushed back her headscarf. The sun was in the western sky. It was well past noon.

  “Why have we stopped?” Baraj’s frown was hotter than the sun. She refused to acknowledge him, instead turning toward Zaxe, who’d parked his sled alongside hers.

  “This is the point of no return. From here on, we’re in outcast territory. There will be ambushes and traps everywhere. I figured we could grab a bite and hydrate so we’ll be at our best.”

  “No stopping.” Baraj dismounted from his vehicle and stalked toward them. “We need to keep moving.”

  “We need to be smart,” Zaxe interjected. “Jamaeh is right. We need to be refreshed and ready for anything.”

  Baraj sneered. “If you try to cheat Reman—”

  “No one is cheating anyone.” Time to be the voice of reason. “We all want to succeed. And being cautious is better than barging in and getting killed before we get near their settlement. If the outcasts don’t get you, the desert will.”

  Baraj rolled his shoulders, his frown deepening. “Take twenty,” he yelled to his men. “Spread out. Stay aware.”

  Only one of the men set up his watch in the shade. These were city dwellers. Had any of them spent time in the desert besides her? Not her problem. Her only concern was staying alive and getting her brother away from their father. Assuming he would come with her.

  Her stomach clenched, and not from hunger. Anxiety ate at her. It was just as likely Esau would refuse. And considering he was now eighteen and Helldrick was his father, she really didn’t have any leverage.

  “Here.” A flask of water appeared in front of her face. Zaxe stared out across the golden sand, his eyes narrowed against the glare.

  She took the water and drank deeply. “What do you think?” She pitched her voice low and angled her head slightly toward Baraj.

  “Impatient and out of his element.”

  Zaxe had figured that out, too. “But not you?” He seemed more at home than their entourage.

  “I’ve been trained to adapt to all environments.” He took the flask from her, turned it around, and drank from the exact same spot, his mouth touching where hers had. It was shockingly intimate. Her lips tingled as the memory of their kiss made her even hotter.

  “Who are you, Zaxe?” He was a complete enigma. “And who hired you?” That was an even bigger question.

  “I am who life and fate have made me.” He capped the water and slid it back into the pack on his sled.

  “That’s a roundabout and pretty way of telling me exactly nothing.”

  He shrugged his broad shoulders and continued to scan their surroundings. He should look out of place. After all, he was a stranger here. But he looked totally at home, a part of the land itself, master of all he surveyed.

  She shook the fanciful thoughts away. “So, what’s the plan?” Best to concentrate on the practical details. She was good at that.

  “Find the outcasts, see if Helldrick is among them or if they have any information, and get out.” He glanced at Baraj, who was leaning against a tree watching them. “Deal with any and all unforeseen problems.”

  A shiver went down her spine. Zaxe would kill them if necessary. “And am I an unforeseen problem?”

  The heat from his glare should have melted the soles of her boots. “Never.”

  “Good to know.” She lifted her sleeve and wiped the sand and sweat from her face. Zaxe continued to watch her for several long seconds before pulling a bag of dried fruit out of his pack. He offered it to her first before helping himself.

  As she munched on dried apricots and figs, she studied him, unable to look away. Unlike most men, Zaxe didn’t brag about his skills, seemed to downplay them if anything. That made him even more dangerous. Like a venomous snake, he’d stay hidden, would seem to be sleeping if anyone approached, only to strike and kill his opponent before they knew what hit them.

  The fruit stuck in her throat. Retrieving her own flask, she took several sips, not wanting to drink too much. Who knew when they’d run across a water supply. They were venturing where none of them had ever traveled before.

  “I’ll be back.” She dismounted from her sled and stalked toward a small stand of low bushes.

  “Where are you going?” Baraj demanded.

  “To the bathroom. Unlike you, I can’t just whip it out and go.” A couple of the men snickered. “Do you mind?” It was crazy to antagonize the man, but the heat and worry were making her reckless. Or maybe it was having Zaxe with her. Stupid to expect him to protect her.

  “Make it fast,” Baraj snapped.

  She did just that, not wanting to linger in case he changed his mind and decided he needed to keep a closer eye on her. It would be humiliating for her, which would likely please him.

  When she returned to the sleds, the other men were mounted and waiting. “Which way?” Zaxe asked.

  While she had never been here herself, she had seen maps from those who had. It would have been easy for her to draw it for him, but then he could have left her behind. Securing her headscarf and goggles, she revved the engine. “Follow me.”

  ****

  Zaxe was worried about Jamaeh. The deeper they went into the desert, the more she withdrew into herself. Was it worry? Or was she leading them into some kind of trap? While she seemed sincere, he didn’t know her well enough to be certain. The tracker he had tucked in his pocket would keep Gravasian command aware of where he was at all times, allowing them to retrace his steps if necessary, if he didn’t survive.

  Back at the oasis, he’d wanted to hug her and reassure her that all would be well, but that would have been a lie. There was no telling what might happen. Dusty and tired, she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. The combination of her physical beauty coupled with her co
urage and determination drew him like a moth to a flame. Best beware and not get singed by the fire.

  She seemed to know where she was going, or at least was good at pretending. Baraj and the others were getting anxious the deeper they went into the desert. Reman had sent men without desert survival skills. It was likely he didn’t employ any, living and operating in the city as he did. That might turn into a detriment.

  Until Helldrick had been dispatched, he’d take the extra help, all while keeping a watch on his back … and Jamaeh’s. He sensed that she’d never had anyone to protect her. While he’d been on his own during his missions, at least he had the training and equipment necessary to succeed. All she’d had were her wits, pure grit, and the will to survive.

  The sun was low in the sky, a burning orange orb, blinding in its beauty. The unending dunes had given way to a combination of rock and sand. They were all tired and the terrain had more places for someone to hide. It was the perfect time and location for an ambush.

  He’d no sooner had the thought when the first blast hit. The sled to his left flipped, sending the man on it flying. “Take cover,” he yelled as he pulled his blaster. Not that there was anywhere for them to hide. The land was flat here, rocks rising on either side. They were boxed into a small canyon. If they tried to run, they’d be picked off easily.

  Zaxe caught a glint from the rocks above. Taking aim, he fired. A yell was followed by a body pitching from the cliff and plummeting to the ground below. A blast slammed into his chest. Going with the momentum, he flipped from the sled, landed on his knees, and returned fire, dropping another enemy. He heard Jamaeh scream and started to look, but pulled himself back.

  Gritting his teeth, he rolled to his right behind a downed sled. The best way to protect her was to kill all the snipers hiding amongst the rocks above. Focus settled on him like a well-worn blanket. All his years of training and missions guided his actions.

  Baraj and his men were firing blindly, wasting the charge of the blaster. “Stop firing,” he roared. Some complied, but a couple of the men kept on shooting.

  “By the hells of Melton,” he swore as he edged around the small protective barrier. Since they insisted on firing, he’d use it. On each return flash, he fired. One shot, one kill. There were ten down by the time he was done. Reman’s men had either given up fighting or run out of charge in their blasters. Either way, silence reigned.

  He listened intently and caught some sounds off to the right. The low rev of an engine got farther away with each passing second. “Stay put,” he yelled. It could be a trap. Sending one man for reinforcements while leaving the rest in position.

  “They’re gone.” One of Reman’s men stood and immediately dropped when a blast took the side of his face. Zaxe didn’t bother returning fire, the snipers had gotten smarter, ducking back as soon as the shot was made.

  “Stay down,” Zaxe yelled again. “Jamaeh?” When she didn’t immediately answer, his heart stopped before taking off at a gallop. Sweat beaded his brow. “Jamaeh!” he roared.

  “I’m okay,” she called. Her voice was shaky, but it was sweet music to his ears.

  “Are you injured?” The urge to go to her was almost too much to fight. He dug his free hand into the ground to anchor himself. He’d be more likely to draw fire toward her if he moved.

  “No.” A short pause. “You were shot.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Don’t lie to me.”

  “I’m not. I’m not hurt.” As much as he wanted to keep talking to her, he needed to know their numbers. “Baraj?”

  “I’m here, but the other men are dead.”

  “All of them?” Her voice was getting weaker. Had she lied about being hurt or was it shock? Had she been in a battle like this before? Unlikely. The swiftness of it, the lives lost in the blink of an eye. It was difficult the first few times. Then, like anything else, it became easier.

  “We need to take out the rest of the snipers.” He kept his voice low, knowing how easily sound traveled out here. Dusk had settled and darkness was quickly descending. Zaxe smiled. This was his time.

  “We stick together,” Baraj hissed.

  “Don’t be stupid.” He inched his way to the other side of the sled. Baraj was off to his left about fifty meters away. Jamaeh was just beyond him. “You take one side, I’ll take the other. We can’t stay here. If whoever left comes back with reinforcements, we’ll be dead come sunrise.”

  “We stick together.” The man was a broken recording.

  “We both want the same thing—Helldrick dead. If we all die here, Reman won’t get what he wants.” Baraj seemed loyal to the man past the point of obsession. Playing on that was his only hope to make him see reason.

  “Fine, but the girl goes with me.”

  “No.” Zaxe was adamant about this. “I’ll stay here with her while you take out all the snipers.”

  “I’ll stay here with her while you do the job,” Baraj shot back in a loud whisper.

  “I’m going with Zaxe. I don’t trust you.” Her insistence made Zaxe smile. He should have known she wouldn’t stay out of this conversation.

  “We’re wasting time. You’ll hear if we try to run and we all have sleds. If you’re still on the rocks above, you can pick us off. Besides, I’ve been contracted to take out Helldrick. I’ve never broken a contract.” Let that sink in.

  When Baraj hesitated, he took it a bit further. “Ever hear of Artemis?”

  Baraj sucked in a breath. “She runs a fleet of assassins.”

  “She did. She’s gone, and I’m a freelancer now. When I guarantee a job, it gets done. My word is my only bond.” Money and power were things Baraj would understand. “I’ll take the left, protect Jamaeh, and meet you back here when the job is done.”

  It was almost completely dark, but he caught Baraj’s nod before the man started crawling toward his destination without a backward glance. Zaxe rolled, covering the distance toward Jamaeh as fast as possible. She was lying in the dirt behind her overturned sled, her blaster pointed at his chest.

  “You’re a professional assassin?” The accusation in her voice was like a kick in the heart. He took the blow, absorbing it, using it to fire his anger.

  “I am what life has made me.” He wouldn’t apologize for doing what he had to in order to survive. “Just as it’s made you what you are.” She wasn’t exactly in a position to condemn him. “You’re Helldrick’s daughter.”

  The blaster wavered and lowered. “You’re right.” She wiped a hand over her face. Was that all sweat or were their tears there as well? His gut clenched at the thought of making her cry. “It’s all so crazy. They’re dead. I mean, I’ve seen people die before. Just not like that. And so fast.”

  “Jamaeh.” He put an arm around her and pulled her toward him. Giving a small cry, she buried her face in the curve of his neck, wrapped her arms around him, and held him as she shook.

  Chapter Eight

  Zaxe was a professional assassin. She’d known he was dangerous and had been sent to kill Helldrick, but she’d assumed he was like Baraj, working for some unknown employer. This was off the charts. “Who is Artemis?” The name had certainly made an impression on Reman’s man.

  “Not now.” His lips pressed against the top of her head. She was plastered against him like some freaking damsel in distress. Pushing away, she took a deep breath. “Sorry about that.”

  “It’s fine. It’s a lot to deal with.”

  Not for him, his heart rate was steady and calm. Death and battle didn’t faze him at all. Her heart was racing a mile a minute, the adrenaline surging through her blood making her shaky.

  They weren’t out of danger yet. Not with snipers still hiding above them. She took a deep breath and gathered her composure. “What’s our move?” She needed to be a help, not a hindrance.

  He flashed a smile and gave a nod of approval. “We make our way to the base of the rocks and start working our way up. I’ll take the lead.”

  Of cou
rse, he was taking the lead. She couldn’t object too much. He had the skills to deal with the shooters. He was also trying to protect her. “What can I do? I’m not helpless.”

  “I expect you to watch our backs. They may have someone on the ground waiting to flank us.”

  That was a possibility she hadn’t considered. Battle strategies weren’t exactly something she’d had to learn. She had other skills, though, learned through many hard years of survival. Knowing when someone was following her was one she’d honed to a fine edge. “You got it.”

  Zaxe brushed his thumb over the curve of her cheek. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

  She shrugged. “They made their choices. We all did.” Something was bothering her. “You were shot. I saw it. The blast took you right off the sled.”

  He captured her hand and placed it against his chest. “Battlesuit.”

  That was some serious protection. She’d heard of them, and they cost a small fortune. “Really.” She shoved aside his shirt and ran her fingers over the lightweight material. The muscle beneath was hard and firm. Something so thin shouldn’t be able to absorb a blaster strike, but it worked. He was living proof.

  She’d thought for sure he was dead. Her heart had stopped, her soul screamed. And not just because he was her only hope of surviving and getting her brother back. They were practically strangers but there was something tenuous and special between them. Whether they’d ever get the chance to explore that connection remained to be seen.

  Probably not. It wouldn’t be smart, but that didn’t keep her from wishing things could be different.

  “As much as I’d love for you to keep touching me, now is not the time.” His voice had deepened, his accent thickening.

  “Crap.” She yanked her hand back, rubbing it against her cloak. “Sorry about that.”

  “I’m not.” He dropped a hard kiss on her lips and rolled onto his stomach. “Follow me.”