by Alison Aimes
“I’ve met some of those men,” she said. “Seen their strength and determination. They wouldn’t have joined if they didn’t feel it was right. They made their own choices.” She insisted. “And they have to contend with the consequences, just like you.”
“I doubt they knew what cost they’d have to pay.” He cleared his throat, his ax hanging forgotten by his side. “I fought for three years as part of the Resistance. Watched good men die. Some bad men, too. We had less firepower, food, resources, and troops than the opposition. And every rotation I thought might be the one when Hollisworth and the Council tracked us down. But I was still proud of what we accomplished. The idea that we were working toward a better world. A community where people were treated more equitably. Where not just a few held all the power. Down here it’s different. After our capture, the circus of the trial, and incarceration here, there was less and less to be proud of…” his voice trailed off for a heartbeat. “I doubt any of my men knew they were in for that.”
“It’s not your fault what’s happened down here. This place is a living hell and Hollisworth is the one to blame.”
“Maybe. But if they hadn’t followed me to join the Resistance, they never would have been caught.”
“How did they catch you?” She’d been at the trial. Heard just how long her husband had been trying to catch this particular man. But she knew the capture stories that painted Hollisworth as the hero of the tale had to be false.
“A trap. We received intel about an upcoming retaliatory slaughter of non-Council women and children. I knew the Council wanted it leaked to us. I knew, too, that they’d be waiting. But we couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. Watch our people die.” He laughed, but there was no humor in it “Choices, you know? I made one, and now I wonder every rotation about what would have happened if I’d made a different one. My men might still be with their families. Ryker’s wife and unborn son might still be alive.”
“Maybe. Or maybe not.” Heart hurting for their losses, she trailed her fingers down Valdus’s arm to lace her fingers with his. “The men I’ve met know you would give your life for them and I suspect they would do the same for you. For you, for any innocents, and for the dream of freedom. Don’t cheat them of that choice. It was theirs to make then and it’s theirs to make now, as well.”
He blew out a breath, echoed her earlier words. “Maybe. Maybe not.”
The wound remained. No matter what she said. Maybe it always would. Consequences. There was no escaping them.
He resumed his strikes against the wall, the ore crumbling out in dribs and drabs. “How come you were at the trial?”
He was purposely changing the topic. She let him.
“I was forced to go,” she admitted. “Hollisworth didn’t usually let us out of his compound, but for this he made an exception, dragging all his brides there as part of some ill-conceived public relations manipulation, pretending he was concerned with justice and protecting us along with the people of New Earth, when all he truly cared about was safeguarding his own power.”
“True enough.” Valdus remained facing the wall, his ax never losing its striking rhythm. “I watched you the whole trial. I couldn’t stop. Even when I probably should have been listening to all the bullshit being spouted.”
She remembered those intent eyes on her. Even from the back row. How they’d held her gaze, stolen her breath. Made it impossible for her to look away.
“I couldn’t stop staring, either.” And Hollisworth had noticed, pulling her aside to berate her for her disrespect, demanding to know what she found so interesting about such a criminal. She hadn’t answered then, but she did now. “You were so proud and unafraid when you spoke in defense of the Resistance and your men. I was awed.”
“Even knowing I was non-Council and a criminal?” He still hadn’t faced her, but she heard the teasing in his tone, and the vulnerability beneath. Did he really still wonder if she might think him less because he wasn’t Council? If anything, it made him worthier in her eyes.
“I thought you were beautiful even then. Which,” she confessed, “only made me more afraid of you.”
His ax hovered in midair. He turned toward her, eyes intent.
She admitted the rest. “But your strength also inspired me. Non-Council or not, criminal or not, I watched you at that trial. Standing tall. Refusing to submit or surrender—even in the face of impending death—and I thought I want to be like him.”
He stilled, his chest expanding as if too full.
Her smiled returned. “I escaped the very next rotation.”
“Really?” His ax dropped to his side.
“Yes. It was actually your sentencing that enabled me to get away. As I said, we were usually sequestered in the compound and, much like this place, it was inescapable. But, for the trial and sentencing, Hollisworth let us out. And on the final rotation of your trial, there was chaos. Protests from the Resistance, crackdowns by Council soldiers. Mobs everywhere. Inspired by you, I took my chance. I slipped away—and never looked back.” She swallowed hard. “I’m only sorry my shot at freedom came at the expense of yours.”
His free hand wrapped around her chin, turning her to meet his gaze. “I’m glad something good came from it. Makes it easier to bear.” He paused, his stare darkening. “It’s also only fair I inspired you then, since you’re inspiring me now. Reminding me time and again what it’s like to not only survive, but be truly alive.”
Had she ever been this happy? Felt this close to freedom?
Whatever tension had begun to boil over outside the waterfall cavern seemed eons away.
With this man at her side and the ore at her feet, she was finally on her way to achieving what she’d wanted for so long. Emboldened, she said so aloud.
And was surprised when his gaze sobered. “You’ve risked everything for your freedom. I suppose…I suppose there’s nothing you would give it up for.”
“Nothing. I…” she trailed off, his barely-there flinch stealing the rest of her instinctual response. “What exactly are you asking? I—”
“Ava,” eyes shifting away from hers, his voice went razor sharp, his body equally rigid, as he cut her off, “we need to go. Now!”
29
Valdus let out a roar. The sharp edge of his weapon lodged in the left front quarter of the charging sabanther, stopping it in midleap.
It was a good shot. Hard enough to stall the predator in its tracks inside the cave entrance. But not, unfortunately, enough to kill it altogether. Or convince it to retreat deeper into the cave.
Wounded, the creature threw back its massive head and shrieked, a piercing trill that bounced off the cavern walls.
Valdus leapt forward and shoved Ava behind him, cursing Griffin the whole while.
There was a reason he’d told his men this area was off-limits.
“What is that?” Surprisingly, she sounded more shocked than terrified.
“Sabanther.” The western parts of the camp were full of good hiding places, but it wasn’t only humans who thought so. Hence the reason even Hollisworth didn’t mine this area.
“It’s…huge,” she whispered.
This creature had slunk out of a small twisted crack near the back of the cave, blending with the dark rock, waiting for its chance.
If he hadn’t looked over when he had…
The image of Ava clawed and bloodied, her beautiful emerald eyes dull and empty, cut through him.
“Stay quiet.” His voice came out sharper than intended as he drew his second pickax from his holster. Shorter in length and not quite as sharp, it wasn’t as effective a weapon as the one he’d first thrown, but it had gotten him out of a few rough patches before.
Her nails dug into his back.
“Start moving towards the exit.” He was careful to keep his body between her and the beast as they stutter-stepped backward. “Slow and steady. If we can make it round the bend by the big rock, there’s a hole we can drop down to hide in. It’s too small fo
r the sabanther.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
The creature roared once more.
Her nails dug deeper into his skin. “What about the others? Should we call for them?”
“I doubt they’ll hear us in time.”
Silence.
The urge to see her expression hit hard, but he forced himself to remain focused on the immediate threat, a snarling creature with massive spear-like fangs.
Which was, in some insane, messed-up way, a relief.
Because it was uncomplicated. Clear cut. Just the way he liked things.
And the last few metrals with Ava had proved anything but.
She was Council. He was a brute, non-Council killer. She was a scientist just coming into her own, he was the intended executioner of her husband. She wanted freedom. He couldn’t guarantee her a Dracken thing but more danger and risk.
But, Gods, he wanted her anyway. Fiercely.
Which was exactly how he wanted her to want him, too.
Above all else. Even more than she wanted her freedom. A freedom she’d all but just declared was more important to her than anything—or anyone else.
The creature gave another roar, its two tails twitching and then, with no more warning—and despite the ax still lodged in its shoulder and the growing pool of blood matting its fur—it slunk from the cave, its glowing crimson eyes locked on them.
“Why have we stopped moving?” Her words were a tight whisper.
“Too late,” he explained. “We’ll never make it in time.”
“We…we need a new plan then.” Her nails dug deeper into his flesh, but her voice remained steady. “A way to bring it down.”
“The creature is fast and fierce.” He shifted his ax to his left hand and drew a sharp curved dagger from his holster—a dagger much like one of the front fangs on the snarling creature in front of them. “But I’ve taken one on before. It’s doable.”
“Doable?”
“Move to the wall. Stay low and still against the rock.”
“Wait.” Her fingers closed round his arm. “You…you want us to separate?”
“Ironic, isn’t it?” His attempt at humor fell flat. “I have to draw its attention. You head toward the exit. Don’t look back. Don’t hesitate. Go find the others. They’ll keep you safe.”
“But—”
“It will be easier for me to fight it without you here.” He knew exactly what she’d been about to say. “Honestly, it’s the best help you could give.”
Her irritation pricked at him.
She didn’t like being sidelined. She thought it a sign he still considered her helpless. Too bad. The drive to keep her safe thundered through every muscle like a calling.
“I’ll find you. I swear it.” He risked a quick glance over his shoulder. Forced a smile. “I told you before, there is no escape from me.”
“I’ll hold you to that vow.” Her hands dropped back to her sides.
“No place I won’t find you,’ he reiterated. “Nothing I won’t do to keep you.”
Her expression softened, something swirling between them, something he craved more and more with every moment. He could have spent eons untangling the mix of emotions in her gaze—but there was no time.
All he knew was his own response. He loved her.
The truth of it pounded through his blood like an anvil.
He loved her. She was light and joy and life.
And, he, an orphan scrub who’d sacrificed everything for the Resistance and never dreamed of much beyond justice for his people and the chance to give his teammates back the lives they’d lost, suddenly wanted so much more.
A family. A home. A woman of his own.
This woman as his own.
Even though they came from two different worlds. Even though she’d made it clear more than once that there was nothing more important to her than her freedom. She’d snuck beneath his skin—and his defenses—and awoken his once-numb heart.
“Over here, beast.” Raising his voice, he forced his feet away from her, moving in a wide arc away from where he’d been, flashing his ax left and right as he went. “That’s right. Way more meat on me than her.”
As intended, the creature’s gaze followed him, its big shaggy body shifting ever so slightly as it tracked his movement, its lips curling back to reveal the hundreds of needlelike teeth that made its bite so excruciating.
With relief, he watched Ava creep closer and closer toward the exit.
“Bad rotation to pick this cave.” He did his best to hold the sabanther’s attention as he raised his ax higher, his leg muscles bunching, his mind already playing out the next stages of attack.
Two more measured steps forward and he’d be within range. A blink of an eye later the sabanther would be dead. And he’d find Ava and hold her close—while he still could. While her pursuit of freedom still meant he was useful to her.
Then, from a low crevice very near where they’d been working, a second trill, slightly lower in register, echoed through the cavern. Followed by another. Two more pairs of glowing eyes slunk through the crack.
This was suddenly a lot less doable.
30
Ava’s heart stuttered and then kicked into painful overdrive.
There were now three.
Three ugly, terrifying humongous beasts.
Their bloodred eyes, sharp, needlelike fangs, and massive bodies making the tigos she’d come across on the surface appear child’s play in comparison.
Why, oh why, was everything scarier, bigger, and more violent down here?
She risked a quick look in Valdus’s direction.
His expression hadn’t changed. She saw no panic. No certainty of impending death. He looked as stoic, arrogant, and merciless as always.
It calmed her. Thrilled her, in fact. Maybe three was as doable for him as one?
She cut a quick glance at the big mountain of boulders right by the exit. Less than twenty paces away. So close.
And he’d told her to go. Said it would be less distracting. The last thing she wanted was to get in his way.
But, he’d said all that when there’d been only one. Now, there were three.
“Come on, beasts.” The sure, coaxing voice of the man that occupied more and more of her thoughts drew her attention once more. “A little closer. That’s right.”
Her breath hitching as the three creatures separated, stalking toward him, one from his left, two from his right.
He was massive for a human, but pitted against three giant beasts he appeared far more breakable.
“Closer, you bastards.” He waved his ax from side to side, tiny rivulets of sweat sliding down his chiseled abdomen, making every massive muscle gleam as it bunched and flexed.
Then there was a roar—this time human—and he leaped forward, stunning her and the creatures by going on the offensive.
One brutal swing cleaved the head from the body of the animal with the ax in its side, blanketing the air with a sickly-sweet smell. But there was no time even to celebrate. Shrieking, the two other creatures pounced, her ex-captor disappearing beneath a blur of black fur, flashing fangs, and striking claws.
Her gaze darted toward the rock. Then back to Valdus. He was pinned on the ground, his massive arm barely visible as he drove a curved dagger into one of the beast’s sides, barely blocking the sharp horn of the other with the flat of his ax. Grunts and growls echoed through the small cave.
It was an impressive display: his strength jaw-dropping, his power and quickness awe-inspiring. But she doubted even he could keep it up.
With a whispered curse, she ran toward the battle.
He might not want her help, but he was getting it.
Sucking down a deep breath, she skidded to a halt in front of the carcass of the creature with Valdus’ favorite pickax lodged in its side.
Even knowing it was dead, her skin prickled, its massive size and strength even more apparent up close—and the smell…
Her n
ose wrinkled, her stomach lurching as the feral, pungent odor of the beast mixed with the sweet scent of blood to burn her nostrils. But that was a small price to pay for her prize.
Seizing the handle of the ax, she tugged. Then tugged again. The nearby sounds of snarls and human grunts speeding her on. The force of her ex-captor’s throw had lodged his weapon deep. Desperate, she slammed her boot against the matted fur and yanked hard.
Only to tumble backward onto her ass as the weapon slid from the flesh. She missed stabbing her own thigh by inches, the sharp edge of the pickax gouging the ground instead.
The thing was a hell of a lot heavier than Valdus made it look.
Grabbing it with both hands, she scrambled to her feet and—giving herself no time to reconsider—leapt forward, driving the sharp edge into the hindquarters of the closest creature snarling atop the man.
The animal yowled, its head whipping round, its body following so fast its tipped horn sliced through her uniform, leaving a long, thin cut across the width of her stomach. She stumbled back, barely noticing the sting, her sole focus on the spike about to skewer her.
Up close, its front fangs were huge. Its three rows of needlelike teeth just beyond even more terrifying. Its breath a blast of fetid air against her cheek.
“Hit it again!” Valdus’s roared command snapped her into action, but she knew she’d never be fast enough or strong enough to take it out.
She had a different plan in mind.
“Take care of the other one.” Darting back as its claw swiped forward, she leapt onto the big rock and scrambled upward, ignoring the sharp edges that scraped her palms. The terrifying sound of scraping claws right behind.
“No, Ava! It can’t be outrun.” The urgency in his voice spurred her on.
She leapt again. Scrambled higher. Until she was near the top of the ceiling.
A shriek from below, quickly cut off, told her Valdus had taken care of his target.
Now it was up to her—and the rancid stench of shaggy animal proof the beast was closing in fast.