The scarred male growled again, stretching out a clawed paw to grab onto Celia. Aurora pulled in her shield so he wouldn’t make contact with it, but before his claws touched Celia’s arm the taller male barked at him.
He froze, the scar on his face twisting as he shot Aurora a look of pure malice. But apparently the pale-furred male was in charge. Another command sent Scar-face stalking over to join the semicircle of guards.
Aurora kept her focus on the tall male before her.
“He’s listening,” Celia said. “Convince him.”
She tuned into his emotions, searching for the best way to make a connection. This one moment would decide whether their mission failed before it even started. She’d beg if she had to. “Please. I’m worried about them.”
The male’s gaze shifted to her right, where Celia, Drew and Reynolds waited, heads bowed, arms open in supplication.
A trio of “please” echoed hers.
His focus returned to her, analyzing, weighing his options.
She kept her thoughts on the three teens. She had to get them out of this prison, and the Meer in front of her held the key.
His emotions shifted a moment before he motioned to the four of them to follow him.
Aurora bowed and dropped her shield. “Thank you.”
The Meer in the semi-circle didn’t seem to know what to make of the change in plan. But a barked order from their captain got them in motion. They quickly surrounded her small group, but kept their distance, casting anxious glances at her team.
Heavy silence marked the walk to the fortress. Dust clouds swirled around their feet as the breeze swept over the barren landscape. As they approached the walls of the fortress the sun dipped below the ridge. The shuttle would be closing in on their location soon.
Aurora glanced at the walls. As predicted, all attention was focused on the front gate. But standing just outside, barring their way, was a huge male with an unmistakable air of authority. His striped fur accentuated his bulk and his dark eyes shone with intelligence.
“That’s the Meer leader,” Drew confirmed.
And he definitely did not look happy to see them.
The captain motioned for the group to halt. He approached the gate alone, facing the leader without a hint of fear. The tone of the conversation that followed reminded Aurora of debates she’d had with her former captains when they’d been deciding on a course of action. Intense, but respectful.
Clearly the Meer captain had authority, too, which could help her cause. The Meer leader wasn’t acting like a dictator. And the captain seemed to be making an effective argument. She could feel the leader’s resolve weakening.
He shot her team a look of warning before barking an order. The heavy gate swung open and Aurora’s team was ushered inside, bookended by eight of the guards. Thankfully, Scar-face wasn’t one of them.
The Meer led them through the labyrinth of narrow alleys between the buildings. After several twists and turns, they arrived at a large central fire pit. Cooking utensils of various descriptions lay by the hearth, the smells of partially cooked food indicating that a large communal meal had been abandoned in mid-preparation.
The leader motioned her group toward the cleared area beside the fire circle, then turned to leave as the guards took up positions surrounding them.
“We can’t go with you?” Aurora asked, gesturing to the leader.
He motioned her toward the fire circle again and lifted his paws with palms out.
“You’ll bring our people here, to the fire circle?” Aurora mimed four figures walking toward her.
He barked something that might have been an affirmative, then disappeared down one of the narrow corridors in the direction of the back wall.
“Did you get that?” Aurora murmured, although the question wasn’t directed at her team. All of their combands had been set to broadcast to Kire, who could respond through the receivers attached to their ears.
“Uh-huh,” Kire replied. “And so did the shuttle team.”
Now they’d have to wait for the Meer leader’s next move.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
WELL DONE, Aurora. Cade smiled. Not only had she alerted his team that someone was coming to fetch Justin and the teens, but she’d told them where they were being taken.
His position on top of the wall gave him a good view of the alley, and his night visor allowed him to study the Meer male as he approached the building where Justin and the teens were being held. The Meer’s body language radiated tension and unease, but also power. As he drew closer, Cade recognized him. The Meer leader.
The leader dropped onto all fours as he entered the small doorway. Not long afterward voices rumbled inside, dissent clear in the tone of the barks and yips. The leader’s voice quickly silenced the din. Scuffling sounds drifted out of the opening, indicating movement. A few minutes later the leader exited, followed by six Meer guards and the three teens.
The teens had to crawl through the opening with their hands tied in front of them. The guards quickly flanked them, their weapons drawn.
Four additional guards slipped out and then Justin was shoved unceremoniously through the doorway by a guard whose face was marked by a scar across his nose and cheek.
Justin’s arms were tied behind his back. He landed hard on his side as the scarred Meer continued to push him.
The other guards hauled Justin to his feet before taking up positions to his right and left. They caged him in as the scarred Meer who’d shoved him swung a blunt weapon that connected solidly with the side of Justin’s head.
Justin stumbled, his knees buckling. The guards kept him upright and propelled him forward.
Cade gritted his teeth. That was a coward’s move, perfectly timed so that the Meer leader hadn’t seen a thing. A low growl made him glance to his right. Clarek crouched beside him, his gaze following the group as they retreated down the alley. From the look on the Kraed’s face, the scarred Meer was now on his hit list, too.
As Justin and the guards disappeared from view, Cade and Clarek returned to the back wall where Williams, Gonzo, and the four Kraed waited. “They’re taking Justin and the teens to see Aurora at the central fire pit.”
“I thought they’d turn her down flat,” Gonzo said.
Clarek puffed up like a rooster. “Do not underestimate Aurora.”
Cade chose to ignore Clarek’s proprietary tone. Now wasn’t the time for a verbal duel. “They’ll reach Aurora’s team in a couple minutes. We need to back her up.”
Gonzo checked the scanner. “The majority of the Meer are clustered in the outbuildings or in the tunnels. Hiding, from the look of it. What’s our next move?”
Cade glanced at Clarek. He needed to make smart use of the Kraed’s abilities. “We need to get to the fire circle as quickly as possible. Recommendations?”
Clarek’s yellow eyes glowed in the dim light. “We’ll cover from above.”
Of course he would. “Then Gonzo, Williams and I will head to the ground level.” He tapped his comband. “Emoto? Did you get that?”
“Relaying to Roe and the team now. Kelly has the shuttle ready on your command.”
Cade nodded to his team. “Let’s go.”
Clarek and the four Kraed slipped along the wall, moving like panthers stalking prey. When they reached the roofline, they leapt over the alleyway to the next building and disappeared into the darkness.
“That’s a little unnerving,” Gonzo muttered.
“Yeah.” Cade unhooked the grappling gun from his utility belt and shot a zipline that would take them into the alley. “But there’s no way I’m letting them get there first.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
JUSTIN’S HEAD HURT. Again. And no wonder. That scarred bastard of a Meer had clobbered him from behind. He’d had a feeling something was coming, but with the guards surrounding him and his arms bound, he’d had no way to defend himself.
His ears were ringing and his vision was a little blurry. It felt like
he had a concussion, thank you very much. He didn’t want to take the mistreatment personally, but the pain made that difficult. That sneaky SOB had had it in for him since day one.
He stumbled into the circle of warm light from the central fire and sank to his knees. When he lifted his head, his gaze met Bella’s. She was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen.
Her face scrunched up. “Justin!” She rushed toward him, but two of his guards stepped forward to block her.
In the process they cleared a line of sight to the leader. The male glanced his way, and his lips pulled back from his teeth. Apparently the knock on the head hadn’t been his idea. He took several menacing steps toward the guards, cowing them. They released Bella, who slipped past them.
“Hey,” Justin murmured as she knelt in front of him. She placed her hands on either side of his face, her gaze assessing. “Had a little accident.” His tongue was starting to feel thick in his mouth.
“So I see.” She tore a piece of cloth from her tunic and held it against the side of his head.
It hurt like hell, but her concern was a welcome balm. “Thanks.”
A commotion started up to his right. Raaveen was struggling against the hold of the guards, her gaze locked on him. “Justin,” she called out, her voice filled with concern.
Paaw and Sparw were similarly focused on him. And they weren’t the only ones.
Captain Hawke was glaring daggers at the Meer guards. “It’ll be okay,” she said. “We’re going to get you out of here.” Her gaze shifted to the teens. “All of you.”
That’s when he realized he and Bella were the only two who’d been allowed to get close to each other. Reynolds, Cardiff and Captain Hawke were being held back by a group of guards on the opposite side of the circle.
Captain Hawke faced the leader. “Let them go.” She motioned toward the teens. Her voice was respectful, but there was no mistaking the tone of command underneath.
The Meer leader replied in a similar tone, but with a clear no in the undercurrent.
Which confirmed what Justin had suspected all along. The Meer leader had no intention of releasing them. Ever.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
COUNT TO TEN, count to ten.
Aurora used every calming technique she knew to keep from reacting to the Meer leader’s denial. But the blood on Byrnes’s face made that difficult.
She understood the leader’s motivations. After all, she’d recently become the guardian of three hundred tortured souls who’d been kept as prisoners in filthy cramped cages. She remembered her horror as the truth of what had happened to them, and who they were, had been revealed. She’d been strongly motivated to help them ever since.
The Meer had suffered at the hands of Setarips, too. Now their leader had stumbled onto a way to protect his tribe from more pain. Unfortunately, he didn’t see the irony that his actions were inflicting pain on others.
And his attitude was trying her patience.
The captain of the guard stood near the leader, his gaze on the teens, who were still struggling to get free. His emotions indicated he disagreed with his leader’s actions. He’d already talked the leader into allowing her to see that Justin and the teens were alive. Maybe he’d help her again.
“This is my family.” She stretched her arm toward the teens. “You must let them go.”
The captain looked uncomfortable, his gaze shifting from her to the leader. Taking sides against his own would be a supreme act of courage. It wasn’t one he was likely to make.
The leader’s focus zeroed in on her like a laser. He strode forward, stopping when the tip of his muzzle was centimeters from her face. He pointed at her with one paw, then at the teens with the other, before bringing the two paws side by side. He barked something that was clearly a question.
Aurora frowned. “I don’t understand.”
The leader repeated the gesture.
“He wants to know if you’re related to them,” Celia murmured.
Of course. Thank goodness for her friend’s non-verbal skills.
Aurora mimicked the leader’s gestures and then nodded. “I am their kin.”
The leader’s eyes took on a speculative gleam. Then he pointed at Byrnes with one paw and Aurora with the other, before bringing them together and asking his question again.
“Oh boy,” Celia muttered.
Aurora had a nanosecond to consider her response. Clearly they knew Byrnes was different from the teens. If she claimed him as well, she’d give lie to the truth she’d just spoken.
She held Byrnes’s gaze as she shook her head and let her arms drop to her sides. “No, he’s not my kin. But he is my friend.”
A small smile appeared on his lips. But a moment later he started blinking rapidly like he couldn’t quite focus.
That worried her. The blow to his head might be more serious than it looked. And it looked pretty bad. They needed to get him out of here.
The leader’s gaze fixed on Drew, who continued to hold the makeshift bandage to Byrnes’s head. He pointed at Drew and the teens, repeating the familiar gesture.
He’d probably already guessed that Drew wasn’t a healer. If she were, she would have started working on Byrnes’s injury already. Aurora shook her head. “No, not kin.”
Then he pointed at Reynolds and Celia, and Aurora shook her head again. He stared at her, suspicion clouding out every other emotion.
She kept her expression neutral. She’d told him the truth. Either he’d believe her, or he wouldn’t.
Finally he turned to the guards next to her and gave a command. They gripped her upper arms, holding her in place.
She didn’t resist, even when the Meer leader extended the tip of his sharp claw towards her skin. He couldn’t hurt her unless she let him.
He said something that she interpreted as show me before grabbing her hand and bringing the claw down on her open palm. She suppressed the instinct to shield as the sharp tip sliced across her skin, opening a gash that slowly seeped red. It stung, but if this was what it took to convince him she was trustworthy, so be it.
He gestured to her hand, where blood had created a small pool in the indentation in her palm.
If he wanted a demonstration, he’d get one. But she’d have to make it quick. Another glance at Byrnes told her he needed to get to Mya. Soon.
She engaged her energy field, but kept the healing energy isolated to her hand. The Meer leader had unwittingly done her a favor. Her hands acted as a focal point for controlling her energy, naturally coalescing there, so it was an easy point to heal. Stopping the bleeding and sealing the skin on top took only a minute. The damage he’d done to the soft tissue underneath could wait until later.
Tipping her hand up, palm out, she offered it for inspection.
The look of wonder on the leader’s face as he examined her hand was a good sign.
“Please.” She poured the depth of her emotions into that one word. “Let them go.”
The crackling of the fire beside her sounded like the roar of an engine in the utter silence that surrounded them. But instead of releasing her, the leader’s paw clamped down on her wrist.
He turned to the guards that held Cardiff and Reynolds, and barked an order. The guards grabbed them and started pulling them toward the alley that led to the front gate. The leader gestured toward Drew and Byrnes as well, dismissing them.
Aurora’s patience washed away like water through a sieve. The Meer leader’s behavior was tripping every emotional trigger she had. When he ordered the guards to take her in the opposite direction, she shifted from irritation to anger. Which is why it took her a moment to register that the rage she was feeling wasn’t her own.
She gave her empathic abilities free rein, tracking it. The feeling was familiar. Was it Jonarel? Or Cade? No. She sensed them, too, their anger shining like bright spots of red in the sea of emotion. But they were both separate from the dark malevolence. This was someone else. And she’d felt it before. When she’d…
Whipping her head to the right, she searched the shadows for someone she couldn’t see but knew without a doubt was there. A Meer guard with a scarred face.
The firelight reflected off the tip of an arrow. An arrow aimed directly at Byrnes’s chest.
“Byrnes! Down!” she screamed.
Two blasts from Kraed rifles raced across the open area from opposite directions, slamming into the guard, toppling him off the wall.
Negotiations had just ended.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
THE BASTARD HAD BEEN about to kill Justin.
Cade kept his weapon up and his focus on the Meer guards closest to him as pandemonium erupted around the fire circle.
The Kraed had dropped from their hiding places at the perimeter and were doing a great job corralling the Meer who were near them. Shrieks of terror carried on the breeze as the Meer stared in horror at the fearsome intruders.
Cardiff and Reynolds were busy at the far side of the clearing dealing with the guards that had been trying to haul them to the gate. Ordinarily, the fight would have been over in a heartbeat, but since the two women didn’t want to inflict permanent damage, they were obviously curtailing their defensive strategy. Gonzo was making his way toward them to offer assistance.
Unfortunately, no one had reached Drew and Justin, who were trapped at the center of the cyclone. Justin was prone on the ground, and Drew was trying to shield his body with her own. But they were in the open, completely exposed to the Meer guards who had started turning weapons in their direction.
Cade targeted the nearest guard and fired.
At the same time, the guards who had been holding Aurora suddenly shot back two meters and crumpled to the ground, twitching like they’d been hit with a high voltage charge.
Cade was willing to bet they had. Courtesy of Aurora Hawke.
She raced toward Justin and Drew, her pearlescent shield blooming to life around her. Small flares of light appeared where arrows struck the shield but she didn’t seem to notice as she dropped to the ground in front of Drew and Justin and enveloping them in the shield’s protective glow.
The Chains of Freedom (Starhawke Rising Book 2) Page 15