Now the officer trained his projectile weapon directly on Sevaleth.
“No!” Jodi ran back toward Sevaleth, who was trapped by the potential of the weapon. He was unfamiliar with what it could do, but judging by the size of the barrel, it would take a huge chunk out of whatever it hit. Sevaleth’s kind generally fought other lands with handheld weapons. Despite the advances they had in technology, there was often a great expense at outfitting hundreds of thousands of men with projectile weapons. War was waged differently by the Krase, who used their technological superiority to great advantage.
“Come with me and I will let him live,” the Krase warrior offered.
Jodi took a step in front of Sevaleth and then another toward the Krase warrior.
Sevaleth grasped Jodi’s shoulder to stop him. “He lies. He’ll kill me as soon as he has you.”
“He says he won’t. You won’t hurt him if I come with you?”
“I won’t hurt him, but you must come with me. If you won’t do so willingly, I will take you by force.”
“Why?” Jodi was clearly trying to understand and perhaps find a way to reason with the Krase, but that wouldn’t work. By reputation, they were said to ask first before they took something, but that didn’t mean they didn’t take it after they had been told no. It also didn’t mean they explained why they were doing something.
“I will tell you, but you must come to me first.”
“Bullshit.” Jodi shook his head, making the light spill over his beautiful hair. “You tell me first.”
When the warrior remained silent, Sevaleth knew they were in terrible trouble. Rather than let Jodi continue to walk toward him, Sevaleth gently but firmly moved him so he was behind his bulk. Jodi resisted, but eventually he gave in. Since Sevaleth was far taller and wider than Jodi, he should be able to protect him from a blast. After that, Jodi would be on his own, but he was smart and quick. If he took refuge in the cave, he might be able to outlast the massive Krase warrior who wouldn’t be able to follow him into the smaller branches of the cave.
“A true hero fights with a blade.” Sevaleth didn’t think engaging the beast would do any good at all, but he had to do something. Since he had no weapon, he would have to use words.
“Only a fool fights with something so outdated it borders on absurd.”
Despite the fact he was being mocked, Sevaleth laughed. “Then we should both lay down our weapons and fight like true warriors.” Sevaleth lifted his open hands. “I am ready.” When the Krase ignored him, Sevaleth laughed again, but longer and louder. “You are clearly afraid of me.”
“I’m not about to go from a position of superiority to one of idiocy. Just give me the human and you can keep your life.”
“I would rather lose my life than him.”
“Very well.” The warrior leveled his weapon and fired.
Stunned, Sevaleth started to stagger. Jodi screamed and tried to help him run, but there was nowhere to go. Not for him.
“The cave. Hide in the cave.” Sevaleth tried to shove Jodi that direction, but he was leaning over him, his hands seeking for the wound.
“You will come with me.” Another flash of a different color exploded above Sevaleth.
Jodi screamed and scrabbled at something that was clinging to him.
As much as Sevaleth wanted to help, to do something, he was unable to move. Darkness was pushing at his mind the way that sleep sometimes did. But this time, he knew if he gave in, he would never wake up again.
“I love you, Jodi.” But Jodi was now bundled up and cradled under the Krase warrior’s arm as if he was no more important than a bundle of sticks. Sevaleth felt like he was dying over and again with each step the Krase took away from him. When he was out of sight, Sevaleth closed his eyes and cried.
Chapter 11
Jodi woke up and jumped to his feet. He had no idea where he was. Looking around, he realized he was in what appeared to be a very human motel room. There was a bed, a table, a couch-like thing, and some random chairs. He was alone. When he remembered the unbelievably loud bang of a shot and then Sevaleth crumpling to the ground, he burst into tears.
Sevaleth had died trying to protect him.
Jodi couldn’t even care that he didn’t know why that Krase warrior wanted him or where he was taking him. As soon as he got the chance he was going to kill him. And then he was going back to Girakor to give Sevaleth a proper burial. To leave him out in the forest like that broke Jodi’s heart anew.
He’d died a hero, and for Sevaleth that was probably good, but Jodi didn’t care about his culture or his ego. He wanted him back. Hero or no, he had been happy to simply be with Sevaleth. The short time they’d spent together hadn’t been enough. A lifetime wouldn’t be enough.
When his door opened, he wiped his eyes only so he could see who was there. When he saw the Krase warrior, he screamed and ran at him. Jodi never stood a chance. He didn’t even see what hit him, but he was guessing it was the guy’s fist given the way his face hurt when he woke up.
“Humans are too stupid to live in this universe.”
Jodi would have tried to hit the son of a bitch again, but his arms were strapped down. Since he couldn’t strike at him, he spit at him. He missed, but his action did get the Krase warrior to move back.
“If you weren’t so valuable, I’d kill you.”
“Like you killed Sevaleth?”
“All he had to do was step aside.” The warrior shook his head. “Let me guess. He was in love with you? Stupid humans and your ridiculous idea of love.”
“What do you care?” Jodi didn’t want to explain anything to someone he was going to kill as soon as he got free. He’d be a lot smarter about things the second time around. Rather than charge at him again, he’d wait until he found a weapon then make him beg for his life but shoot him anyway.
“I don’t care. I just don’t understand what anyone would see in something so small and weak.”
Jodi tried to spit on him again but missed. And then he simply walked away. Jodi was strapped down to something so he couldn’t sit up. His face hurt, and when tears started flowing, they stung so he knew when the asshole punched him he’d broken his skin. Not that it mattered. Jodi didn’t have anyone to look nice for now.
He cried off and on until he finally fell asleep. His dreams were of Sevaleth and he was there and okay. But eventually he’d wake up, remember where he was, and the cycle would start again. When he thought he couldn’t cry anymore, he screamed at the ceiling to be let out of his restraints. He said he wanted to clean up and use the bathroom, but what he really wanted was to find a weapon.
When the door came open again, Jodi looked over, surprised to see a different Krase warrior. This one had a tattoo on his face of a curve with four dots below. As soon as their gazes locked, Jodi knew his fortune had changed again.
“I am Honor Vengeance.” He nodded once, sharply, almost like he was bowing with his face. He immediately set about freeing Jodi. Once he had the straps off him, Honor offered out his hand.
Rather than touch him, Jodi sat up on his own. He couldn’t bear the idea of anyone touching him right now. He felt raw.
“I apologize for what was done to you. I can assure you the officer will be suitably punished.”
“Are you going to kill him?”
“Why?”
“He killed the man I love for no reason.”
Honor’s expression turned grim. “I was speaking of the fact he struck you.”
“He killed an innocent man for nothing.” Jodi realized he was screaming and tried to calm down but failed miserably. “He didn’t even say why he wanted me to go with him.”
Honor sighed and settled on the other end of the table. “Please tell me what happened.”
Jodi told him the details from the moment he saw the Krase warrior in the center of the village until the moment he shot Sevaleth.
“How did you know what he was?” Honor asked.
“When I was sold, we wer
e taken down the street on Krase. One of you went by and I asked the other slaves. They were all afraid of your kind. I can see why.” Jodi felt the heat of his anger draining away. Now he was filled with a depression so sharp it felt like a blanket of nails being wrapped around his body.
“My kind can be brutal.”
“What do you want me for?” Jodi couldn’t imagine the universe was so low on slaves they had to steal him. The Girakor who’d bought him said he’d been given to Sevaleth because he deserved the best of the best, but Jodi still didn’t know what humans were prized for. Maybe love from what the other Krase warrior had said. If that was the case, then it was true. Humans loved deeply. Jodi would never stop loving Sevaleth.
“I am sorry he did not explain to you. In his haste to cover himself with glory, he failed to take care of very precious cargo.” Honor lifted his hand as if he would touch Jodi but stopped and placed his hand in his lap.
“Me?” Jodi was even more baffled now than he had been before.
“You.”
“Why am I precious? God, only my mother ever called me that. Why does it sound weird when you do?”
“Forgive me. I am not used to…” Honor stood and moved over to the side of the room as if he suddenly, desperately needed to put distance between them. “There are hygiene facilities through that door. Please attend to yourself then I will explain.”
“I want to go back to Girakor.”
Honor pressed on the side of his throat then ordered that the ship would go immediately to Girakor.
It wouldn’t change anything, but at least Jodi could say good-bye. Jodi hesitantly climbed off the table, but when he looked in the room Honor had pointed to, he saw nothing. Honor showed him how to activate the units by stepping on a button in the floor. When they came up, Jodi was still baffled until Honor explained. He did this without embarrassment then left him alone. Once he was cleaned up, he went back into the room, then followed Honor down a long hall to another room that was much more plush.
“Please.” Honor lifted his hand toward the table that had so much food on it Jodi couldn’t see the color of the surface. All of it was very human looking and smelling. But he hesitated. “I assure you it’s quite safe.”
“Why aren’t you eating it?”
“I am not human.” Honor went over to another area and poured himself a drink. “The last human I spoke with angered me. I treated him poorly and did something I will regret until the day I die.”
“Did you hurt him?”
“I licked him.”
For a split second, Jodi thought he’d misunderstood what Honor had said, so he only looked at him curiously.
“I realize it’s not a human thing to do.” Honor drank most of his drink then topped it off. “I’m not even certain it was a Krase thing to do, but I did it anyway.”
“Why?”
“Because he smelled good and I wanted to know what he would taste like.”
And Jodi realized he didn’t mean that the human had smelled good the way food smelled good but more the way Sevaleth had smelled good to Jodi, especially right when he woke up and was sleepy warm. Tears blinded him, and he turned away, ignoring the food.
“I assure you, I will not do anything to you.”
Unable to speak, Jodi nodded. Why he trusted Honor, he didn’t quite know. But why would the other Krase be so cruel and this one so kind? Maybe it was the Krase version of good cop, bad cop. “Are you going to explain why you guys want me so damn bad or not?”
“Your people were stolen from Earth.”
While he spoke of the unscrupulous slave trader who had stolen humans right at their moment of death, put them into stasis, then sold them illegally on Krase, Jodi got himself under control. By turning his attention to what had happened to him, he was able to release his pain and anguish over Sevaleth. Only for a moment or two, but at least Jodi wasn’t totally debilitated with depression.
“How did I die?” Jodi realized the irony of his current situation. He’d only met Sevaleth because he’d died.
“Does it matter?”
“I was at my best friend’s kid’s birthday party. It was a house filled with little kids and their parents. Yes! It fucking matters!” Had all of those people died? A wave of shock and horror gripped Jodi, making his vision swim. He staggered back, knocked several items off the table onto the floor, then collapsed toward a chair.
Honor was near him, helping him to sit. His touch was surprisingly gentle despite his huge size. If Jodi closed his eyes, he could pretend, for a moment, that Sevaleth was holding him. The illusion was shattered as soon as Honor spoke.
“My understanding is that there was an explosion of a something called a water heater. The valve that should have released pressure was defective.” Honor looked up at Jodi from his kneeling position on the floor. “No one else died in the accident.”
It was a small consolation, but at that moment, Jodi was willing to take what he could get. “So my friends, my family, everyone I knew thinks I’m dead?”
“Yes. And it must stay that way.”
“What? Why?” Jodi was on his feet so fast he caused Honor to bolt to his. When his lip twitched upward, revealing his sharp white teeth, Jodi realized he shouldn’t trust Honor at all. There was something not quite right about his reaction to humans. Jodi couldn’t put his finger on what was amiss, only that something was off.
Honor seemed to realize he’d overreacted and stepped back. He didn’t stop moving until he was over by the bar. “I am sorry to be the one to bring you such difficult news. My intention is not to add to your emotional burden.”
“Just tell me why I can’t go back and tell the people I love that I’m okay.” Jodi couldn’t even imagine what that would be like for them. If he were to find out Sevaleth was still—he cut himself off from that thought before it even got started. There was no unscrupulous slave trader involved in Sevaleth’s death.
“You died. To go back there, to reinsert you into that time space, is dangerous.”
“I don’t see why.”
“Because it creates a distortion.”
“So?”
Honor’s grip on his glass tightened. “We don’t know what might happen. Theory suggests the distortion could ripple out from Earth and impact the entire known universe. It’s simply too dangerous to even contemplate.”
Jodi dropped back down on the couch. He’d gone from finding the love of his life and feeling okay with the possibility of never seeing his family again to a man with nothing. No love and no chance of seeing his family. Jodi had absolutely nothing to live for.
Chapter 12
Sevaleth had watched the big red monster take Jodi away. He struggled to rise but found that he couldn’t move. He could barely breathe. But each moment he let slip past was another step that Jodi was going away with a creature who would hurt him. There was no question in Sevaleth’s mind that the Krase warrior wanted Jodi for some horrible reason.
The Krase didn’t love.
As darkness settled over him, he thought he might finally find his place in the Hero’s Hall, the one that the gods kept gleaming for all the mortal heroes, but Sevaleth wouldn’t be granted a cell there. He had failed to protect the one he loved. There could be no deeper shame for a hero to bear than that.
Again, he struggled to get up, because all was not yet lost. He could still get to Jodi. In his mind’s eye, he saw his powerful body running toward a gleaming starship and just as it would take off, he wrenched the door open, beat the Krase warrior to death with his bare fists, then pulled Jodi into his arms. Their kiss was chaste and sweet while the villagers cheered.
“Soon,” Jodi would whisper, “soon we will be alone.”
Once they were, Sevaleth would show Jodi without words how much he loved him.
And then they would be together forever.
Forever.
When Sevaleth awoke, he felt pressure on his chest. “Jodi.”
He reached up to stroke his hair, but
what he found was too short and coarse to be his companion’s hair. When he heard a sniffling growl, he blinked and saw a dreadful rendition of a warrior hacking his way across some foreign land.
After a moment, Sevaleth realized he was in the palace, in his rooms, staring at the horrible painting on his ceiling. What he felt on his chest was Raptor. For an all-too-brief moment, he thought all of it, from the planning, to the journey, to Jodi’s capture had just been a dream. But he knew before he even looked around that Jodi wasn’t here. When Jodi was with him, even if he was across the room doing something, Sevaleth could always feel his presence.
His world felt unbearably empty.
Raptor swatted at his hand. Seventh petted him and tried not to cry. When he realized he was fully and completely alone, he cried for his failure, the loss of his love, and the fact that somehow he had survived. His punishment would be to live a life alone. Each day he would wake to an empty bed and feel ashamed that when Jodi most needed him to be a hero, Sevaleth hadn’t been there for him.
What killed him was not knowing where Jodi was.
And then, a new thought came to him. He would find Jodi. The Krase warrior had wanted him alive. That meant he wanted Jodi for himself.
Sevaleth sat up so fast he dumped Raptor to the bed.
With an angry snarl, Raptor stalked away on stiff legs. Rather than worry about his feelings, Sevaleth focused on bringing Jodi home. The idea of tracking Jodi through the vast universe was daunting, but so was the journey to share his story with those on Girakor. That idea had become more manageable once Jodi had cut it down to size.
Sevaleth would do the same thing. If that Krase warrior tracked Jodi here, then there had to be a way to track him in reverse. Before he even got started, Sevaleth was fairly certain he knew where the warrior had taken Jodi. Krase. It was the only place that made sense. Getting onto their planet was not nearly as difficult as getting onto Girakor would have been. His planet was not welcoming of outsiders unless they were slaves.
Enslaved By a Hero [Sold! 7] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) Page 10