PrimalHunger

by Dawn Montgomery

  She pushed herself up and expanded her senses. It was so easy. Why did she struggle before? A grin touched her lips. She didn’t need to see. Her aunt’s heartbeat thrummed. Every breath gave away her position. Every step, her downfall.

  Kendra rose to her feet, gripping her side. “It’s not over yet.” Her amplified voice rang out in the arena. The crowd went crazy.

  Kendra’s muscles cramped and stiffened, but she moved slowly, carefully, trying to make the woman think she was fine. Her feet stretched and burned. The scars grew pliant. “What’s the matter, auntie? Didn’t occur to you that our queen would plan for every contingency?”

  “You are soaked in sweat, niece. I see that you’re already blind. You’ll soon be a corpse.”

  Kendra shook her head. “She knows you, how you operate, what poisons you favor.” Kendra grinned and slipped the bloodstone’s chain over her head. It was a burning weight against her stomach, pulsing with a life of its own. Kendra lowered to a fighting crouch. “You’re so predictable. So expendable.”

  Skreeta let loose a battle cry and launched. Kendra trusted her instincts, letting her opponent’s momentum carry her into position. She gripped Skreeta’s forearm and twisted it, driving it against her body and shoving her away.

  “I thought you were a great fighter. I’m blind, dying. Are you so weak that you can’t take me down?”

  “I’ll kill you.” Her launch echoed in Kendra’s ears.

  Kendra ducked and swirled out of her aunt’s way. She stood with a flourish and the crowd cheered.

  She blocked a strike. The scent of metal and stench of poison told her Skreeta held one of the contaminated blades. Cramps tightened across her flesh and she shoved her aunt away. Kendra dragged in one painful breath after another.

  “I obviously didn’t poison you enough the first time.”

  Azros’ advice rose up in her mind. Inhale deeply.

  She inhaled. The burning pains from the poison lessened. Cramps across her muscles eased. Skreeta lunged and Kendra blocked a strike with her forearm. She moved too slowly, and her aunt’s fist grazed her stomach. The movement of the air was the lightest feather against her skin.

  Draw the scents in and let them roll around on your tongue.

  She drew in another breath and rolled it around on her tongue. Skreeta struck again, and Kendra heard the knee’s movement. It was an easy block, one she followed with an uppercut. The satisfying smack of fist striking flesh echoed in Kendra’s ears. Her aunt’s body skidded across the sand.

  “Oooh. That’s gotta hurt, ladies and gents.” Kendra grinned at the announcer’s comment. Laughter rang out in the stands.

  “Even the audience thinks you’re a joke.”

  You will be able to track your prey by the strength of his scent alone.

  Skreeta’s scent changed to anger, and grew fluid. Movement. Her aunt was trying to sneak behind her.

  “Your queen has no more use for you.” Kendra crossed her arms, grinning from ear to ear. “Even your crew has betrayed you.”

  Her aunt struck like a snake, moving in and out of range. Kendra blocked and lunged, fighting with every ounce of her concentration. Her muscles cramped and sweat slid down her face. Pain became constant.

  Kendra blocked a knee only to be hit across the face with an elbow. Pain exploded across her face and she stumbled back.

  “Your lies are useless. I know who to trust.”

  Kendra laughed and spat blood to the sand. She swiped her hand across her mouth, while her tongue tested damage to the inside of her cheek. The copper flavor of blood slid down her throat. She could taste Azros in it. His flavor. His lambyre.

  “What could I possibly gain by lying?” Kendra rolled her shoulders and took up a defensive stance. They were both breathing heavily from exertion.

  Her aunt lunged and Kendra knocked her arm back. Skreeta countered, and Kendra kneed her in the side. Wind rushed out of Skreeta’s mouth. “To distract me.” She forced the statement through clenched teeth.

  Kendra shoved her aunt away. Skreeta dropped to the sand. Exhaustion pulled at her limbs. “My family didn’t want the crown. You could have had the damn thing. But no…” Kendra laughed. “You just had to come find me.”

  Her aunt laughed as well, a rough and pained sound. “You’re such a little idiot. Just like your mother. Head in the sand.” She rose to her feet, a blurred image in Kendra’s sight. “Remember the way your mother begged for your life? Her death cries were music to my ears. In the end, she was weak. Useless.”

  Kendra’s gut wrenched. Her aunt threw something. Kendra’s arms came up to block, and sand sprayed across her face. Skreeta tackled her, slamming her shoulder into Kendra’s torso, forcing her into the hot sands. Kendra’s breath slammed out of her body in a rush.

  Her aunt’s breath fanned her cheek. “You just don’t know when to die.” She stabbed her side. Kendra screamed. The blade glanced off bone. Her rib cage.

  Her aunt stood against the lights, a black silhouette she could see. Fiery rage consumed her. Kendra jerked the blade from her body and swiped it across Skreeta’s chest, just below the throat. The spill of her aunt’s blood was warm against her skin.

  Skreeta jerked back and Kendra locked up Skreeta’s legs in one of Azros’ fighting moves. Her aunt tripped, falling back to the sand. “You bitch! Do you know what you’ve done?”

  Kendra stalked across the sand, hunting Skreeta the way she’d hunted her family. Without mercy, Kendra shoved her aunt with her foot, knocking her back to the sand. The crowd laughed.

  Her limbs were shaking, and parts of her body grew numb. “Where’s the antidote?” Kendra’s voice croaked from a parched throat.

  “There isn’t one.”

  Kendra laughed. “Then I guess we’re both dead, aren’t we? I can chase you around this arena all day.”

  Her aunt doubled over. Kendra could smell the movement of poison through her body. “I cut you close to your heart, aunt. You sure you don’t want to live?”

  “You’ll die before I will.”

  “Want to bet on that, Skreeta? You don’t have such a great track record when it comes to assumptions about me.”

  Her aunt stared up at her. “Name your terms.”

  Kendra pointed the blade at her. “Concede the fight.”

  “And make you the queen’s heir?” Skreeta choked on the words in a coughing fit.

  “I am the daughter of Ashamia the Great, a visionary scientist of our people. I am queen’s heir by right of my family’s blood, and this fight.” Kendra’s voice rang out across the arena. “Concede.”

  Kendra stepped forward and drew back her arm to strike.

  Skreeta stared up at her. “I concede.”

  The crowd went insane.

  Kendra stared at her aunt, waiting for the antidote. Reeva’s arms came around her. “The antidote.” She pointed to Skreeta.

  Reeva cursed and eased her down to the sands. People pushed forward, and the toad-like countenance of Simien appeared in her field of vision. She was vaguely aware of her body’s spasms, the choking coughs. Her arm burned and her skin itched.

  “What is she saying?”

  “Her skin itches.”

  “Did…we…give…time?” Kendra croaked out the words.

  Reeva entered her field of vision. “You gave them more than enough, Chief. Don’t you dare give up now.”

  Relief drained away the last of her anger. It seemed like as good a time as any to sleep. Her body relaxed, and she slipped into unconscious oblivion.

  * * * * *

  Azros came to with anti-gravy bracelets on his ankles and wrists. He could smell Shyla, and the tainted scent of Xavier. His head hung at an awkward angle, allowing his hair to hide his expression from view.

  “Find out how he escaped. Now.” Shyla’s voice cut into the silence.

  “Ma’am.” One of the men hesitated.

  “What is it?” Irritation grated in her voice.

  “Is it safe to leave
you alone—”

  Shyla laughed. “Have no fear of the Valorian. He’ll be out for at least a few hours. The priority is finding out who is assisting these animals. That person has committed treason against the Sheon.”

  “Yes ma’am.” The questioning individual snapped to. He and his companions rapidly departed.

  Shyla blew out a deep breath. “You really are a pain in my ass, Prince Azros. You and your brother both.”

  Her hands touched his wrists. One cuff was released. His body fell forward. The other released. She never made it to his ankles. He had his hands around her throat and her in the air. Her weapon smashed against the wall.

  She struggled against him, clawing at his hands and wrists.

  “Xavier.” His mouth had difficulty forming words. The man was gone, and in its place was an animal.

  “Safe.” She choked the word. “He’s…”

  Azros jerked the key out of her hand and released her.

  She tumbled to the floor. Her hand rubbed against her throat. “He’s safe. I swear.” She coughed, dragging in low gasps.

  Azros unlocked one ankle cuff then the other. “You lie.”

  She shook her head. “He’s hurt. Skreeta got to him before I did. He wasn’t part of the plan, but once she found out about him…” Her gaze lowered. “He won’t be able to escape on his own tonight.”

  “Wrong.” He dragged her to her feet and shoved her forward. “We’re not leaving anyone behind.”

  “Mase.” His voice rumbled over the comm.

  “Yeah. Heard everything.”

  “How long have I been out?” Azros shoved Shyla against the bay doors.

  “Not long. Maybe ten minutes. We’re right in front of you.”

  Azros pointed to the doors. “Open them.”

  “Not yet.” She glared at him.

  “Now.” He stepped forward, crowding her into the corner.

  “Not. Yet.” She matched his step, shoving against his chest in irritation.

  Alarms sounded and Azros dropped to a crouch.

  “Now.” She hit the door release.

  The door slid open. Mase and the crew had taken cover.

  Shyla held out her hands. “We don’t have much time before they realize what’s going on. Get the Valorians out of here.”

  Azros gripped her arm. “What about the cameras?”

  Shyla held up her wrist. A black bracelet flashed. “It’s a jammer. I’ve been using it for weeks to interfere with image feed. It’s been driving the engineers crazy. You have a good twenty minutes before the cameras come back online, so I wouldn’t waste too much time.” She attempted to shrug out of his hold. “Now let me go.”

  Mase shook his head. “No way, lady. You’re staying with us.”

  Shyla huffed out a breath. “You want Xavier? I have to get him. No one else will make it there and back in time.”

  “How do we know we can trust you?” Jackson’s question was quiet.

  “You don’t have a choice.” She shrugged. “I stay here and Xavier will be trapped in my room. Skreeta will kill him. You let me go, and I’ll get him back to you.” She met Azros’ eyes with solemn appeal. “It’s your call.”

  “What made you change your mind?”

  “No man deserves what Skreeta will put him through. I can use the antigrav bracelets to make transporting him easier.”

  Azros dragged in a breath. He couldn’t tell if she was lying. Instincts battled with fear of betrayal. Instincts won out. He let her go. “Fifteen minutes.”

  She nodded. “Give me the key to the cuffs.”

  He dropped it in her palm and watched her disappear around the corner.

  “That was stupid.” Mase stood at his side, staring after her.

  “Yeah.” Azros agreed. “Your chief trusts her.”

  Mase scratched his jaw. “Yeah, well. She likes you too. Makes me question her judgment.”

  Jackson snorted a laugh, and Azros shook his head. “We have work to do, and not a lot of time to do it.”

  Mase nodded with a grin. He pointed down the corridor. “End of the hall. They’re being held close by.”

  Jackson held out a weapon. “Already locked and loaded.” He pointed out different components. “Release.” He turned it over to point at a dial. “Stun and kill. Here’s a clip.” Pill-like capsules glowed green in the clip. It was a weapon unlike any other. “Each tube has three shots.”

  Azros took the weapon and slipped the clip in his pocket. “How many tubes per clip?”

  “Fifteen. Make ’em count.”

  Azros nodded, under no illusions about his role in the team. Jackson ran the show. Azros wondered how Destiny had acquired so many assets.

  Two men remained onboard the cloaked ship. Another two would guard this corridor.

  Azros and Jackson plowed forward, clearing corridor after corridor while the remaining team split off to run diversionary tactics.

  They met no traffic on their way. The stench of captivity grew stronger, making the hair on the back of Azros’ neck stand on end. Every door brought him closer. “We’re almost there.”

  Jackson glanced over. “How do you know?”

  Azros clenched his jaw and dragged in a calming breath. “I can smell my men.”

  Jackson didn’t ask for an explanation, and no words could describe it. Mase knelt by the door. He plugged his datapad to a card. With a swipe, the door opened.

  It took only a split second to take in the room before Azros rushed the first scientist. His fist connected with the bastard’s jaw. Jackson laid down suppressive fire. Azros broke the arm of another. He moved through the room, tearing them away from his men. Their pain, their misery. His people were rotting in a hell of Sheon design where they were treated like animals. Rage was an inferno in his mind. Everything became a red haze. A hand grabbed his arm.

  Azros swung around and barely held back from crushing Jackson’s throat. He became aware of a cacophony of deafening alarms.

  “We don’t have much time. Get your men. We have to get the fuck out.”

  “Azros.” A familiar voice rang through the room. Azros swirled around and rushed to the cage of his mentor. He gripped the bars. The grizzled and haggard appearance of the great sage tore the animal loose inside him. Dion gripped his hands in his. “You are here, my Prince? This is not the work of that cursed drug?”

  His men were slowly coming around. Their exclamations began waking the others from their drug fugue.

  Azros nodded and pressed his forehead against Dion’s fingers in respect for his rank. “I am here.”

  “They took the mine.” Dion choked on emotion.

  “I know. We will take it back. You have my word.” He glanced over to Mase and Jackson.

  Jackson tore through paperwork and research material, dropping them into a bag. He looked up and met Azros’ gaze. “We need the drug.”

  Azros nodded and turned back to Dion. “Where is the drug?”

  Mase’s fingers flew over the release controls.

  Dion glanced at Jackson. He slipped into their tongue. “Can he be trusted?”

  Azros looked back. “Yes. He would do us no harm.”

  Dion nodded, switching back to trader’s dialect. “The white cabinet behind you. Type code AJ25 to open it.”

  Azros grinned at his mentor. “Still pretending to sleep, old friend?”

  Dion laughed. “It’s the only way to find out what’s really going on.”

  “Finally!” Mase grinned. “There we go.” The doors swung open and his men stumbled out of their cages. Most were still groggy. Some were unable to move on their own. Mase packed up his gear.

  Jackson took everything out of the cabinet. He looked up at Azros. “We’re done here.”

  “Listen to me, men. Your prince has returned to get you to safety.” Azros gestured to Jackson and Mase. “They are here to help. We have to move so those who are able will give assistance to the others. No one will be left behind.”

  “My Prince
, they took your brother.” Dion helped another walk.

  “Xavier will meet us at the ship.”

  “But…how?” Dion’s concern told Azros the critical nature of his wounds.

  “We have to move. There’s no time for explanation.”

  Dion nodded. “Of course, my Prince.” They raced down the corridor. The old sage moved very quickly.

  Jackson took point, and Azros teamed up with Mase at the rear of the group.

  Mase glanced at him. “We’re going to have company.”

  Azros’ gaze fell on his men. Filth and blood caked their skin. Their once proud shoulders were stooped as though broken of spirit. Beneath the surface, however, beat the hearts of free men. “Let them come.”

  Jackson’s men fell back to cover their escape. Shots rang out. The group’s pace increased, and Azros was satisfied to see some of them slip into their extra senses.

  They made it to the bay before the Sheon caught up with the prisoners. Jackson and Mase laid down suppressive fire while Azros guided his men to the ship.

  A Sheon pilot ran at him with a pipe swinging, and Azros shot him. The pilot collapsed to the deck.

  “Azros!” Shyla’s voice rang out over the confusion. She raced toward him with Xavier on her shoulders in a fireman’s carry. Blood-soaked bandages covered several areas of his body. He swallowed down his fury. Even with the gravity bracelets, Xavier weighed her down considerably. Azros ran, meeting her. He hauled Xavier off her shoulders and grabbed her wrist.

  She wrenched from his grasp. “No.”

  “Skreeta will kill you.” Azros gestured to Xavier. “There’s no hiding this. Not anymore.”

  “No!”

  Jackson rushed over, laying cover fire across the bay. “Can you two pick a different time to argue?”

  “Jackson. Take her.” Azros ran toward the ship. Jackson’s weapon discharged and his heavy footfalls pounded the deck behind him.

  They made it to the ship. A split second after the door shut, the pilot took off. The bay doors opened with Mase’s assistance and they were racing back to the planet. Back to Kendra. “Hang in there, Xavier.” He held his brother in his arms, and prayed that the fates had kept his mate safe.