by Auryn Hadley
"Yeah," Shade admitted. "You were right, Sal."
"About which?"
"Things change. Knowing I'm stronger helps. Knowing I'm not alone helps. Knowing I can scream in my head?" She shrugged. "I don't like all the men in there, but I'm ok like this."
"Ok," Sal said. "It's getting late you two. Guards are bedding down soon, and grauori are patrolling. Don't stay out too long."
Shade sat up and glanced over at Arctic. "Can I talk to Sal for a bit?"
He nodded, a smile on his face like Sal had never seen. "I'll grab a drink and show you up to your room. Sal's right. Don't stay out too long."
"We won't," Sal promised. Arctic smiled at Shade again, then looked at Sal guiltily before making his way back inside, leaving the women alone.
"I like him," Shade said, gesturing for Sal to sit.
"Good. I was hoping you would."
"I mean, I like to touch him. He showed me what I smell like." Shade giggled. "I think he's in love with me."
"Probably. It's how they are."
"He doesn't really want to sleep with me, though."
"No," Sal assured the girl. "Arctic doesn't take that lightly. He never has."
"But," Shade grinned and glanced down. A giggle slipped out. "Why him?"
"What do you mean?"
"I've got some issues, Sal, but I'm not blind. He's gorgeous! Why him? Why didn't you take him, or one of the Viraenovan women?"
"He's not for me. We've been friends for a long time, but," Sal shrugged. "There's nothing between us like that."
Shade nodded, a faint smile still on her face. "And he's really not upset?"
"No." Sal knew Shade meant her issues with men. "He'll wait as long as you need. He'll take care of you as much as you let him. He'll be jealous." Sal chuckled. "Oh he'll be insanely jealous if you choose someone else, but this is how Arctic is. He really is that good, Shade."
"I like him," she whispered. "I like all of you, but," She shrugged. "I'm ok with this."
"You know his room is next to yours, right?"
Shade nodded. "Yeah."
"You know it's ok if you want to visit him. I'm not saying you will, but there's nothing wrong with talking, or staying the night - just so you have someone watching your back," Sal clarified. "We're not your mothers, and we aren't human. We won't tell you how to act."
"Thanks, Sal."
"You're welcome. Now let's get inside. I need to head to bed soon."
They stood, and Shade hugged Sal quickly before turning to the door. Sal couldn't help but chuckle. In less than a day she'd already healed so much. Sal understood. Knowing you had people to rely upon mattered more than anything else.
Shade pulled open the door and was halfway through when the smell of humans hit Sal's nose. She barely identified it before a hand slapped across her mouth, smothering her in the scent of iliri. Shade's eyes widened, and Sal dove into the girl's mind, taking control of her body, forcing her inside to lock the bolt behind her.
Sal! Shade screamed at her. Let me go, I can help. Sal!
She couldn't focus on the girl and the men at the same time. Rooting deep in Shade's mind, the world around Sal faded to a blur. The door was locked, but Shade fought Sal with everything she had. As soon as Sal released her, Shade would rush back out, right into the enemy.
I'm sorry, Sal thought, forcing Shade's mind to sleep before she wrenched herself back into her own body and began to struggle. A strong man held her, dragging her slowly behind the building, another moving at his side.
Jase! Sal screamed. Blaec! She felt their worry, she knew they were coming, and she sent all of her perceptions to them, hoping it would help.
With a growl, she bit the gloved hand, trying to break through. She needed to touch his skin! Her captor grunted at the pain and cracked her upside the head, still dragging her slowly backward. Sal could hear two more men fall in beside her. There would be more close by. No matter how hard she struggled to break free, her arms were pinned and her captor held her just high enough that her feet only barely touched the ground.
Jase! she thought again.
We're coming! he promised, his panic crossing the link.
"Knock her out, we need to move," a man said.
Blaec burst through the door, his sword drawn, and Razor growled as he hit her attackers from the side. Her captor held her too tight for her to look, but Sal could hear bodies falling. Her ears flicked, trying to follow the sounds as she threw their minds together, giving them the advantage of a mental link. Razor downed another man and then became a flare of pain. Blaec didn't pause. He was fighting for his life.
"Drug them!" the man ordered. "They can't use their tricks if they're sedated."
A soft voice whispered in her ear, "Forgive me," as he lifted a damp cloth to her face.
Sal thrashed her head violently, the hint of fumes searing her nose. She exhaled, refusing to breathe it in, seeking a way to get fresh air. They're drugging us! she warned her brothers.
Go limp, Blaec ordered. Fake it, Sal.
She did, relaxing completely in the arms of her captor, still holding her breath until the cloth was well away from her face. She forced her body to breathe gently, slowly, instead of sucking in the deep gulp of air it desired. Razor's mind faded from the link, and she knew he'd succumbed to the effects. Blaec still fought, and the rest of her unit were scrambling to reach them.
"Kill him!" the leader ordered.
"No!" Sal's captor snapped. "He's leverage. She won't talk to save herself, but she will to save him."
The man chuckled. "Nice thinking, Narnx. You heard him. Let's bring Blaec Doll along for the ride."
The soldiers surged forward, swarming over Blaec. Sal felt them pummeling his body and gasped. Her captor slapped his hand over her mouth. "This is chloroform, not andromedotoxin," he said under his breath. "Breathe it in or things are going to get really bad, really fast. Do you understand me?"
She opened her eyes and looked up, meeting his. Narnx was pale, his hair almost white. His eyes were tinted, but in the dim light, she couldn't make out the color. His face showed no emotion, nor did his scent. He was nothing more than a walking statue to her perceptions.
"They don't know you're awake, let's not change that." Sal closed her eyes and nodded, and he lifted the cloth gently toward her one more time. "Breathe, and I won't smother you."
She breathed, the fumes harsh, burning as she inhaled. As her mind drifted, she sent one last thought to her mates. They have an iliri, Razor's wounded.
Blaec felt Sal's mind leave his awareness as the Terrans overtook him. He couldn't fight off that many, no matter how he tried. Four men held him to the ground and shoved something across his face. He growled and struggled, but eventually he had to breathe. The taste of andromedotoxin hit his tongue before his mind, and he dropped from the link, the silence ringing in his ears even over the sounds of the men around him.
When he tried to breathe again, his eyes grew heavy and his arms refused to obey. He heard men laugh and felt his body hefted over a large shoulder.
"Good thing the damned beasts are small," the Terran joked.
"No shit. Throw them in the wagon. We've already taken too long. Damned scrubbers will be pouring out of that place in a moment."
They lay Blaec and Sal side by side and pulled a tarp over their bodies. The group acted efficiently. The wagon was moving before the men were mounted, all of them heading south. Blaec tried to warn his pack, but his link was simply gone. The Black Widow Company had done their research. They'd found the one way to render iliri skills useless. He clung to consciousness as long as he could, hoping to remember the path they took, but his eyes failed him before they even made it out of the city walls.
Chapter 17
Jase shoved through the door, scents of humans and blood hitting him like a wave. Growling, he moved into the shadows, seeking the feeling of Sal, but was unable to find her. A second later, Zep followed, rushing boldly to Razor's side. Behind him came
a herd of frantic soldiers.
Risk! Zep called out, hitting all of their minds. Razor's been gutted.
"Fuck," Jase breathed, scanning the other bodies. One man was still alive, but barely. Shift, I need enough of a heal ta question this one.
The healers moved as ordered. Risk turned his attention to Razor, Zep and Arctic holding the man down. Shift knelt at the Terran's side and shook his head before laying his hands on the man's skin.
"Just enough ta get something," Jase reminded him.
Shift nodded but didn't speak until the man was in one piece. "Where's Sal?" he asked.
"With Blaec," Jase said softly. "Gone, and I can't feel her."
"Razor's mute," Zep called over.
The enemy soldier chuckled. "Guess that means it works. Andromedotoxin really does fuck you people up."
Jase lunged forward, grabbing the Terran's shoulder in his jaws and bit down, listening to the bones break. The man screamed, swatting at Jase's face uselessly. With a twist of his head, Jase pulled away, licking the blood from his mouth.
"Let's try this again," he snarled. "Ya answer my questions and I will na eat you alive."
Shift chuckled, but it wasn't intended to be friendly. "You help us out, and I might even fix the damage he does to you." Then he looked over his shoulder. "Shade dear? Have the innkeeper brew more coffee and find us an empty room? There's going to be a lot of blood and screaming."
Shade stood in the middle of a group in blue: the 112th. At Shift's command, she nodded, but the dark man beside her stepped forward.
"I'll go with her," Blaz offered.
"We're helping," Rais said. "Don't leave us out of this."
Jase's nod was his only response, then the little man turned to their grauori. "Hwa, I want someone seeking a scent. Fill Rragri in. I do na care if she's screwing her mates, I need her now."
"Ya," Hwa said, sinking to his haunches to reach out for the Orassae.
"Pig? Ilija?" Jase asked.
"Yeah?" Pig said, moving to his side.
"What can we do?" Ilija asked.
"Pig, carry this man inside. He's Black Widows, so expect tricks. Put Tyr and Ryek on him. Rayna's na ta leave Dom's side."
"Yes, sir," Pig agreed, securing the soldier.
"Shields are the closest linked with Sal," Jase told Ilija. "I need anythan. Blood, hair, bread crumbs… Listen fer echoes in yer head, emotions that seem out of place, anythan."
"Yes, sir." Ilija gestured for his men to move out.
Jase finally slumped. "Arctic?"
"I know," Arctic said softly. "I'll notify Dom. The Blades are yours, Ahnor."
Jase just wiped at his eyes, refusing to allow himself to feel sadness yet. They may have taken her, but he would get her back. "Tilso, tack the horses. We have one day ta find a trail. Let's move, people."
"I don't feel her," Zep whispered.
"Me, either," Jase admitted.
"Andromedotoxin is lethal." Zep grabbed Jase's shoulder, his hand trembling.
All he could do was nod. "We just have ta find her, Zep. Wherever she is, Blaec is. Razor will na be able ta point out anything fer three days, at least."
"Why can't I feel her?"
Jase reached up and palmed the back of Zep's neck. "It's ok, big brother. She's still there. Yer heart is still warm, right? Ya do na feel a void where she is, just a silence. She's unconscious, that's all."
"It doesn't feel like she's asleep, though."
Jase shook his head. "It will na. When she's sleeping, she's still there. She can feel pain, she can hear sounds. Right now, she's drugged, so there's nothing of her mind sending back to us. She's still alive, Zep. I swear it. It'll hurt worse than Circ if she dies."
"Blaec," Zep whispered.
"Hopefully, she'll keep him safe. Let's go ask a few questions."
Together, they returned to the inn. Laern gestured to them to follow him. "I thought the preparation room would be appropriate, Ahnor." He led them through the kitchens to a thick, wood door in the back. He opened it partway then looked at Zep. "You may not want to see this."
"He took my cessivi," Zep growled. "I'll butcher him for you."
Laern nodded and walked through. There was a narrow hall with small doors on either side, the stone keeping it all cool. They followed the innkeeper to the last one, where he gestured for the men to proceed him. Jase stepped inside and smiled to see two preparation tables, one with a partially butchered human body on it. The Terran soldier was being secured to the other in the same fashion.
"You know they eat your kind here?" Zep asked, moving to the corpse. He grabbed a knife from his belt and cut off a long strip of meat then passed it to Jase.
The man's eyes widened, and he shook his head, struggling against the bonds. Jase took the raw meat and bit a chunk from the end, chewing slowly. While Pig completed securing him, Jase ate the entire piece, making a production of savoring it.
"It's better fresh," he told the man.
Laern shifted to Zep's side. "Would you like the butcher's knives?"
"Please. My brother likes his meat still warm, and I'm happy to prepare it for him."
Laern finally showed his respect. "Yes, Taunor."
Pig grumbled under his breath. "Gonna take a bit to teach the Unavi that we don't care what happens to Terrans." Then raised his voice. "Ryek and Tyr are on the way. They're yours for as long as you need, sir."
"Thanks, Pig," Jase said. "Work with the 112th. Tell Arctic ta have Roo link them all and have Rragri loan them a grauori."
"Just find them," Pig begged before walking out.
Jase cruelly looked back to the man. "What's yer name?"
"Marin Celik, Corporal, Black Widow Company."
Jase nodded. "Ya know I'm na bound by the conventions, right?"
"Yeah," he whispered.
"Good." Jase purred the word before leaning closer. "Ya took my mate t'night, and that makes me very angry. My big brother there is gonna remove all of yer clothing. When ya answer correctly, we'll have ya healed. If ya take too long or do na answer right? I get ta eat ya. They did na feed me recently, either."
He stepped back and let Zep begin cutting the man's clothes away with his dagger. Before he was bare, Laern returned with a set of butcher's knives, laying them on a table behind them. He set a large platter next to it.
"I assume the rest of your family would like to partake of the criminal's flesh," he snarled, glaring at the soldier before leaving.
Jase chuckled. "That, Marin, is how a proper iliri male acts. Me? I was na considered proper. My own amma said I was barbaric."
"What do you want to know?" Marin begged.
"Where are ya taking my mate and brother?"
"I don't know," the man gasped, his eyes turning to the blade Zep held.
"The calf," Jase suggested. "It's always lean and tender. Goes well with eggs fer breakfast."
Zep nodded and grabbed the man's knee, holding it down with one hand, wielding the knife with the other. Marin screamed as his flesh was cut away, trying in vain to struggle against the bonds, but Pig had tied him too well. The entire muscle of his lower right leg was removed, the scent of blood filling the room.
"Damn," Zep muttered. "Nicked the artery."
Jase reached into the man's mutilated flesh and pinched off the flow of blood, holding it long enough to seal. His hands were not gentle, his fingers deep under the soldier's skin.
"It's good," Jase said. "So where are ya taking Sal and Blaec?"
"All I know is southeast," the man gasped against the pain. "Said we'd get more when we were safely away."
"So he does na trust his men. Interesting. Too bad it's na a good answer."
"They aren't going to kill her!"
Zep set down the knife. "Now we're getting somewhere." Then he turned to open the door just as Shift stepped through.
He cradled a cup of coffee, inhaling the scent of human blood. "You do good work, Zep."
"Thanks, bro. Laern brewing more of
that?"
"Yeah, man. Fresh pot. Said he's serving Terran for breakfast, on the house. Guess since you can't eat him, you get to carve him."
"Basically," Jase agreed. "Hit him enough to stop the bleed out?"
"Yeah." Shift rested on hand against the man's bare leg, closing his eyes. The flesh healed slightly, but the arterial bleeding stopped. Shift didn't put in enough effort to replace the lost muscle, though. "Risk is gonna come spell me if we need it."
Jase nodded and held out his hand to Zep. With a grin, Zep handed him a long, thin blade. Jase's eyes were dilated in excitement as he said, "Next question. What are they gonna do with Blaec?"
"I don't know," the soldier said. "They didn't plan to take him, but Narnx said he'd keep the girl in control."
"And?" Jase pressed.
"They'll probably kill him when they get what they want from her. The Emperor promised the girl to Narnx."
"Why?" Jase growled.
"He's iliri." The man swallowed audibly. "Narnx is the only iliri officer in the Terran military. The Emperor promoted him personally and assigned him to the Black Widows."
"And what do ya think about that?"
"I dunno! Narnx is like the rest of us, but he knows all about you people. That's why they brought him. He said the bitch - I mean your mate, whatever - they said she can't use her tricks on him."
Zep sighed. "I did want to watch you cut his balls off."
"Yeh," Jase agreed. "Me too. Fix him up, Shift."
"Can do." Shift closed his eyes and exhaled, repeating the process until the man's leg was completely healed. He patted him and stepped back, sipping at the coffee. "Ok, next round."
"Where's the Emperor now?" Jase leaned close, smiling large enough to show his teeth.
The man closed his eyes, feeling the cold blade pressing against the base of his testicles. "Rumor said he's in Escea, but I think he's at the Nebula II."
"Where's that?"
"Hurracan River. I'm not sure exactly where, but it's near the Escean border at the Y of the Hurracan. That's close enough, right?"
Jase nodded. "Where's the main army camped?"
The soldier sobbed and shook his head. "They were near Issevi before Viraenova pushed in. I know they moved, but I don't know where."