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“The food hasn’t been sitting for that long. He could still be alive.”
She sniffles and wipes her face. “Yeah, maybe. He had to have been taken, though. He’s not the type to run away.”
My hand retracts, balling into a fist. “I think we know who’s responsible for taking him.” I growl, thinking of Zathex and his shit-eating grin.
“Zathex,” Hanna agrees. “He must have come for my father as retribution when I escaped. Motherfucker… My dad probably tried to cover for me, too, and that only made things worse.”
“Come on,” I say, rising to my feet and offering her a hand. “We won’t get him back by sobbing here.”
She takes my hand, dusting herself off as she stands.
“I’m sorry for yelling,” she says.
“Don’t be, you’re upset. You should save that energy for Zathex.”
“We need to get my father back.”
“Then let’s go rescue him, but Hanna, listen to me.” I grab her shoulders, looking at her in her beautiful eyes. “This is going to be harder than we thought. Killing a xaphan in their territory is tough enough, but a rescue mission is almost suicide.”
She unexpectedly smiles, the sight of which seems out of place on her flushed face.
“What was it you called me during dinner in your house? A strong ally?”
I nod and chuckle.
“Yes, but even the strongest can fail. Are you ready to get your father back and put Zathex six feet under?”
She exhales as her fists tighten.
“Let’s do this.”
25
HANNA
What if we were too late? What if my father’s already dead? Could this be a deliberate set-up? A bait to lure us into certain peril?
Stop!
I need to keep my head straight if I’m going to do this. I must get my father back alive.
I already lost my mother. I will not endure further grief with another death in the family. He’s the only blood I have left.
A tear cascades down my cheek. I watch it fall to the ground.
The thought of spilling Zathex’s blood is a violent fantasy I indulge in. He needs to suffer for what he’s done.
Advancing on me and attempting to sell me off was appalling enough, but to go after my father? He’s signed his own death warrant.
Luckily for me, I have the perfect executioner to do the job. With Kazrith’s assistance, we might just stand a chance in the face of our enemy.
The anger and sadness within me are more than enough fuel for the journey to our destination.
I ignore the looks of people passing us by. If I give them any mind, I might just lash out at them, but I’d be no better than a xaphan for that.
Kazrith and I stop beside a spot with heavy foliage thanks to the trees and bushes heavily scattered throughout the region. He inconspicuously peaks around a half-wall while I keep watch. There are fewer humans in this area so we must be close.
“Just up ahead is the xaphan territory. Looks like the gate covers its perimeter. Inconvenient, but nothing undoable.”
