Then, with a hard shove, she was pushed into the pit.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Nik pressed his hands into the hard-packed dirt beneath him and watched Nera shed her scared female routine.
She circled the zombie, eying it like it was a mild interference in her day. The crowd was chanting.
The zombie started toward her, making a snarling sound. She went still, watching it.
Then she ran.
She executed one of her signature graceful leaps and landed a vicious roundhouse kick to the zombie’s head.
The creature’s head snapped back, the force behind it making the creature stagger.
God, she was brilliant. Nik couldn’t stop the grin on his face. He knew as long as he lived, he’d never find another woman like Nera Darc. A woman who was dark and light, deadly and complicated.
She landed and stalked behind the creature. She ran up its back and planted her knees on the zombie’s shoulders. Then she reached down and wrenched, snapping the creature’s neck.
It fell in the sand at her feet, and she looked up at the Sapa, her face its usual impassive mask.
“I won your primitive, bloodthirsty game. I demand you release my people.”
The Sapa stood, studying Nera like a pet who’d just bitten her. She waved a hand. “Come, I want to talk.”
“Release them. Now.”
The Sapa’s eyes narrowed, but she chopped a hand in the air and Nik found the guards coming over and slicing away their bindings.
Nera looked up again. “I am not the leader of our group. It is not me you want to talk to.”
The Sapa tilted her head. “But you are a warrior and clearly the strongest.”
“That isn’t how we choose our leaders.”
The Rumin leader frowned. “Fine. Bring the other woman, too.”
Nik watched Avril swallow, take a deep breath, then step forward. Nera jumped out of the pit right near Niklas. She stalked over to him.
“You are amazing.” He cupped her cheeks.
A brief smile touched her lips.
He yanked her close and kissed her. He had to keep it frustratingly brief, then stepped back.
“Let me get us out of here and then you can show me how much you appreciate my magnificence,” she said.
“You got it.”
He watched her walk beside Avril, taking the steps up to the Sapa two at a time. He watched them standing in front of the leader. She was talking and eying Nera with a strange mix of wariness and awe.
After a brief conversation, the Sapa waved a hand and led them back down to Niklas and the others.
Nera moved straight to him, and because he couldn’t help himself, he yanked her in close to his side.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“I think so. We had a nice little meet and greet. She’s going to let us go.” Nera leaned in, her mouth to his ear. “But be ready for anything.”
