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“Why are you interrupting us?” Nix asked, clearly annoyed, sneering up at the low-ranked officer. Commander Nix was volatile and we all knew it. He took rank extremely seriously and if he felt disrespected, he’d react with violence.
“Important intel, Commander. A group of Vakarrans patrolling the outer limits captured a human female. She’s a pretty one and we all thought you should know right away,” Taazar replied, careful to keep his head bowed and eyes on the ground.
Nix grinned, his expression darkening and at once, I began to have a sick feeling in my stomach. Roan’s eyes flashed to mine and at once, he screamed “Go,” to me in my head. I knew what he wanted, and I casually exited the tent then, before rushing back to our own.
Much to my horror, it was empty. I looked everywhere but she was nowhere to be found. Danika was gone.
“Fuck,” I yelled out loud.
I ran back to the officer’s tent and found it empty too. I knew something bad was about to happen. Nix wouldn’t let this go. It was the perfect opportunity for him to publicly assert his power and provide an example to all the human women there of what would happened if they disobeyed Vakarran law.
Especially with the advent of their upcoming shipment to members of Vakarran high society, or the breeding colonies.
Women everywhere were being funneled to the big tent at the center of the camp. Vakarrans whipped at the backs and asses of human females, herding them inside as quickly as possible.
The blood in my veins chilled and I moved toward the tent. Time seemed to slow as I reached the entrance, looking up at the central stage. My heart stuck in my throat.
Danika.
Her head hung to the side, her limbs limp. They’d bound her to the punishment poles, each wrist strung up on opposite sides just above shoulder height. Her legs remained free, but slumped as she was, she was putting far more weight on her wrists than her feet. Even from here, I knew the metal cuffs were going to leave marks on her skin.
My chest rose and fell, the fury just barely contained.
Hands grabbed at my arms and I tried to whip around to fight, only to realize it was Taraik and Xandaar.
“Keep calm,” Xandaar said.
I nearly growled at him.
“Take a breath. Nix wants us on stage with him,” Taraik added.
I turned to him and I saw him staring at her. Saw her betrayal and the hurt written all over his face. She’d run from us. Wanted to escape despite the kindness we’d shown her.
When we finally got our hands on her again, she was going to have to explain herself. Especially to Taraik.
I took a deep breath. Letting my anger loose now wouldn’t save her. I had to be smart. We had to come up with a plan but there was no time.
Roan and Nix walked up behind us and Taraik and Xandaar pounded my back as though we were congratulating each other on a job well done. Nix said nothing as we pulled apart and took our places behind him.
All four of us followed Nix.
“Hold, men,” Roan commanded.
All four of us wanted him to drop dead.
“Wait for my word,” Roan then said.
If Nix fucking laid a hand on her, I was going to kill him myself.
Chapter Eleven
Danika
I groaned. My entire body felt like it had been thrown in a meat grinder. My muscles were achy and sore, and it felt like I was bruised all over. I stretched, but then I realized my hands were bound. What the hell? Groggily, I struggled to open my eyes, trying to figure out what had happened and where I was now. My pained flesh struggled to do my bidding and as the seconds passed, I slowly began to get a handle on my body.
Finally, I had a moment of clarity. I remembered everything, and I almost lost it. Fuck. I’d been captured. I hadn’t been able to escape and warn Kaela. It all came flooding back. My escape, the running, and the tranquilizer dart stabbing into my thigh. When I finally succeeded in lifting the lids of my eyes, I nearly screamed out loud. Instead, I swallowed my cry of terror and whimpered quietly.
To either side of me was two tall poles and I was cuffed to each of them with a pair of harsh metal cuffs. My wrists screamed with pain and I guessed that I had been putting all my weight on them. When I pushed my bare feet to the wood beneath me, I yelped as blood rushed to my fingers, pins and needles prickling underneath my skin. It hurt, and it hurt a lot.
