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Humans had been important to Thorzan before this day. Now, they were priceless. Irreplaceable. They would not let one languish in the company of a failed aggressor to the throne.
I yanked away from Beau, pushing the door open behind me and spinning to rush headlong down the hallway and out the door into the jungle, where Beau could not hope to follow.
I would not watch them take him away, so that he could bond another.
CHAPTER19
BEAU
“Vorian!” I followed him as far as I could, through the door, down the hall, into the muggy evening air.
But Vorian’s stride was longer. His legs more powerful than mine. And he knew this place. Before I’d even made it outside, he’d taken off on one of those stone disks and was making his way down to the jungle below.
He wanted nothing to do with me. Just had to run away.
Because I couldn’t do impossible things? I wasn’t literally some kind of space Merlin, and that sent him flying, desperate to escape before I could even try for a second time.
I’d have tried it. Kept trying. So long as he wanted me, I’d have done anything.
With a pitiful groan, I leaned back against the railing and pushed the heels of my palms against my closed eyelids. My lashes were wet with tears, and every breath shook.
The goal posts had moved.
Wasn’t the first time, either. I’d gotten used to this kind of thing growing up. Coach said little league was about having fun and I shouldn’t worry too much about winning, then Dad got real fucking pissed when we lost. Heaven forbid it was because I dropped the ball.
I tried to be more of a guy’s guy. Never really managed to fool anyone there.
Every time I started to think I had things figured out—that I had a future and a promise to protect—the world shifted around to make sure I lost. Again.
And now Vorian was gone. I barely understood what was going on. All that mattered was that I’d failed.
I wasn’t enough. Not the right guy or the right style or the right talent. And now, I wasn’t an actual freaking unicorn, so—so I deserved to be alone, right?
That was what it felt like when Vorian fled and the tethers snapped, those bonds that I’d clung to so desperately to convince myself there was something for me to build on came loose.
Really, who was I kidding? My own father had turned me out. If Vorian could have actual magic, why would he pick me?
I still hadn’t gotten my ragged breathing under control when the sun dipped below the tree line and the heavy footfalls across the walkway signaled anger headed my way.
“What are you doing out here?” Crux demanded.
As soon as he was close enough, he grabbed my arm and jerked my hand away from my face.
And there it was, that brittle spear of ice that’d kept me upright when things got hard. I sneered at the alien, baring my teeth and glaring. “Don’t you fucking touch me, asshole.”
I jerked back, but his hand was big enough that his thumb locked through his fingers when he gripped my arm. His fist didn’t break but held me in a tight vise.
“I am not in the mood for more trouble from you.” He growled, dragging me back toward the laboratory, no doubt to lock me up again. But with Vorian gone, with no idea when he was going to return, if he’d want me when he did, I couldn’t take it anymore. Not that little cell. Not the Styrofoam ration bars. Not any of it.
“Where is Vorian?” Crux snarled as my bare feet skittered across the walkway, rocks digging into my calluses.
My heart gave a nasty throb at that. I didn’t know. I wasn’t the expert on Vorian that Crux thought I was. I’d only known him while locked away here. His world wasn’t mine.
“None of your fucking business,” I hissed between my teeth. “Let me go.”
Crux jerked hard, and I stumbled into him. But he was just able to catch me when a loud, clear voice rang out across the landing.
“Enough, Crux. Unhand him.”
