Page 168

I won’t. I know they are here for us.

There’s a shout a second later, and I push myself to the right of my Tarek guard to find Kori scrambling off the table. One of the Tarek has a weapon pointed at him, and it looks like Kori has managed to steal Jyrion’s syani from him. The weapon is vicious, and a single pull of the trigger will cease one heart’s function. A second pull of the trigger will stop the other.

One of the Tarek shouts something in their language, which I do not fully speak, and Jyrion takes the moment that Kori is distracted to rake claws over his throat. Blood spurts from his neck, and Kori turns, firing one shot at Jyrion and hitting him. He goes down with a gasp, and then Kori fires another at a Tarek.

And then all hell breaks loose. The Tarek form a circle around me and Luca, and with cover fire, the two that have us in tentacles pull us through the portal. I feel something graze my shoulder, but nothing makes contact as we are thrown past the barrier.

And then for a moment, everything goes dark.

thirty-five

EISSA

It takes me far too long to regain my bearings, but when I do, I realize that Luca is in my arms. We’re on the floor of Sabik’s cave, and the portal is presently shut down. The only light is from a fire in the center that looks like it’s been burning for far too long, but as I start to fully come to, the flames get brighter.

And then I see Sabik adding more wood. The room comes fully into view, and it’s in that moment that Luca twists in my arms and looks up at me. He has a bruise on his temple, and I’m not sure where it came from, and he seems shaken, though steadier than I feel.

‘Okay?’ I ask.

He swallows heavily, then he reaches up and touches my cheek and nods. I want nothing more than to lean into his touch, to pin him to the ground and kiss him, then suck the cum out of his body.

I have tiny tendrils of the rut still lingering under my skin, and knowing he was bound by another Vyastil is testing me. Especially now that we’re alone.

Only, we’re not alone. Sabik is watching us as he stokes the flames higher until it’s both very bright and very warm. And it’s then I notice the pain I’m feeling. Not just on the outside, but it feels like my hearts have been battered.

Luca touches my chin and holds my gaze. ‘Are you okay?’

I can only give him an honest answer. ‘I don’t know.’ A part of me is afraid he will think that this ache I feel is because I still have feelings for Kori, but that is the furthest thing from the truth.

The bleeding wounds deep in my chest are from his betrayal, and the years wasted mourning him. Knowing that Kori was alive and living his best life with Jyrion, having sold me—being the one responsible for the scars I will forever bear?

The scars that nearly shamed me out of Vyastil society?

Luca holds up his hand and drops his middle and ring fingers to his palm. ‘I love you.’

My hearts swell, and I clutch him close, kissing him deeply. I love you, I send him. Not in words, but in pure, raw emotion.

He lets out the smallest noise and clings before pulling himself back, then he takes a breath and pulls out of my arms, offering his hands to help me up. It’s a ridiculous gesture. He is so small and fragile, but for a moment it’s nice to allow myself to feel cared for.

And protected.

“Are you injured?” Sabik asks as he comes closer. He signs the question as well, and Luca shakes his head before lifting up his shirt.

There is bruising over his ribs that wraps around toward his back, but I know it’s superficial. All the same, rage pools in my belly as I take an assessment of myself. As I pass my hand over my arm, I feel the tunic is torn, and there is a small wound bleeding on my shoulder.

Sabik notices and turns me so he can examine it. “From what?”

“A syani blaster.”

Sabik makes a curious noise. “You were lucky, my friend,” he says and signs. “Any deeper into your skin and it would have stopped one of your hearts. Allow me to listen?”

Luca makes a distressed noise, so I send him a rush of calm as I turn toward Sabik. He lifts a tentacle and places the suckers over my chest, feeling and hearing the rhythm of each beat.

After what feels like forever, he pulls away and nods. “Not even a murmur.”

‘Jyrion was hit,’ Luca offers.

Sabik’s brows lift. ‘Once or twice?’