Page 40 of Dark Survivor (The Qaldreth Warriors #2)

Hope fizzled like a dying flame. “If you steal a gun and so do I? Maybe then?”

“Where is Nenn?”

She bit her lip, tucked her chin against her chest, and said, “They knocked him out somehow.”

“Ah, the phasers are set to stun. This is good. He will awaken and beg the udaps for help.” Ulvus patted her hand. “Your salvation is near. Mine is not.”

Nenn would rescue her, that she knew. “What will they do with you?”

“Return me to Qaldreth in disgrace.”

She grabbed Ulvus’s hand. “Did you explain why you—”

“The udaps would not listen. I have proven my hatred for Drafe taints my actions. Anything else would be deception to them.”

“Farg,” she muttered. “We escape, steal a ship, and fly back to Earth. You can live free there.”

He laughed, but it was cold and mirthless. “There or on Qaldreth, an exile is still without honor.”

The ship touched down, jolting her out of her thoughts.

Alien fingers wrapped around her upper arm and dragged her toward the opening door.

Before her was a platform without a safety railing.

The wind whipped her hair across her face, plastered the T-shirt to her body, and threatened to sweep her into the clouds below.

A narrow bridge led to tall doors built into a pretty building with high arches carved into its sides.

She clung to the alien’s arm, praying she could hold on if she stumbled off the side. Only when they paused at the door did she release a pent-up breath.

“This is the human?” someone spat, drawing her gaze. “Bring her in, and the traitor, too.”

She allowed her shoulders to slump an inch in relief. At least with Ulvus along, she had some sort of company. A massive hall held gray-stoned statues and beams of lilac light shining on a gold-inlaid floor. Those milling about paused to stare at their passing.

“Her kind killed my Daiwan?” Despite her ability to see, dodging the slap was beyond her.

Fire blazed across the side of her head, making her cry out. She cupped her cheek while tears flowed.

“Your hospitality leaves much to be desired,” she gritted out then winced. Staying quiet would’ve been wiser.

The Ivoyan screamed and lunged at her.

I’m about to die. She stepped back from the swinging claws and hit her escort’s wiry frame. He did nothing to protect her, but instead, shoved her forward into her attacker’s range. She hissed when nails dragged across her forearms, summoning a scorching sting.

“Assaulting a prisoner says much about your culture,” she said, then pinched her lips shut.

“Give me a phaser. I will kill this…thing.”

She frowned. Why did Qaldreths serve a dishonorable race? She shook her head. These must be outliers. Nenn wouldn’t have stayed on Ivoy otherwise.

“She is to be examined and documented, Oban. You know the instructions as well as I do,” the leader said. “I am not pleased, but the good of Ivoy far outweighs our need for revenge.”

“Nothing was said about injuring her.” Oban stole the leader’s phaser and aimed it at her.

Ice coated her skin, rippling over her.

Ulvus gasped when Oban fired.

Nenn stormed into the Q.C.C. chamber, uncaring whether he violated protocol. Sheer, blinding fear narrowed his focus on finding Tiny when nothing else mattered. Most of the warriors milled about while Drafe and Vic spoke with the udaps.

He barged across to Drafe. “They have taken my Tiny.”

“Do you know where?” Vic asked, gazing at Drafe.

“Your what?” Giniiri aac Marl Udap demanded.

All those near stilled.

“Tiny is a blind human female who joined us on the return voyage,” Drafe said, drawing Vic close to him. “I thought her blindness would be intriguing to the Ivoyans.”

Vaen nudged between Drafe and Nenn. “She is a friend of Vic’s, and under the circumstances, we could not leave her unprotected on the ice hauler.”

“And she is Nenn’s vatia sahaar,” Vaen said, squaring his shoulders.

“Is this true, Maed?” Marl Udap asked, peering into Nenn’s eyes.

“It is, My Udaps.” He smothered a wince at the hope tightening a knot in the pit of his stomach. “I did not know this when I offered her healing and refuge.”

“So who has taken her?” Meorri aac Kish Udap asked, summoning warriors to gather around them.

“Ivoyan los and uzes said it was protocol to clear the ship after a long journey. Their focus on Tiny told me they deceived. When I refused to let them take her, they stunned me. I awoke to her gone.” He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, reliving the silence of the ship along with the certainty that he was alone. “She is helpless, at their mercy…”

“We ride at once,” Marl Udap called out.

“Can we track her?” Vic asked, tapping the nodule in her neck.

“Yes.” Nenn offered a tight smile. “She was heading to the Great Library.”

“Warriors, to me,” Kish Udap ordered. “Those with access to velorxes, mount up. Others, file into every available shuttle.”

“I shall reach out to the acting Senate,” Ward Udap said, waving his hand for them to hurry.

Leaving en mass gave Nenn the strength to push through his fear.

Tiny didn’t believe him to be a coward, and at that moment, he wasn’t.

He’d lay down his life for her. Over the last week, he’d wanted to tell her what she meant to him, but his tongue had tied, or he’d been interrupted.

In that, he’d lacked courage. But here, now, she needed him.

He scrambled onto a velorx, fired it up, and propelled it south to the oldest spire in Certorth.

It had miles and miles of cellars holding scrolls, tomes, and tablets of ancient knowledge.

The many rooms housing los meant finding her would be that much harder.

He stroked his nodule, thanking Osnir that he’d insisted she get one.

Tapping his wrist activated the flashing locator.

When the stun wore off, tracking her had been the first thing he’d done.

Not that he dared talk to her in case she wasn’t alone.

He gazed to the right and left of him at the many Qaldreths heading into battle for him.

His chest swelled. What this would do to their standing, he couldn’t say.

Perhaps Ward Udap would garner understanding and forgiveness with the Senate.

He’d known this was a possible outcome, but he’d hoped his respect and reverence for the Ivoyans wasn’t misplaced.

Heal Tiny. Send her home. Those were his promises.

He crushed the sadness in his heart. Vic could protect herself.

Tiny… No, he’d done this, put her in danger by bringing her here, by promising her healing he couldn’t deliver.

He scowled. There was still time to rescue her.

But he’d doomed her to a life tied to his by claiming she was his vatia sahaar even if he wished it was true.

Drafe whizzed past, Vic clinging to his back.

Her expression said there would be hell to pay for anyone harming her friend.

Nenn trailed them then pushed forward until they were side by side.

They dipped as one, aiming for the occupied platform.

He parked the velorx on the balcony that circled the doors of wisdom and insight, both carved from the oldest tree on Ivoy, or so the legend went.

He curled his fingers into fists. The way he felt, he’d set them on fire to find Tiny.

Thankfully, they opened, allowing them entry.

“What is the meaning of this?” a lo demanded, coming forward to meet them.

“Release the human.” Kish Udap strode across to glare at the Ivoyan.

Marl Udap joined him. Drafe and Vic took up their rear.

Nenn did the same. He peered around the hall, searching for a sign of Tiny.

The dot said she was here, near. But with so many Ivoyans blocking his line of sight, he couldn’t spot her.

He tapped his wrist and followed the flashing signal. Vaen ran before him, clearing the way.

“Tiny?” Nenn called.

“Nenn?” she cried out.

Hot relief had him bolting forward and tossing Ivoyans back in his haste to reach her. He drew to a halt when he found her kneeling on the floor, leaning over an unconscious Ulvus. Nenn dug his med-dev out of his pocket and settled beside her to run it over the male.

“He leaped in front of a shot meant for me,” she sobbed. “Please heal him.”

Ulvus saved her? “Are you well?” he asked as the med-dev beeped. Ulvus’s symbiotes had formed his armor, which meant the male was only stunned like Nenn had been. “He is well, hirihadie .”

“Oh,” she gasped, then glanced at Nenn.

He jerked back, his jaw dropping. Green eyes met his. And across her skin, she shimmered as if she wore armor.

She threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around him when she buried her face in the curve of his neck. Her tears warmed his skin where they fell.

“I’ll kill you where you stand if you don’t get the farg out of my way,” Vic growled then bent over Tiny, rubbing her shoulder. “You okay, babe?”

“I am,” she said, sniffing. “If it wasn’t for Ulvus, though, I’d be dead.”

Nenn doubted that. He swallowed a smile. His symbiotes had spread to her as they’d done with Drafe and Vic. He’d thought her nanites played a role, but now he knew, humans were susceptible to the transfer without the Jakar’s intervention.

Vic pulled away, joining the argument between the los, udaps, and warriors.

Tiny leaned back. She smiled at Nenn, cupping his cheeks with her soft hands. “You’re gorgeous,” she whispered, trailing a fingertip from his earlobe, along his jawline, to his chin.

“You can see?” He brushed a curl aside.

“Yes, for now. Don’t know why or how…” She shrugged. “At least I get to look at you before I leave.”

He grimaced. Her departure was still an unknown. But he was damn sure he didn’t want her to go. He ran his thumb over her bruised cheek. “Who did this to you?”

“Oban,” she said, then showed Nenn her forearms. “These, too. The man was so angry—”

“I will kill him.” Nenn leaped to his feet, fury propelling him up. He took Tiny with him but tucked her against him. “Which Ivoyan?”

“It doesn’t matter. Use your device and fix me.” She held out her arms.

The urge to do this Oban some harm couldn’t compare to the compulsion to see to her needs. He succumbed and ran the med-dev over her, taking his time to ensure he caught every scratch and bruise.

“This is the blind human?” Marl Udap asked, snapping Nenn’s focus.

“She was,” Aehort said, parting the crowd.

“Tinika Bryant, I must apologize on behalf of the Ivoyan Senate for your mistreatment. I expected the temptation to seek revenge would draw out the outlawed faction, Kandaya. I did not mean for you to be harmed.” He glanced at a moaning Ulvus then at Tiny. “You did well.”

Nenn glared at Aehort. “You purposely endangered her—”

“It was needed,” Aehort said, his tone level. “The final step to her healing required your symbiotes to act. Only placing her in harm’s way would do that.”

Nenn’s anger deflated.

“I will take care of Ulvus.” Aehort glanced at the great doors. “You and Tinika have much to discuss…on the Aroagni .”