Page 38 of Grounded (Convergence #1)

Commander Vor kept glaring at his prisoner.

It should have been her. His woman. But even though he had felt her near, so very close, she didn't appear, and he wasn't able to make it past the Aethari to look for her.

But then Vor saw him—the Aethari man who had kissed his woman.

He knew then that tech was leading him. Somehow, taking this Aethari would bring his woman to him.

Until he got her, he'd have her lover to play with.

The bastard was already looking bad. Hanging between two of Vor's warriors who had him by the wrists and ankles, the Aethari's wings dragged over the rocky floor of the tunnel.

Vor had rendered him unconscious, but the Aethari's pallor had nothing to do with the blow.

It was the tech—inside the walls and in the Nethren themselves.

The deeper they went, the stronger it got. And the weaker the Aethari got.

Several minutes later, the Aethari moaned, but even though he revived, he was too weak to fight them. His eyes rolled in his head until they settled on Vor.

Vor grinned at him. “Welcome to my world, Aethari.” He was rewarded with the despair that filled his enemy's eyes. “That's right. You won't ever see the sky again.”

Just then, they reached the end of the tunnel. One of the other warriors tapped the wall, revealing a control panel. He entered a code, and a platform rose to the level of their tunnel. They stepped out onto the metal surface, and Vor hit the button to take them down to the cavern floor.

The Aethari remained silent. No words or even groans passed his lips. He just watched Vor. Vor could feel the man's eyes on him. Did the Aethari know of the connection between Vor and the Medean woman? Could he feel it? Vor slid a stare at the Aethari. No, he couldn't. He feared only for himself.

“Commander, what do you want us to do with him?” one of the warriors asked.

“Take him to the city square. Let the people see our triumph. I need to make my report to General Ankeh, and then I'll join you. Restrain him, but don't kill him. I want him alive for as long as possible.”

Vor grinned at the Aethari before focusing back on what was left of his team.

Yes, they had lost many soldiers, but their mission was a success.

And not because of the captured Aethari.

He'd be dead soon enough. No, their primary objective had been to plant the device in the barrier.

Vor had done that. He'd hidden it well. According to his monitor, it was fully functional and ready to be activated.

But his mission was a secret. He couldn't share that success with the entire city. The Aethari would be their prize. With him, Vor would show the people of Ranuvul that he was the leader they needed.

“Yes, sir,” the warrior said.

Vor watched as they took the Aethari away.

He grinned as a feather fell from the bastard's wing.

It would be a long night for that man. A long, painful night.

And Vor intended to savor as much of that pain as he could.

Unfortunately, he had to do his duty first and make his report.

He turned and strode to his waiting racer, climbed onto the two-wheeled vehicle, and sped off to the city stronghold where General Ankeh would be waiting.