Page 31 of Keeping Freya (Warriors of Arracate #3)

Freya

P umping my arms, I sprint through the jungle, following my feline companion. We don’t stop until finally the birds start chirping again. She turns around, waiting for her mate while I try to catch my breath, knees bent, chest heaving.

When I feel slightly normal again, I go to stand beside her, absentmindedly petting her neck.

Though she’s not as tall as her mate, her head still comes to my hip.

She’s easily the size of a big dog. Her ears are perked, and her tail is big and straight.

Suddenly, she starts purring, and I’m not surprised when I see my other friend jumping out of the bush.

He greets his mate first, but then starts brushing against my legs. “Well, friends, what are we gonna do now?” I sigh. “I don’t suppose you can bring me back to the beach, now, can you?”

They start walking further into the jungle, and there’s nothing more to do for me than to follow them. We come upon a small river, and they dart through the stream. It’s amazing how they can look so ferocious and so playful at the same time, and they make me smile again with their antics.

Just when I think we’re going to cross the stream and enter the woods again, they disappear behind a steep rock formation. Curiously, I follow, and when I brush away the vines growing on the rock, I find a small opening. Big enough for the cats, and certainly big enough for a human.

I enter the cave, the low ceiling keeps me from walking upright, but after a few feet, the space opens out, and I’m standing in a tall but narrow cavern. The female has lain down at the side, and the male is tending to her.

Slowly, I spin around, taking everything in.

The ceiling of the cave is lined with crystals.

They reflect the light that’s coming from an opening in the wall, way up high.

I walk towards the end, and there’s a small tunnel there, which I need to crawl into if I want to see what’s there.

Deciding I’m not that adventurous, I walk back towards the cats and sit down next to them.

“I should name you guys. I’ve always wanted cats and thought it would be super funny if I had cats named Bygul and Trjegul, like in the mythology.

” The big one lies his head in my lap and starts purring.

“Do you like Bygul, sweety?” The purring intensifies, and I laugh.

The sound is still strange to my ears. “Okay then. You’re Bygul and you’re Trjegul.

” Both cats curl up to me now, and after a while, exhaustion settles in.

I lay down beside the big felines, and within minutes, their purring lulls me to sleep.

Something tickles my nose, and I swat it away before I turn around. I’m not ready to get up yet. The tickling turns into a bump, and with a yelp, I sit up. I look into Bygul's innocent eyes and scold him. “Bad kitty.” He just brings his paw to his mouth and starts licking.

With a sigh, I look for Trjegul, who is nowhere to be found. “Where’s your mate, buddy?” But Bygul does not answer. She doesn’t appear to be around the cave, and I walk towards the entrance to peek outside. Bygul hisses, but I shoot him a glare. I also need to pee really, really bad.

I scoot out of the cave, carefully hiding the entrance when I leave. I pick a big bush, and when I squat down to relieve myself, a pleasured sigh escapes me.

“Well, well, well… Look what I found.”

With a yelp, I try to rush to my feet, but the stupid jumpsuit is down my ankles, and I end up getting caught up in it and falling to the ground.

Doing my best to cover myself, I scramble back and look at the owner of the voice. To my utter horror, I am looking straight into the eyes of the High Commander.

He waves a gun in my direction and tssks. “Cover yourself, female, I do not share my species preference for space whores.”

Red creeps up my neck, shame and anger filling me. How dare he, how fucking dare he. Slowly, I get up and dress myself, acting compliant while trying to figure out a getaway plan.

He snickers. “This couldn’t have gone any better. The Warrior T’Rak’s mate landed right into my arms. You will come in handy as leverage. He walks towards me and tries to grab me by my upper arm.

“Fuck you.” I spit at him before I kick at his feet and simultaneously plant my fist into the soft part of his neck.

He roars, and I spin, lunging into a sprint and diving into the bush.

I’m not going to let anybody grab me that easily again.

Ever. Pushing aside branches and big leaves, I try to get away from him, but my body aches, and I haven’t eaten since yesterday morning.

Mewing from the side has me changing direction, and I see Trjegul standing on the branch of a large tree.

I reach for the tree, my flight instinct in full effect, but a hard yank on my braid has me falling backward.

I scream and scratch and fight, but I freeze when I feel the barrel of a gun pushed firmly against my temple.

“Make no mistake, I will kill you if you prove to be too difficult.”

I swallow audibly, not daring to move a single muscle.

“That’s more like it, come with me.” He roughly pulls me with him, and I hear Trjegul screeching behind me. She jumps on his back, her claws trying to dig deep, but she slides off his shell.

Furiously, he turns around, gun raised.

“NO!” I yell and jump in front of her. “Please don’t, I’ll come with you. I’ll behave, but she didn’t do anything to you. Please let her go.” He hesitates, and I shoo Trjegul away. She gives me a look before she gracefully leaps into the bushes, and my shoulders sag with relief.

The High Commander grumbles something unintelligible and grabs my arm again, pulling me with him.

I bite my lip, trying to be brave, but he takes one look at me and shakes his head, pulling his gun from his waistband.

“I don’t have time for this,” he snarls, and I crumble when he hits me on the side of my head.