Page 92 of Nyx

“Why bring him?” Ronan challenges, gesturing at Matuk. “Why bring a guard?”

“Did you miss the part where I said he saved a bunch of people from dying?” Audra snaps.

Ronan snarls, and Matuk tosses her a glare that’s both annoyed and affectionate before he says, “We aren’t all evil. We were following orders and doing the best we could with our situation. Two scientists came with us as well.”

“Scientists?” I ask, and he nods. “What do they know about the research that was being done there?” He shrugs a shoulder, still cautiously watching Ronan’s hand on his weapon.

“Don’t know much about that. Did August and Elas make it out?”

Ronan tenses again at the mention of his best friend, undoubtedly remembering the condition Elas was in when they returned. “You knew them?”

Matuk nods, and he stares at the ground. “August was the first person who had shown me kindness in a very long time. We have…hadfriends there, but that place doesn’t exactly attract the friendliest crew. You just kind of get used to being yelled at, but August was different. Then when he was a prisoner, he… he asked me to help Elas, and sneak him food. I was a coward… too scared to do anything.” His eyes move back to Ronan’s. “Did they make it home?”

“Yes,” he says after a moment’s pause.

“In one piece?” Matuk asks quietly.

“Barely.” A somber silence falls over the group as Ronan continues assessing them.

“Who are the scientists?” Xeni asks, and I glance over, remembering he was friends with a few.

“Aryn and Sprocket.”

“Sprocket?” Ronan’s expression is confused, but Xeni chuckles fondly.

“A Lindae engineer who’s amazing at designing stuff, but I have no idea what her real name is. She’s gone by Sprocket since I met her.”

“Lindae? Any relation to Chief Aeliphis?” Ronan asks, but Xeni shakes his head.

“Not as far as I know.”

“And the other?”

“Aryn is a Dreven scientist, and if I remember correctly, he was working on prototypes for the extraction equipment. They were close friends, so it doesn’t surprise me they’re together.”

“Would they have any new information about the rifts?” I ask.

Ronan looks thoughtful as Xeni nods. “More than us, that’s for sure. I trust them.”

“Yeah, but what abouthim?” Ronan demands, motioning at Matuk. “What about the rest of them? How many are there in your group, anyway?”

The three of them exchange glances before Audra takes a deep breath and then blows it out, puffing her cheeks. The tiny woman seems to be the leader of their impromptu pack, and the thought makes me fight a grin. “Six. Us, Aryn and Sprocket, and Samuel’s mate Daiwyn.”

“And what sort of monster is Daiwyn?” Ronan asks, clearly calculating risks in his head.

Audra smirks as her eyes move up his frame. “She’s an Anunian like you.”

“So you have three warriors, two wildcard humans, and a strategist. Sounds like trouble to me.”

Audra shakes her head. “Matuk is the only actual warrior among us. Daiwyn is still… affected by what was done to her at Ljómur. Aryn and Sprocket usually have their noses shoved into their research.”

Ronan scoffs, gesturing towards the field where Andon’s body lies. Flies buzz through the air above him, swarming their next meal. “You expect me to believe you are not capable when you had a Nu’vak in custody? He mentioned another guard who also escaped with him, who’s apparently dead now. How did you catch them both if you aren’t warriors?”

Ronan throws his shoulders back and lifts his chin like he’s won the argument, but Audra only chuckles and jabs a thumb towards Matuk. “Have you seen this guy?”

My eyes roam up his giant frame. That’s… probably fair.

Matuk shuffles between his feet, wringing his hands in a way that makes him seem much smaller than he is. “They tried to steal supplies from us, and we have very little as it is. I didn’t have a choice. We’re starving, and I have to look out for them.”