Page 32 of Zayrik (The Protectorate Warriors Alien Fated Mates #6)

Nyla

THE SECOND THEY DRAGGED me away I started counting my steps.

One.

Each step stretched the bond, but it remained steady.

Two.

His rage still crackled in my blood like a live wire.

Three—

I struck.

My elbow snapped back, catching the nearest guard in the throat. A sudden, choking gasp. I twisted, ripping the blade from my boot, striking before he had a chance to react. The body dropped.

Through our connection, I felt Zayrik’s fierce pride, his approval of my violence.

Zep shrieked, launching from my shoulder, small claws sinking deep, tearing into flesh. My loyal companion, fighting like he knew what was at stake.

The second guard lunged.

I was ready. I grabbed his wrist, twisting hard. He hit the floor with a sickening crack. Every move precise, deadly. Everything Zayrik had taught me merging with everything I already knew.

I breathed hard, bracing against the wall. Outnumbered. Outgunned. But for a second, I thought I had a chance.

Then the shift.

The air changed.

Turned cold with familiar menace.

And Vask was already waiting for me.

Like he’d known exactly what I would do.

I froze.

Through our connection, Zayrik’s fury exploded. He felt my fear, recognized who caused it. The intensity of his rage almost overwhelmed me.

Zep hissed at my feet, tail lashing. Nav buzzed a warning, too late.

Both of them knowing what was coming.

Both as helpless to stop it as I was.

Vask stepped forward, slow, casual. Like he wasn’t even surprised.

Like this was all part of his plan.

The sight of him made our bond pulse with shared hatred. Mine cold, Zayrik’s burning.

Vask sighed. Shook his head. Mock disappointment.

“Really, Nyla?” he exhaled, voice smooth, patient. “You always were too stubborn for your own good. Give me the crystal, Nyla. Save yourself some pain.”

Defiance bloomed low in my gut, slow and sharp. But I didn’t flinch. Didn’t give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

He smirked. Like he already knew he’d won.

Like he could taste my fear.

“You really thought you could walk away from this?”

I swallowed hard. Didn’t answer.

Couldn’t.

Because for the first time, I wasn’t sure if I could.

But through our connection, I felt Zayrik’s certainty I wouldn’t have to.

He was coming to get me.

Vask sighed, shaking his head like I was some unruly child who hadn’t learned her lesson.

Who needed to be taught again.

He moved. Fast and brutal.

A blow to the ribs, hard enough to steal breath and blur vision.

The pain echoed through our connection. I felt Zayrik’s answering roar of fury, and the need to protect what was his.

Zep shrieked again, launching at him. Brave, foolish, loyal.

But this time Vask was ready.

He swung his arm, backhanding Zep mid-air with brutal force.

The sound of the impact was sickening.

Zep hit the floor hard.

A small, broken noise escaped him. Then, stillness.

My heart seized.

No! Please, no.

Something inside me snapped.

Something primal and protective that matched Zayrik’s fury pulsing through my skin.

I lunged.

Rage swallowed the pain.

Made me forget strategy. Forget survival.

Only for Vask to catch my wrist, twisting hard, forcing me down.

Through our connection, I felt Zayrik’s helpless fury. Felt how he wanted to tear Vask apart with his bare hands.

His grip was like iron. Unshakable.

Like all the nightmares I’d run from.

I snarled, straining against him. Didn’t care if I broke myself trying.

Because I wasn’t just fighting for me anymore.

I was fighting for us .

Vask only chuckled. “There’s that fire.”

His fingers tightened. “Let’s see how long it lasts.”

Through our bond, I felt Zayrik’s presence surge stronger. Like he was trying to reach me. Like he was answering my pain with a promise.

Vask’s grip didn’t loosen as he reached for his blade.

He let me see it. The slow, deliberate pull from his belt. The way the edge glinted under the dim lights.

Every movement calculated to inspire fear.

Not rushed. Not reckless.

Because this wasn’t about hurting me.

It was about breaking me.

“This doesn’t have to be difficult,” he murmured.

But it did.

Because I wasn’t just protecting a crystal anymore.

I was protecting Zayrik .

Protecting us .

Protecting everything we could be if I survived this.

I breathed through the pain. Kept my mouth shut.

Pushed determination through our bond, letting Zayrik feel my resolve.

My choice.

Vask’s smirk deepened. Like he was hoping I’d fight him.

Like he wanted me to make it worse for myself.

He had no idea what was coming.

No idea what he’d awakened by threatening a Protectorate warrior’s mate.

“Just give me the crystal, girl.” He tapped the blade against his palm. “Say the words, and this all ends.”

I lifted my chin. My voice flat. Drawing strength from the fury burning through our connection.

“Go flutz yourself.”

His expression didn’t change.

But something in his eyes shifted.

Darkened.

The knife pressed into my skin.

A shallow cut. Enough to burn. Enough to draw blood.

Not enough to kill.

Not yet.

Because Vask didn’t know the crystal wasn’t with me.

Didn’t know what was coming for him.

I locked my gaze on his, refusing to blink. Refusing to hand over even an inch of ground.

Through our bond, I drew on Zayrik’s strength. His rage. His certainty that he would find me.

Vask hummed. “You always were stubborn.”

He twisted the knife just slightly. A warning. A promise.

Each movement precise. Practiced.

Like he’d done this a thousand times before.

Then he pulled back.

Not because he was done.

Because he was patient.

He thought he had all the time in the galaxy to break me.

He didn’t know about the bond that burned hotter with every second.

Didn’t know about the warship descending.

Didn’t know Zep, hurt or not, was still breathing beside me.

Still fighting in his own small, quiet way.

Pain slammed through me, searing hot and unrelenting.

I wasn’t sure which hit had done the most damage.

Didn’t matter.

I wasn’t giving him what he wanted.

Through our connection, I felt Zayrik’s resolve crystallize.

I felt his transition into something dangerous.

I forced my legs to hold steady.

Forced my breath to stay even.

I met Vask’s gaze, even as the edges of my vision blurred.

Because I wasn’t just enduring for myself.

I was buying time.

Creating purpose from pain.

Vask exhaled slowly through his nose.

“You’re going to break, Nyla.” His voice was filled with certainty.

Like he knew exactly how this would end.

“The only question is how long you want to last.”

I inhaled. A sharp, stinging pain. Nevertheless, under control. Drawing strength from the bond.

I bled.

But I smiled anyway.

“Looks like you’re the one still talking.”

His jaw jerked slightly.

His patience began to crack.

Good.

I just had to hold out a little longer.

Just had to keep him focused on me.

Because Zayrik was coming.

And through our bond, I felt his promise.

There wouldn’t be enough left of Vask to fill a space coffin.