Fucking horrible aim, he noted, amused despite the shitty situation.Just goes to prove that money and power can’t buy everything. But what about the tracker? He knows what he’s doing, clearly, and yet he saved my life. Why leave me alive? Was it to torment me as they took her? No, that doesn’t seem right. And that look he gave me. He looked like he was actually sorry. And then he even told me their destination. Why would he help me? Help an escaped?—
The realization hit him like a slap across the face.
He’s one of Chancellor Vinchi’s indentured servants, he has to be.Doing the job he is bound to perform, but not liking it. It’s the only explanation.
He felt the knot in his stomach ease slightly. If that was truly the case, then that meant the man would keep Maria safe. He’d already risked the chancellor’s wrath by standing up to his son. Protecting his precious cargo would be nothing by comparison. And Zepharos had a sneaking suspicion he’d told him where they were going for a reason.
He’s sandbagging. Moving slow. He knows I’ll be down for some time, but he’s giving me a chance. And I cannot squander it.
Zepharos ran through possible routes. The direction they’d arrived from made it likely they had crested the far ridge and worked their way along the upper hillside above the lagoon before descending to where they had encountered their prey. If they’d come that way, they would not have seen any trace of their shelter or farming plot. That would explain their surprise at finding them. And that meant the possible landing sites for their ship were greatly reduced.
But they have a big head start. I’ll have to make up a lot of time, and I don’t think even the tracker would have expected them to use so strong a stun setting. So that leaves me with two options regardless of their landing site. Try to catch them before they reach their ship, or head them off at their destination. Now, which option makes the most?—
A slimy, warm tongue across the face snapped him out of his thought process. He couldn’t move his head yet, but it could only be one of two possible things.
Popcorn. Of course it’s you. Sorry, buddy, I can’t play right now. Hell, I can’t even talk to you. But soon. Soon Iwillbe able to move again. And when that happens, I’m sorry, but I’ll be leaving you two alone for a while. But it’s going to suck more for me than it will for you.
He had a plan, being forced out of his wandering thoughts crystalizing the best option in the lack of so many other choices. Now he simply had to prepare himself mentally. The physical was to come soon enough.
He gradually regained use of his body, first his fingers and toes, the power to move slowly returning to his feet and hands, spreading to his arms and legs. The whole time, however, his Infala was aching in his chest, calling out for its mate. He could feel it, their bond solidifying despite her absence. The bond would be complete any time now, and it would happen while she was in the clutches of the chancellor’s ilk.
When the sun rose, with it came the ability to stand. And as he got blood flowing to his stiff limbs, his body finally began to feel like itself, at least mostly. But this was taking too long, and time was something he did not have.
Fuck it.
He gathered up the lightest of packs, just the essentials, then headed out on unsteady legs, scanning the ground for the little plant he knew grew in certain areas.
“Gotcha,” he said, snatching up every leaf off the Ornax plant and quickly rolling them into a ball, popping it into his mouth and chewing with gritty resolve, the energy boost hitting him like a quintuple espresso on an empty stomach. “Better,” he grumbled. “More.”
He moved faster now, hustling up to the ridge, picking every bit of Ornax he found along the way, shoving it all into his mouth, well aware of the pounding headache he would undoubtedly suffer later. He’d never had this much. Not even close. But Maria needed him, and he’d do whatever it took to get to her as fast as possible, no matter the consequences.
“Damn,” he exclaimed as he started to run, his pace speeding up with every step until he was running much faster than he would have ever been able to maintain otherwise.
My legs feel like they’re unstoppable. This is amazing! I don’t think even Adzus and his hunters could keep up with me.
A little twinge hit his stomach, but he ignored it. He hadn’t eaten, but there was food in his pack. He’d eat on the fly once he was on easier terrain. But he knew it wasn’t hunger that was making itself known. This was just the first hint of the discomfort that he would endure soon enough. Abdominal distress, pounding headache, and, of course, the muscular aches were all likely effects once the Ornax leaf wore off, though he’d never overdone it before, personally.
He moved up the ridge with astounding agility as he ran. He even bounded over a boulder, scaling the obstacle with the utmost ease, the diversion barely slowing his pace.
Worth it.
He ran and ran, scanning the terrain from his elevated position, searching for any sight of their ship, but trees were frequent and open views few. He wouldn’t likely be able to see them from here, which left him only one option. It just wasn’t the one he’d wanted to use.
Whatever it takes, he told himself as he crested the ridge and began the treacherous descent.Now move faster. Maria is counting on you.
He was damn near sprinting downhill on the very tricky ground, but his Ornax-enhanced limbs were moving faster than ever, his supercharged runes helping him keep upright where anyone else would have fallen. His course had been decided, and with that locked in mind he had just one thing to do.
Run.
Run as hard and fast as he could, all the way to the nearest splinter of civilization. The place he could get a ride, the first step in his plan. He would get his woman back, but it would not be easy.
CHAPTER THIRTY
While Zepharos was moving fast, trying his best to make up for nearly a full day of immobility, Maria and her captors were making decent time, having put quite a bit of distance between themselves and the downed protector while he was incapacitated.
The elites had no idea that her mate was coming for her, but Maddix had a sneaking suspicion, though he couldn’t overtly slow their pace too much. Of course, Maria was moving a bit slowly on her unsteady feet, the grogginess of her stun blast still slowing her roll, much to the annoyance of Flagro and his sister.
“Move faster!”
