The young one had hung back, weapon raised, waiting for a clean shot. His hands were shaking.
Barvarti hadn’t moved. He watched with that same amused expression, arms crossed. He wouldn’t make a move to attack. He wanted to watch the show.Sick, sadistic bastard.
“Impressive.” He sounded almost proud. “You have learned some tricks since last we met, when you were but a pup.”
“I learned more than tricks.”
Maelic moved toward the young male—
His Mamir's scream echoed in his ears—phantom but piercing—his Papeer's anguished roar following in his mind. He hesitated. His vision swam. Heat flooded through him, pheromones destabilizing him without warning. The same chaos that had frozen him at fourteen cycles old. His movements turned sluggish, his focus fracturing
No. Not now.
He forced himself forward, but his body betrayed him— half a second too slow.
The shot caught him in the side.
Pain exploded through his ribs. He stumbled, went down hard on one knee. His side burned like someone had shoved a hot poker through it.
Careless. Stupid.
Barvarti laughed. “Still too slow, little orphan.”
The young male moved closer. Weapon aimed at Maelic’s head. His hands weren’t shaking anymore.
Get up. Get up.
His body wasn’t cooperating. He could feel his systems trying to compensate, but he didn’t have the time to spare for this.
It wasn’t enough.
“Any last words?” Barvarti called. “I’ll be sure to pass them along to your captain right after I mount your head on my wall.”
Maelic looked toward the tree. The shimmer of the cloak was barely visible—just a ripple in the air.
She was still there. Still hidden.
Good.
At least she will live.
The young male’s finger tightened on the trigger.
“HEY!”
No.
"Didn't your Mom teach you not to kick someone when they were down?"
Maelic’s head snapped toward the sound.
Delaney burst from behind the tree. Running toward them. Screaming his name.
No no no—
Everything happened at once.
The young male turned. Startled. Fired on instinct.
