The corridor was narrow, more metal forming walls on either side. The air was marginally cooler out here, moving instead of stagnant. I sucked in a breath, tried to wet my mouth enough to swallow.
We made it maybe ten paces before the voices started.
Human shouts, sharp and aggressive. Footsteps pounding against metal flooring, coming fast.
Three humans rounded the corner ahead. All male, all armed with those strange weapons I'd seen before. The barrels came up, trained on us with the kind of precision that spoke to military training.
I moved without thinking, putting myself in front of Lexa, my wings spreading to shield her from the threat. If they fired, the shots would hit me first. It would give her time to run, to escape, to survive.
"Wait!" Lexa's voice behind me, urgent and desperate. "Stop!"
The humans were shouting. Words I couldn't understand, tones that needed no translation. Anger, fear, determination.
Lexa tried to move around me. I blocked her with my wing, kept her behind the membrane and bone that might stop whatever those weapons fired.
"Nyx, let me talk to them." Her hand found my arm, squeezed hard enough that I felt it through the scales.
The humans advanced. Slow and careful, maintaining their positions. One of them was shouting at Lexa, his tone demanding.
She stayed where she was. Her hand tightened on my arm, nails digging in.
"Stop." The word was directed at the humans, at me, at the universe that kept putting us in impossible situations. "Just listen."
The human raised his weapon and pointed it at my chest.
19
LEXA
They herdedNyx and me into Runa's office, where she and a man and a woman were waiting. The space was cramped, barely large enough for the desk and salvaged chairs. Every surface radiated heat, making the air thick and hard to breathe.
I recognized the waiting woman as the one who'd escorted me after my capture. Now she was looking at me like I'd committed some huge betrayal, her expression a mix of disappointment and disgust. Like I'd confirmed her worst suspicions about what captivity did to people.
I didn't recognize the man. He was older, with a weathered face that came from years of hard living. His eyes were cold as they tracked over Nyx like Nyx might attack at any moment.
Fuck that.
I lifted my chin and held my head high. My shoulders went back, spine straightening. I wasn't going to apologize for my feelings, or for rescuing my mate.
Beside me, Nyx growled at the guard who promptly raised his blaster. The sound rumbled through his chest, vibrating against my shoulder where we stood close together.
"He's not going to harm you." I scowled at the guard. My hand found Nyx's arm, squeezed once.
The guard just glared. His finger hovered near the trigger.
This was going great.
The guards clustered around us, forming a loose semicircle that blocked the door. Their weapons were all trained on Nyx, not me. Like I was the victim here, the one who needed protecting from the monster I'd willingly freed.
The door scraped open, and Runa entered, her movements brisk and controlled. She took in the scene with a single glance, then moved behind her desk, taking the position of authority.
"Karima, Houston, thank you for coming so quickly," she told the seated people. Her voice was level, professional. "We have an … unexpected situation."
I gritted my teeth. I wanted to say something sharp and cutting, something that would instantly make these people see the error of their ways and let Nyx and I go.
Somehow, I didn't thinkfuck you all, you motherfuckerswould give me the results I wanted.
Nyx shifted beside me. I could feel the tension radiating off him, the barely controlled violence of a warrior forced into a corner. His tail coiled tight, the only visible sign of his agitation. He didn't understand what was being said, and that made him dangerous.
