She didn’t fully believe my words but nodded, taking control of the group. They were led toward the transport where they would dock with theVindicator. I sent a message to Kerra and asked her to meet the women and provide what comfort she could.
We found nearly thirty more captives. All the females were guarded heavily.
After the last group was on its way back to my ship, I sighed. “I had hoped to find Rymar.”
“We haven’t breached the entire facility,” Valtus answered crisply. “I suggest we descend to the lower levels. All of the buildings are above ground but anyone in charge would retreat in the event of an attack.”
He was right. “Then we resume our search.”
Our uniforms were equipped with a layer of protection against harmful chemicals or airborne threats. We lifted the hoods and visors into place as a dozen of my best warriors, my brothers, and Valtus opened the hatch marked as hazardous and entered the lower levels. The schematic suggested that four tiers were built and the lowest could provide life support for nearly aspan. We found nothing in the first three tiers. No guards. No bio-signs. No sign of any captives. It made sense. Humans couldn’t breathe and survive in such conditions.
I almost thought our effort was wasted until I heard what sounded like a female’s desperate scream. My entire body froze as I recognized the voice of my ownVenya, eerily similar to Kacie Hargrave.
Impossible.
Valtus growled, moving without my permission as he burst through the next door, firing his blaster and singing his uniform in several spots. Blinking, I couldn’t believe what we found. A human female was being accosted, her clothes ripped and yanked from her body as none other than Senator Rymar used one hand to choke her into submission.
A cry of rage erupted from Valtus as I watched in disbelief. He launched into a vicious attack. I’d never seen myFirstreact so violently. He didn’t hesitate to beat Rymar, pummeling fists into his soft, overweight gut and subdue him without much effort. Shocked, I didn’t move as the female clutched her tattered clothes around her slender body. She looked at each one of us like we would harm her at any moment. Only when Valtus shoved Rymar toward Orion, did I finally comprehend his actions.
“We’re not here to harm you,” I promised the female.
She didn’t believe me, backing away in fright.
Valtus’s quills rose up from his back in a protective stance as he snarled at the rest of us. “Stay back.”
“He was going to rape me.”
Her whispered words of horror were spoken only to Valtus. He made a sound of extreme suffering, his hands rising in the air as he approached her. “I would never harm you. No one will touch you. I swear it.” Another sharp sound rose from his throat, meant to soothe.
If I didn’t know better, I’d say that Valtus had used his personal mating call.
The female’s eyes filled with tears and spilled over, sliding down her flushed cheeks. “I need help.”
She nearly collapsed as he darted forward and lifted under her knees, bringing her in close to his chest. He cradled her as if she was the most precious and vulnerable jewel in existence. Watching in awe, I realized I had a similar reaction with Kerra the night she was attacked on Earth.
“Keep me safe,please,” the female asked before her eyes fluttered and closed.
Valtus’s concerned expression met my gaze as he pulled an extra suit from his pack. Carefully, he enclosed her in the protective gear and lifted her once more, allowing no one else to touch her.
“She needs the med bay.”
Nodding, I signaled to my warriors as they hauled Rymar away and I followed Valtus to the transport. He said nothing on the return trip to theVindicator, leaving my side without instruction as he made his way to the medical bay. I didn’t know what to say to Kerra when I returned to her. How did I tell myVenyathat I thought her sister was alive?
