Lena stared at the door while she listened to Vor's footsteps fade, and then hurried to the window. Down in the courtyard, a unit of Nethren soldiers surrounded a group of Paradefense soldiers—four Medeans and four Aethari. The prisoners looked ragged and dirty in their tattered uniforms. Even the Aethari weren't looking well. Their condition sliced through her, clearly defining the difference in their situations. Lena wasn't sure how that made her feel. On one hand, imprisonment was evil, no matter how the captive was treated. On the other hand, there was something to be said for Vor's kindness and protection. Unfortunately, there were more sides to it than that.
“They're his prisoners too,” Lena whispered as she stared at the ragged soldiers who nonetheless held their heads high.
They probably thought they were about to be executed, and yet they showed no fear. Lena wanted to be more like them. She vowed to herself that she would be. When fear tormented her, she would remember those people. No, Lena wasn't a soldier, but she could still be brave.
Lena hated that Vor had hundreds of prisoners, but what would have been the alternative? Wasn't it better that he kept them alive rather than executed them? That would have been easier. Frankly, a few days ago, she would have expected it from Nethren. Now, Lena wasn't sure about anything.
And there he was. Commander Vor strode into the courtyard, calling out orders to his soldiers. He waved at thegates and then spoke into a handheld device. The gates opened, and the Nethren soldiers ushered their prisoners toward the passage.
Vor paused and looked up at her, meeting her gaze instantly. He bowed to Lena before he headed for the gates.
Lena grimaced as she watched the shimmering ward fall. She couldn't see the exchange from where she was, but she watched the open gateway and waited anyway.
Chapter Twenty
Mal
Mal sat down and watched Evellor fasten the chains to his manacles. Evellor avoided his gaze, his face flushed, and the scent of sex heavy on him. He would have to take each of the privates to be “interrogated” now. The handsome Aethari better not try to fuck any of them too.
But as Evellor straightened, he sent Mal a strange look full of longing and a sliver of despair. No, he wouldn't be with anyone else. Ev was his. For the rest of Mal's life. Which wouldn't be that long. And yet, Mal felt oddly grateful.
The most shocking part wasn't that Mal had just fucked an Aethari, or even that he had enjoyed it more than any sexual interlude he'd ever had. It was the other feelings. The non-physical ones. Emotions. Mal had been feeling strange ever since he'd come to the surface, but being with Ev had upped those odd emotions into undeniable and unfathomable territory. In short, Mal liked the Aethari warrior. A lot. And it wasn't the bland sort of like that he had experienced before. This wasn't a mere attraction.
Mal had been with many men. None of them had made him feel the things the Aethari had. Shimmering, beautiful, exciting things. Things that made his chest feel light andconstricted all at once. Mal felt more alive than he ever had before, and he was about to be executed. At least he got to experience something wondrous before he died.
Evellor was about to unlock Private Crinlo when a commotion came from outside the tent. He paused, looking toward the tent flap. Someone was using a voice amplifier. It sounded like the commander. Then the words became intelligible, and Mal sat up straighter. Commander Vor was trading prisoners for them! Holy fuck, he was trying to save them!
Mal exchanged shocked and hopeful looks with the other prisoners as Evellor rushed out of the tent. They waited several minutes, straining to listen to the heated conversation. Then several more minutes passed.
“They agreed, didn't they?” Crinlo asked.
“I think so.” Mal grinned. “I think we're being traded for the Paradefense prisoners.”
A shiver of relief went around their circle. Then Evellor stormed in, his wings shivering and his gaze going straight to Mal. “You're some lucky men,” Evellor said. “You're being exchanged for Paradefense soldiers.” He crouched to unlock the padlocks that held them together, going around the ring until they could stand. Then he unlocked all of their manacles, tossing them to the side with an eagerness that surprised Mal. The guy really did like him.
Mal was last, and he watched Evellor's face as the Aethari unlocked his chains—first the ankles, and then he stood to undo Mal's wrists. He tossed the chains away and then leaned in. Mal felt something slide into his pants pocket.
“Come along.” Evellor walked out of the tent.
The two Medeans who'd been guarding the tent brought up the rear, herding them toward the fortress gates. All around them, Paradefense soldiers gathered to glare at them. Mal grinned and lifted his head. And then Mal saw him—Commander Vor. Behind the Nethren Commander were four Aethari and four Medean soldiers, looking a lot worse for wear than Mal and his friends. He snickered as he stopped just behind the Paradefense General.
Evellor looked at him.
Mal went silent, seeing too much in the Aethari's eyes. His hand pressed over his pocket to feel the outlines of a personal vidco. Holy fuck, Ev wanted Mal to vid him? His eyes went wide and locked with Evellor's. Evellor nodded once.
Oh, yeah, Mal was fucked in so many ways.
Chapter Twenty-One
Vor
Commander Vor seethed with emotions, most of which were unfamiliar. Lena had labeled one jealousy, and he was sure she was correct. But there was so much more going on inside him. Rage was a big contender, battling down jealousy as if it were a fool. Images of that blond Aethari strapped to a wall filled Vor's mind. He wanted to pluck every feather from the bastard and burn them before him. And it wasn't about jealousy. Well, maybe a little. But mostly, it was . . . ugh!What is this feeling?
Vor tried to work it out as he headed for the courtyard. He hated that Aethari, but it was more on behalf of Lena than for himself. He believed her when she said she had no love for the man, didn't even like him. Which meant that the Aethari had decided upon Lena without her consent. It was presumptuous and reprehensible! Vor despised it, perhaps because it mirrored his actions.
“Fuck!” he shouted and swung at the wall. His metal fist crushed the stone, leaving a hole in the wall. Vor panted as he stared at the destruction, remembering how he had done the same thing in front of Lena. “I want her to see me as a man, but then I behave like a monster.” He hung his head.
“Commander?”
