“Guest or hostage?”
“Both!” Vor snapped. “So, no one touches her.”
The soldier gaped again.
“Is that understood?!” Vor snarled.
“Yes, Commander!” All six men shouted at once.
Vor nodded and then looked back at Lena. “Lena, please. You are safe here. Come out of the erial.”
At last, Lena put her hand in his and allowed Vor to help her down. Then she stood there, looking from him to the soldiers.
“Leave us.” Vor motioned at the men.
“But, Commander, we were to escort you to the lieutenant commander.”
“Very well. But walk ahead of us so you don't scare my guest.” Vor motioned to the door, and then to Lena. “If you please, Lena.”
The men gawked at Lena.
“Did you hear me?” Vor shouted at the soldiers.
“Yes, Commander!” They scrambled about and headed for the door.
Vor's eyes and hands twitched. Something harsh filled his chest, but he didn't recognize it. It was a type of anger, but one that was unknown to him. Why did he feel it? He glanced at Lena. His woman. He didn't like the soldiers looking at Lena as if they coveted her. Another rush of the strange emotion flooded him. Ah, yes, he had felt something similar before when he had watched Liria with the Aethari man. But it was stronger now. Vor suspected it was because Lena, not her sister, inspired it.
Twins, but so different. When Vor thought Liria was his woman, he had felt lust and fury. He wanted to subdue her. Make her submit to him. But all of that changed when he met Lena. She wasn't a warrior. Had never even seen a pit. Vor could sense the gentleness in her. Her innocence. It shone in her eyes. Faced with Lena, all he wanted was to protect her. The idea of making her submit to him left him nauseous. No, his woman was to be treasured and worshiped. She was a jewel shining among coal.
Lena made a soft sound.
Vor flinched, cleared his throat, and motioned again. “Please, stay beside me.”
Lena didn't respond, but she kept pace with Vor as they followed the soldiers into the fortress. She remained silent through the trek past barracks rooms, dining facilities, and more, all of them empty. At last, the soldiers stopped before a closed door.
“The LC is in there, Commander,” a soldier said before they inclined their heads and hurried off, casting looks over their shoulders at Lena that made Vor want to chase them and smash their faces into the stone wall.
Vor was about to open the door when a loud boom came. Lena screeched and dropped to huddle on the floor, her arms over her head. He stared at her a moment, never having seen anyone so skittish. But then, he spent most of his time around soldiers. The truly startling part was how his chest filled with anxiety to see her terrified. She'd been scared before, but this was mortal fear.
Without conscious thought, Vor dropped to crouch beside Lena and put his arm around her while holding his helmet away from her. “It's all right. They're just testing our defenses. The fortress can withstand much more than that.” Even as he spoke, Source showed him something, and he blinked in surprise.
But then Lena looked up at him. They both went still, their gazes locked. Vor leaned forward, unsure of what he intended to do. Lena remained still as he pressed his lips to her forehead. A shiver ran through him as he pulled back. What was this? Why did he do that? Vor couldn't process the action or why it felt integral that he place his lips there instead of on her mouth. But a kiss on her lips would have been unacceptable toher, wouldn't it? It would have frightened her more instead of soothing her.
Lena jerked back, falling on her ass. “Don't touch me!”
Vor sighed and stood up. It didn't seem to matter where he kissed her. “I'm sorry. I only meant to comfort you.” He held a hand down to her. “May I help you up?”
Lena stared at his hand, and Vor realized he was holding out his right hand—the metal one. But he refused to trade it for the other. She needed to see that he was all man, even the metal parts.
But she wouldn't take it. Instead, Lena got up on her own and pressed her back against the wall.
“Don't be scared by any explosions you may hear,” Vor said crisply to cover his disappointment. “You are safe.” Then he opened the door, stepped into the room, and motioned her inside.
Chapter Four
Lena
Lena had never been inside a fortress. That she entered one by the will of her enemy and captor made it even worse. The explosion made the surreal events of the last few hours solidify into reality. Not only was she a captive, but she was a captive in a besieged fortress.
