“Vor!” she screamed.
Vor kept thrusting through Lena's orgasm, sending her into thrilling loops of lust and love that spun her higher and higher until, at last, he locked up against her and filled her with his release. Arched and straining, Vor cried out in masculine glory and then dropped to his forearms over Lena. Breath mingling, they stared at each other. Vor was about to speak when a loud pounding came at the apartment door.
The knocking was followed by shouting, “Commander, we've been invaded! Paradefense is in the fortress!”
Chapter Forty
Vor
Lena was right. Love wasn't a weakness. It was strength. It gave him the power to do whatever needed to be done to protect the one he loved. The fortress was under attack, but Vor didn't run to help his troops. He shouted that he'd be there soon and then helped Lena.
“Put these on, my love.” Vor set a pile of clothes and solid boots on the bed.
“What are these?” Lena climbed out of bed and looked through the clothes. She held up a pair of sturdy pants.
“I plan for every possibility. You need practical clothing. Get dressed. Hurry.” He was already halfway dressed and finished in seconds. Then he rushed to the living room to put his armor on. A few minutes later, Vor returned to the bedroom, fully armored, strapping his dart onto his hip. Lena was still lacing her boots. He knelt before her and helped her finish tying the laces. Then he took her hands. “You're staying here for now. Keep the door locked and don't open it for anyone but me.”
Lena nodded. “Vor?”
He cupped her face and kissed her quickly. “I love you. Remember that. No matter what happens, this is real, Lena.”
“I love you too. Be careful.”
Vor stood up. “Come with me. You need to lock the door behind me.”
They hurried to the main door, and Vor unlocked it. Lieutenant Greis waited on the other side, his stare shifting from side to side. Vor stepped out and cupped Lena's cheek as he memorized her face. She stared at him, her eyes searching his.
“You're going to be fine, Lena. Just lock the door. Even if they get in, they won't hurt you. You know that.”
“I don't care about that. I care about you.”
“I'm going to be fine too.” Vor kissed her cheek and shut the door. Then he stood there, waiting until he heard her throw the lock. With Lena safe, he turned to Greis. “Where are they?”
“Main courtyard, Commander. They've freed the prisoners and added them to their forces. We're outnumbered. Significantly.” Greis led the way through the corridors. “There was a hidden escape tunnel. They shut down the ward—I don't know how—and as we fought to get it up again, they came in through the tunnel.”
Vor started running, Greis keeping pace. He pulled his dart and headed for the courtyard, but as he turned a corner, Vor encountered a mass of Nethren soldiers retreating from a tide of Medeans and Aethari. Thunder rumbled from somewhere above, and an explosion rocked the fortress. Vor got pushed back with the herd.
There was no way to make a stand, not in the narrow corridors with Paradefense driving them back. They needed anopen space to fight properly. So, Vor turned around and started to run.
“With me!” Vor shouted.
The Nethren soldiers, who'd been trying to hold off Paradefense's advance, turned and followed their commander. Paradefense gave chase. Vor turned a corner and came out onto the open colonnade above the pit. His entire being cringed to see the tunnel leading back to his home, the barrier broken and slid aside. A glance over his shoulder showed more Paradefense soldiers pouring out of other doorways. There were too many of them. If they made a stand, it would be a slaughter.
Lena. He needed to get back to Lena. But if he tried to circle around, his soldiers would die. The smartest path was retreat. They had taken the fortress once; they could do it again. But by then, Lena would be gone, safely tucked away with her family.
Safe.
That's all Vor wanted now—Lena safe. And she'd be far safer without him. Up in the sun where she belonged. Not buried with him.
Commander Vor of the Ranuvul Army had never cried as an adult man. Not once since he was a child. But as he ordered his army to retreat to the tunnels, his eyes filled with tears, and his chest cracked open. Thank Tech, he wore his helmet, or everyone would have seen his despair. Vor knew he would never see Lena's beautiful face again, never touch her silken skin. He would never again hear her sing.
It was for the best. Tech had led him to her for a reason, but it wasn't to keep her. Lena had changed Vor. She'd changedhundreds of Nethren with her voice and touch. She was a part of them now. They would never forget her. And for that and so much more, Lena deserved to be free of them.
“Go! Go! Go!” Vor waved his people into the tunnel, falling back with the rear group.
They pulled the broken barrier closed with an ominous clang, and the dark took them. But they were children of Technology, born underground, and they could navigate these tunnels with their eyes closed.
“Go!” he shouted again, stopping to activate traps that would catch anyone foolish enough to follow them.
