Her head swam.
Fated mate.
Oh my God.
Cara’s wide eyes sought Devix and he was watching her.He’d heard.And she knew, right then, that it was true.
And to think that just a moment before Sarkon had followed her, she’d thought she was just a pleasure mate to him.
Wrong, wrong, wrong.She’d been so wrong.About everything.
“I was planning to take her back to Azatia,” Sarkon said to Devix, the tip of the blade running down her throat in a caress.The hand that wasn’t gripping the blade came around to grasp between her legs, but Cara forced herself to hold still even as her flesh crawled from his touch.
Devix’s horns were ramrod straight in his fury, but Cara knew that her male was intelligent.He wouldn’t give in to the blatant provocation and she wouldn’t make it harder on him by showing her fear.So, she held his eyes, steeling her expression, giving him a brief nod, even though the blade dug into her flesh harder.
“I was planning to fuck her until I tired of her.If the rumors about human females are true, I would not tire of her cunt for a long, long time,” Sarkon rasped, his grip between her thighs tightening, but Cara showed no reaction.It was clear that Sarkon wanted her to, to rile up Devix.But she wouldn’t.“Now, however, I may just kill her, knowing you would take your own life afterwards.A perfect punishment for your betrayal, mercenary.”
“My betrayal must have cut you deep,” Devix growled, “for the lengths that you have gone.I did not know you valued my loyalty so much, Sarkon.I am just exiled Quadrant scum, after all.”
Sarkon stiffened against her and Cara saw Devix move slightly, readying.
Sarkon bit out, “You had your chance, mercenary.All you had to do was deliver her to me and Pidixa’s confession was yours.You chose wrong.”
Cara’s lips parted in realization.Pidixa.Arvalla’s brother, who’d lied and accused Devix of rape, who’d gotten him exiled from his planet, from his family.
Devix had said all he’d wanted was peace.He’d told her early on that when he delivered her to Sarkon, he’d have it.
But had he truly meant the chance to clear his name, if Sarkon had offered him Pidixa’s confession?
Oh, Devix, she thought, tears clogging her throat.
“I did not choose wrong,” Devix growled.She moved her head forward slightly, the blade pressing deeper into her neck.“I would always choose her.”
Sarkon barked out a rasping laugh and his chest moved against her, his grip loosening ever so slightly.
“You are a fool,” Sarkon said.“You—”
Cara took the opportunity.That was what Devix had told her, that all she needed was one little, tiny opportunity to escape.
So, the blade pressed into her own neck a little harder as she moved her head forward, but it allowed her greater force as she slammed her skull back into Sarkon’s face.
It took the Azatian by surprise, but Devix had expected it.
The moment that Sarkon’s grip loosened enough, Cara spun out of it.The blade caught her across the arm during Sarkon’s flailing to capture her again, slicing open the flesh, but her only thought was to get away.
Everything happened so fast.
And behind her, she heard Devix rush her captor the moment she was a safe distance away.She didn’t see Devix kill Sarkon, but she heard it.She heard the slash of claws, the crumbling of metal armor, and a sickening, gushing pop that she’d probably remember for the rest of her life.
And then she heard silence.
Cara halted, her hands trembling.
“Devix?” she whispered, eyes staring out at the vast expanse of the valley, at the shimmering lake below.
Please answer, please answer, she thought, dazed.
“I am here,luxiva,” he replied, his voice strong and quiet.
