The only question that she focused on, however, was: did it truly change her plans to stay with him?Taylor had told him nothing yet about what she’d decided, but in the privacy of her own mind, she thought it over.
And she realized that…no.It didn’t change the fact that she was planning to stay on Luxiria with him.
Because if they weretrulygoing to do this, then she couldn’t just give up when she faced the slightest little hurdle.Taylor believed in fighting for things that were worth it.And anything that was worth it, the majority of the time youhadto fight for and you had to fighthardfor.Vikan, their potential relationship and future, was no different.
Did she think it would be easy to begin a life on a strange alien planet she knew next to nothing about?Did she think she wouldn’t encounter some problems, some culture shock?Did she think that Vikan and her wouldn’t fight over silly things, just like normal couples did, because they were fated mates?
She knew it would be hard.But, deep down, she knew it would beworth it.Everything screamed in her that it would be worth it.
Before they’d left that morning, Vikan told her that she knew him to his core and that she should trust in that if she didn’t trust his word.
Blowing out a breath, she knew that it was past time to talk to Vikan.She was still hurt, but their silence hurt a little more, especially considering how far they’d come during their journey.Shemissedhim and he was walking within arm’s reach.She missed his grumbly voice and the way he touched her, missed the way his eyes softened ever so slightly whenever he looked at her, or heated to an inferno whenever she teased him.
They would work through this.Taylorwantedto work through this.
But literally, just as she opened her mouth to get his attention, Vikan stopped suddenly, unsheathing the blade at his chest, before pushing her behind him with a low, unexpected growl.
Taylor sucked in a surprised breath, wondering if he’d sensed an animal nearby, one of the ones he’d told her about.
But then, just above the bend where they’d been heading, a group of male Luxirians—four of them—emerged.
Vikan’s shoulders visibly relaxed, exhaling a sharp breath.He straightened and then sheathed his blade before glancing back at her.
“Do you know them?” she asked quietly, her gaze flickering nervously to the group that was approaching them.They were all shirtless, but instead of the black pants Vikan wore, they were all dressed in a gray suede.Long, curved blades hung in gold sheaths at their waists.
“Tev,” he murmured.“They are the border guards, come to escort us.”
Taylor caught his gaze.“We’re here already?”
Vikan inclined his head.“We crossed intoLopixa’sterritory a while back.I did not expect them to escort us so soon, however.It means, no doubt, that Vaxa’an is already here.”
Taylor’s stomach sank.
All the guards inclined their heads to Vikan when they stopped only feet away from the both of them.And then, in Luxirian, Vikan spoke.
All four of the guards eyes were on her, their expressions curious yet wary.The tallest one, with a long braid that curved over his shoulder, responded to whatever Vikan had said in guttural, crisp sounds.Taylor wondered if she’d be able to learn Luxirian, though she doubted she’d be able to speak it.
Whatever the guard said made Vikan jerk his head in a nod, his muscles tightening.
“What is it?” she asked softly.“Vikan?”
When one of the guards stepped forward, Taylor watched as he unclasped a set of black chains from the gold sheath at his waist.
And when he clasped those chains around Vikan’s wrist, binding them together in front of him, Taylor gasped, “What the hell are you doing?”
“Luxiva,” Vikan murmured, looking at her.At the word, a ripple of energy went through the guards, but Taylor paid them no mind.Even as the guard tightened them, Vikan said, “All is well.Do not worry.”
“Don’t worry?You’re in chains!”
“I am sure Vaxa’an means it as a precaution,” Vikan told her.Even as he said it he grit his teeth, his jaw ticking, obviously frustrated that he was bound.Vikan didn’t strike Taylor as the type of male who took imprisonment well.He didn’t like to be caged.And judging by thefourguards sent to meet and restrain him, perhaps Vaxa’an knew that as well.
“We’ll talk to him, Vikan.We’ll make this right,” she said, determined to free her mate.“I promise.”
* * *
It hadn’t taken them long to reach the center of the outpost once the guards guided them to it.Taylor had stood next to her mate the entire time, hating the jingle of the heavy chains and knowing that such a proud male like him couldn’t stand them.
Her first thought ofLopixa, once they crested the cliff and she had a good view of it, was that she’d seen it before.And she had, in her visions.But in her dreams, there were vague imprints of what the outpost looked like, like shadows drifting across a wall.And seeing it in person, in bright daylight, was something else entirely.
