What?
“Jetutian,” she whispered, fear beginning to chill her once more. They were in league with the Krevorags, the ones that had abducted her from Earth. They ran the Pit with them, keeping a steady supply of females from across the universe. Only, human females specifically seemed to be a rare and highly sought after commodity during her time there.
She was going to be sick.
“No,” she said softly. “H-he wouldn’t.”
“Regardless,” Tavar continued, that smile dropping, “Po’grak will be here in a few spans to collect you. If Jaxor shows—”
“No, you were going to ransom us!” she cried out, desperation coloring her tone. Now she couldn’t keep the panic down. “You were going to ransom us to the Prime Leader in exchange for technology.”
That was what Jaxor told her, right? The Jetutians weren’t coming for her. She would be back in the Golden City soon, despite her capture.
Tavar laughed, the sound booming off the cave walls, making her flinch. Out of the corner of her eye, even the Luxirian female seemed to flinch, but when Erin cut her a glance, her expression was unreadable.
“TheJetutianssupply us with technology. What use would we have for his brother’s?”
Erin froze, her stomach dropping.
“What?” she whispered.
Tavar’s laugh faded, though he still seemed amused by her. Erin watched as he walked back out of the cell, taking the blue light with him.
“Wait!” she pleaded, walking up to the bars, locking eyes with him through them. “What do you mean, hisbrother’s?”
Tavar studied her. She wanted to smack the expression right off his face, but her shock froze her limbs. “Are you even certain you are his mate?” Tavar asked, brows raised. “Or was that just another lie he told you? I underestimated him. I should have made him a member of my council when I had the chance, even with the royal blood coursing through his veins, the same blood that doomed us from the beginning.”
Erin couldn’t breathe. The darkness was creeping in from around the cave walls, threatening to swallow her whole.
“Jaxor is Vaxa’an’s brother?” she whispered. “His father was…”
“You know nothing at all,” Tavar told her, looking like he actuallypitiedher. That look made her skin crawl. “And you still question how you came to be in my possession? You remain loyal to a proven liar, a liar who turned his back on his own blood, and not only betrayed him, but betrayedyou?”
The bile was rising. And rising. Her mouth flooded with saliva and then she dropped to her knees and vomited what little food remained in her stomach. The acid made her throat burn.
Tears welled in her vision and she heard their footsteps retreat, the only source of light going with it, leaving her in darkness. She heard Tavar’s laugh echo and a sob crawled up her throat, her chest aching with the memory of his words.
Jaxor.
As she cried, as fear and sorrow and heartbreak curled inside her, making a home, Erin wondered…had she known him at all?
Or had everything just been a lie?
Chapter Thirty-Five
Jaxor was dragged into the command center of the Golden City with heavy chains draping his wrists. The two guards flanking him wore cold expressions, but Jaxor paid them no mind.
The moment he’d landed outside, on the black sand, and requested to speak with his brother, they had secured him, as he knew they would. They had ensured he carried no weapons. They knew who he was—of course they did. One of the warriors he even recognized. They’d gone through training together.
He was exhausted, mentally and physically, and he could sense Erin’s distance like it was a tangible thing. He was frustrated because it had taken longer to reach the Golden City than expected and it was by sheer luck and perhaps the Fates’ blessing that he had made it at all, considering he’d run low on fuel just as he’d begun to cross the Black Desert. He’d skidded in on fumes and a moment later, he was in chains.
Jaxor could hardly comprehend that he was about to see his blood brother, that he would speak with him for the first time in over ten rotations. He didn’t know what to feel. All he felt was the pressing need to reach Erin before…before it was too late.
They made the short walk to the war room, where Vaxa’an often met with the council and his Ambassadors.
But when the doors opened and his brother looked up from the Coms, Vaxa’an was alone.
His brother stood from behind the circular table and they stared at one another for several long moments. Jaxor’s throat closed up and he had the strongest urge to look away, but he didn’t. He couldn’t.
