"The man who was trying to save us. But now it looks like I escaped from one prison just to end up in another. If we're found by whoever took us in the first place, I'm just going to end up in the same predicament. And what about April? Am I ever going to see her again? Or Val? Is she safe with that guy?"
"I promise you, we'll find your sister and your friend. And whatever it takes, I'll keep you safe. I won't let them take you again. I'll get you home."
His stomach twisted at his own words. He'd have to give her up. Watch her walk away and go back to her own world, her ownlife. But it would be for the best. Although he had feelings for her, there was no way she'd feel the same about him. And even if she eventually did, once she learned about his past, the way he'd squandered away his throne, she'd be disgusted with him. Better to let her believe he was just one of Lord Krissayr's guards who had a change of heart.
"It's so cold." Midori shivered in his arms.
"The pod's computer will put us in cryo sleep in a few minutes, and you won't notice a thing until we wake up on a safe planet. Until then . . .” He shifted her body so her chest pressed up against his and wrapped all four arms around her.
Midori snuggled into his embrace, and Cael smiled when he felt her sigh and relax against him. He'd meant what he said. He'd do anything to protect her. She was his responsibility now.
The sound of gas releasing filled the small pod, and within seconds the small human was asleep in his arms. His eyes grew heavy, and soon cryo sleep claimed them both.
Beep!
The high-pitched tone pierced through Cael's murky nightmare. He was dreaming of home, sitting on his father's throne, surrounded by masses of people shouting at him and screaming his name. Their hands grabbed at him, pulling him to his knees, and forced him to bow at his uncle's feet. Farther and farther down, until his face was smashed against the ground.
Beep!
His uncle's foot pressed against the back of his head, crushing him, leaving Cael with no escape until his skull screamed from the pressure.
Beep!
Cael blinked and opened his eyes to find his face smashed against the floor of the escape pod. He was lying on his stomach, and from the pressure on his back, Midori was lying on top of him. Gravity had returned, meaning they'd landed somewhere. Either they were on a planet, or they had been picked up by another vessel. He prayed it was the former and not the latter. He'd brought a blaster with him, but he didn't relish the idea of trying to take over a ship if his rescuers proved hostile.
Cael reached out and pressed his hand against the pod's computer interface, but nothing happened. The computer should have lit up with data regarding their whereabouts, but the screen remained dead.
So much for Lord Krissayr's top-of-the-line frigate.
Cael shifted just enough to reach for the manual release clasps. They couldn't stay in the pod forever. Eventually, the oxygen would run out.
He pulled the clasp, and a hiss of air filled the craft as the pressure of the inside matched the outside. A gush of cold air blew past, and Cael pushed the door open even wider. Dark gray sky filled his vision. He needed a better look.
As gently as possible, he maneuvered his body out from under Midori's small still-sleeping frame, using his four arms to lay her down. He didn't want to wake her yet. Not until he had a grasp of where they were.
Able to move more freely, Cael grabbed the blaster, sat up, and pushed himself to his knees as he looked outside and surveyed the landscape.
"Oh fek."
The pod shifted. Cael froze.
Fek! Fek! Fek!
"Cael? Where are we?" Midori said sleepily from the bottom of the pod, stretching out her arms and legs.
"Don't move, Midori," he warned. "Stay still for a moment."
"Why? Where are we?" Worry crept into her voice, and she froze.
"It looks like we're on the ledge of a mountain. I'm going to climb out and?—"
The pod tilted.
The ground gave out.
They were falling.
FOUR
