Breathe, be calm.
I couldn’t. My brother was right there, looking exhausted and sunburnt. “Please.” The sob jerked its way out of my chest as I stared at him. I wanted to call out to him, but he wouldn’t hear me. I whirled to the voryzar,trying to contain my sobs as I pressed my hands against his chest, “don’t hurt him, it’s my fault we’re here, he’s innocent.” Noises that I didn’t know I was capable of ripped out of me as I cried. “Please! I’ll tell you everything I know.”
“Then tell me.” he growled.
I tried to tell him again about the university, about the Consortium’s offer for this mission. This horrible, horrible mission. Even the first research mission I’d been on to study his culture. It wasn’t what he wanted to know.
“I don’t know anything else!” My chest ached and I rubbed my palm against it, panic flaring. I had to help my brother. If he plummeted to his death because of me and my stupid lack of military knowledge, I would never forgive myself. I would give up all the Consortium’s secrets to protect my brother. It was a pity I had none.
My gaze dropped to the daggers on the hips of the other one, and I didn’t hesitate. My desperate actions must have shocked him, because I was able to tear a dagger free of its sheath as I made a mad dash toward the door. I surged forward wildly, my muscles straining, shoving the door to the side.
Powerful arms wrapped around me and wrenched me back. I cried out.
“Jacqueline!” Jaron’s panicked voice came to me before the door closed with a resounding thud.
Everything came crashing down. My breath came in panicked gasps as I broke. “I’ll do anything, please. I’ll do anything. I’ll find out what you want. I’ll find out…” my legs gave out as I sobbed, shaking violently. The strong arms binding me shifted and the knife clattered to the floor as I was carried and placed in the hard chair. I didn’t care. My oxygen was gone, my chest aching, and tears blurred my eyes. I dry heaved, my stomach spasming.
The door slid open and closed and after several deep breaths I forced myself to straighten. It took a second longer to focus.Hewas still there, watching me with something I couldn’t discern in his eyes. I didn’t care. “Don’t hurt him.” It came out raspy and pained.
He said nothing. The other vorpyr returned, this time with a third male. The male clapped his wings once, reported something, and left. My interrogators exchanged glances.
I had to get control of myself, to get control of the situation. I pushed myself to my feet, holding onto the chair to limitswaying on my weak, traitorous legs. “I can teach you. About our language. About our culture. It would help you to know about those you’re…not on good terms with.” I choked on the last words, the weight of betraying my species heavy on me. I would deal with that later. Now, right now, I had to save my brother.
They both regarded me silently, like I was some curiosity.
“Your brother has been taken back to his holding place. You will stay here while I am gone.”
Gone?
Without another word he left me alone in the shadows.
Chapter 8
I strode into my vorazka, my home, frustrated and tired, knowing something was off but not what. The humans were up to something, but I didn’t have answers and their presence here, except for my three captives, was like vapor.
Sliding a sparkling decanter from its place on my office shelf, I poured myself a heavy glass.
“You’re back.” Thyra’s soft voice had me turning. My shoulders relaxed at the sight of her, and I offered her a small smile. She came to me and pressed her wing into mine in greeting. She glanced from the alcohol to my face and tilted her head, studying me. “Nothing?”
I grunted.
“Zyvar said he’s been to see the young human female. Maybe he has something that would be helpful.”
At this point, I doubted it. I narrowed my eyes. “I heard that you came across the male and engaged with him.” Her wings twitched but she held her chin up. I sighed. “Thyra, they’re dangerous.”
“Are they?” she asked cautiously. I growled, but she held her ground, gaze unwavering. She knew how to deal with me, knew how much I loved her. I grumbled in my chest and took a swig of the spirits imported from Slolik. They had the best alcohol.Yes, think about that and not your sister making friends with the enemy.
According to Vuldrex, my head steward, Zyvar, too, seemed to have softened toward them after his numerous attempts to communicate with the female called Tatiana. I should have dragged them both with me when I left four days ago. I would not allow them to continue into danger, even if they were upset about my decision.
“I forbid you from speaking to him. He is an enemy, and I won’t have him deceiving or hurting you.”
“We barely spoke. He only knows a little of the intergalactic tongue.” At my glare she breathed a heavy huff through her nose. “He helped me with the currency translations and amounts for our latest sales.”
My eyes sharpened on her. “You gave him private information?”
“Of course not. He saw my notes when I went to see the humans for myself. He picked out the universal numbers I was using and had the equation done in moments without knowing the full context.”
“How did he get your notes?” I hissed out, my ire rising. What kind of foolishness had been allowed to go on while I was gone? Zyvar would hear about this. In my absence he was in charge, including keeping my sister out of trouble.
