“Thisis the female?” A vorpyr with purple eyes so much like Thyra’s came toward me. Arrazyl growled, halting him in his tracks.
The vorpyr with unnerving red eyes, tattoos running up his neck and arms, and black horns ignored the warning rumble and came right up to me. I had to crane my head back to look at him. I held his gaze. He leaned down and drew in a deep breath. A crash sounded as both Kyvar and the purple eyed vorpyr grabbed onto Arrazyl as he lunged forward, bearing his fangs.
Red Eyes smirked and straightened. “I meant no offence, Vorazyr. I didn’t realize you were new enough in your relationship to still be in a mating frenzy.” He tilted his head and continued to regard me. “This is not what I expected.”
Arrazyl pushed the other two off him and came to stand at my side, body tense.
“My name is Jacqueline. I’m sorry we had to meet under these circumstances.”
“Zyroth, I’m the Vorazyr of a neighboring territory.”
I nodded once, then looked up at Arrazyl, who was seething. “I don’t want to put anyone in danger, so maybe I should be at the back when you go inside?”
“You’re putting yourself in danger,” he snarled.
“Arrazyl.” I said softly, conscious of the watchful eyes. He growled, but it wasn’t threatening, it was frustrated. I placed a hand on his arm. “I have to do this.”
“She may have a weak little body, but she is showing vorpyr spirit.” Zyroth commented. I thought Arrazyl might lunge at him again and squeezed his arm before dropping my hand.
“I forbid it.”
“You can’t keep me from doing what I need to.” I said gently.
His eyes were stormy when his gaze met mine. “You will stick close to me.”
“I think I should stick close to someone else.” I would not be responsible for him getting hurt because I distracted him.
“I’ll take care of her.” The purple eyed vorpyr with three earrings, one so long it almost touched his shoulder, spoke.
“Fine. No wondering off. If we’re under pressure no looking for information about Jaron and Tatiana. If we take someone for information, we’ll ask. Do you know how to use that thing?” He nodded at the rifle.
“I visited a shooting range several times back home.”
Even though he looked like he’d swallowed a lime, he went back to his desk. I joined the circle of vorpyr as they finalized details.
“Zyroth and I each have a craft that can handle interplanetary travel. We will split the warriors between them.” Arrazyl tapped something on the desk and the plans vanished. “Unless you have anything else, it’s time to go.”
We loaded up into the two ships. Luuciyn, Arrazyl’s brother, I learned, took his job seriously and stuck to me like a burr. It didn’t take long to realize that he was a sarcastic rake. He must be highly intelligent and strong to be a Vorazyr, but he also definitely had the libido and attitude of a rich teen on summer vacation.
The trip took us several hours. Very different than the trip from Earth. Why was the Consortium out here? I took the time to go over the plans with Luuciyn, who seemed intent on making pointed comments and getting an invasive question in everyother sentence. I didn’t begrudge him. I was involved with his brother and was from a species they weren’t on friendly terms with.
Arrazyl stayed away from me the entire flight. I missed the comfort of his presence, but it was good he kept his distance. Distractions could cost someone their life, and I would never forgive myself if that happened because of me.
Some of us slept and eventually we arrived at the planet. The descent through the atmosphere was bumpy and my nails bit into the armrests. Space travel was not for me.
The nerves that had abated during the long flight came rushing back as we landed in the middle of a desert. High dunes I could barely see thanks to the quickly dwindling light concealed the craft on both sides. The other craft landed not far away.
“Having second thoughts?” Luuciyn arched an eyebrow at me as though it were a challenge.
“I’m worried about everyone’s safety.” I met his gaze with a cool look of my own. “It’s perfectly natural. I’m not used to fighting.”
He flashed a shit-eating grin at my comeback. What a terror he must have been as a child. His poor mother.
The warriors that would wait with the craft took up a protective stance around them and pairs went out to clear the area. Others got into their positions and finally it was time to go. Luuciyn wrapped an arm around me and took off. It was so dark I couldn’t see any of the others flying with us, but occasionally I could hear the soft swish of their wingbeats.
Low lights came into view. A lot of them. The compound was much larger than I’d expected.
We landed on one of the flat rooftops silently and without detection.
