We hurried toward the palace walls and began searching carefully for hidden entrances.
“Here,” said Krin, charging ahead. “I found a door.”
IN THE TUNNEL’S DARKNESS, Krin and I silently made our way through the maze while I sensed Grace’s presence as I got closer to her.
My stomach burned like a small fire at the thought of being too late.
I needed to find her and destroy the male who dared to take her from me.
I called out to her in my mind as we went. Grace’s voice echoed in my head, telling me she was still there, attempting to delay her transfer.
We need to find her. NOW.
HER PRESENCE BECAMEmore noticeable to me than her scent.
Halting in front of the very first wooden door we spotted, I clutched the handle with the expectation of it being locked, only to find it open.
“Trex!”
Grace attempted to run toward me, but was yanked back by her hair. She cried out, wincing in pain.
“Wait,” Krin grabbed my arm, stopping me from lunging forward.
My chest heaved with rage as I took in the creature that was threatening her.
It was no longer Nivar the medic, but the same type of shapeshifter alien we had encountered in the cells. He held a full syringe to her throat.
His lips curled back as he hissed at me. “Come near me and she dies,” he declared.
‘I think it’s just a sedative,’Grace said in my mind, struggling against her captor.
I would not gamble on Grace’s life.
She kept her eyes fixed on mine as she explained why she thought it was just a sedative.‘He implanted something inside me. He was going to use me as a breeder for their species.’
My anger burned hotter as she revealed what his intentions were.
Interrupting our internal dialog, the being glared at me with the same air of arrogance he had earlier.
“If you want to keep your mate safe, you will allow us to leave the planet without coming after us.”
“Not happening,” I warned, gritting my teeth.
Grace let out a brief gasp when he moved closer with the syringe.
“Release her,” I ordered.
My mate’s eyes flicked to the table next to where she was standing, then she shot me a look.‘It’s a sedative. I’m sure of it,’she insisted.
Krin was bristling next to me, his hands clasped at his side.
‘I can get a clear shot,’he said.
I stepped closer to Krin to hide the fact he was going for his gun.
Looking at theflutzing grik,I sent a message to Grace. ‘When I signal you, duck.’
‘Okay.’
