“We’re on our way.” Rovos narrows his eyes on Volethos. “Watch your back with that one. Don’t let him fool you.”
Beside me, Volethos is sitting quietly and staring straight ahead. Rovos is well within his rights to warn me, and I’m glad for the reminder. Now that we’re free, I can’t help wondering what might stop him from betraying me the way he’s betrayed so many others? I haven’t forgotten it was him who orchestrated the attack on my home in order to steal Anna. An attack that killed people. Friends.
I nod. “I appreciate your help, although I hope we won’t need it.”
Glancing over at Volethos, who has been through a lot since before the time I’ve spent with him, I’m willing to give him a chance to prove that he’s changed.
“I hope not too,” Rovos says, giving Volethos a warning look. “In the meantime, when you get to Kurrahstka’s, try not to let Igid kill everyone.”
“Your confidence in me is astounding,” I grumble as everyone laughs.
After I promise to keep in touch, I end the comm and lean back in my seat. “Well, that went better than I expected.”
Beside me, Volethos only sighs, saying nothing in his defense.
CHAPTER 24
IGID
* * *
I’m back in the corner. Across from me is a flimsy paper tray they brought my meager meal on. So far no one has made a single mistake that might allow me to gain the upper hand and escape. The more time that passes, the more worried I grow about leaving Brox behind. Maybe someone arrived to check out the station, and he was able to get a ride. A meal. Water.
Vittu.
What a mess I’ve gotten myself into.A mess I alone created.
In my hands is my useless comm.
It seems that Kurrahstka somehow managed to deaden the comm system in this room, which means I can’t get a signal in or out.
I’ve done some pretty dumb things in my life, but this… this might rank at the very top. What’s worse, I have no backup or way to wiggle myself out of this.
The lights in this room never fade or turn out, and, of course, there are no clocks, so there is no telling how long I’ve even been here, but I’ve started to catch myself nodding off. Whether that’s because my body thinks it’s time to sleep or because I’m bored, I can only guess.
My eyes are just drifting closed when the sound of the door sliding open startles me awake. I push myself to my feet but don’t make it any farther than that before two huge males barrel into me, pinning me to the wall.
A scream rips from my throat, but my movements are lagging from exhaustion, and no matter how hard I fight, I can’t gain the upper hand.
“Watch her tail,” I hear Kurrahstka shouting from the doorway that is wide open.
Letting out a feral scream, I fight even harder against them. I need to get through that door! My tail thrashes, and I whip the tip across one of their faces, eliciting a string of curses before one of them grabs it. He almost breaks it before I can break free of his grip. Then one of them slams a meaty fist into my stomach, knocking the wind from me, and I double over. The advantage is theirs once more, and I’m helpless to stop them when they pull my arms behind my back, where they wrap my wrists with cord.
“Not so tough now, are you, bitch?” one of the males hisses, spraying spittle against my cheek to drip down my face.
Oh, fuck this asshole.
Gnashing my teeth, I shift my weight and move my foot behind the leg closest to me. Already bent over, I twist and drive my shoulder up into his ribs. Then, when he doubles over, I lean against him and drive my knee up and into his nose with a satisfying crack.
There is no time to enjoy his writhing sobs before the other male grabs a fistful of hair at the nape of my neck. Then he forces me toward the open door, and all my concentration goes to keeping my feet under me. When we get to the doorway, Kurrahstka steps back and pulls a shock stick from behind his back. With a gleeful grin on his ugly red face, the fucker jabs it right under my ribs while the brutes hold me between them and laugh at the screams that are forced from me.
“That’s better,” Kurrahstka says when he finally pulls the stick away, and I can do little more than tremble from the electricity coursing through me. “Bring her. We’ll finish this in my office.”
I’m in real danger of vomiting as the brutes force me to follow behind Kurrahstka while my stomach roils and my skin sparks. When we get to the end of the hall, they shove me inside Kurrahstka’s office and then swing me around so my front is shoved up against the door after it slides shut. A hand in my hair grinds my cheek into the metal, and one of their guts pins me.
“Now,” Kurrahstka says from somewhere behind me, “I want you to tell me exactly how you found out I had the human females and how many others know.”
“I already told you.” Not for the first time, I wonder what males have against listening?
