Altris
Rage. It’s the only thing I can feel. It’s the only thing I can think about. I need to be strong for Karis, but I can’t do that if I make things worse. Taking a deep breath, I do my best to shield my mind, to keep the anger from spilling over.
Murderous intent beats at my chest, demanding satisfaction. Someone has Karis. Someone named Brennen. I felt it like fire clawing through my body as he forced his fingers into the mark I gave her, sending unfathomable agony through her. He will pay. His life was forfeited the moment he touched her.
I thank the gods that she survived the storm, but even now, she feels fainter, weaker. The tug on my bond is nearly non-existent, and her absence hurts even more than the active venom that spewed across our broken bond.
I’ll take anything to feel her again. I’ll take her rage, her anger, her hatred. Anything. As long as she’s okay. Brushing myself off, I set back towards the camp, needing to confer with Leon and the omegas before I set off to find her. I can barely think straight. The only thing I know is that I will have my mate in my arms, no matter the cost.
If I have to sell my soul to the gods, then so be it. It does nothing for me as it is. Fractious energy flows down my limbs, making them shake with every step. I only hope that I’m rational enough not to kill that bitch Alexi when I see her. None of this would be happening if she hadn’t helped Karis.
I don’t blame her entirely, and when I get Karis back, I’ll make sure she knows the full extent of my fury. But Alexi was an integral part. If only she said no. If only she came to me the minute Karis started to run.
As the camp comes into view, it’s a bustle of activity, and for a brief moment, I shoot up a prayer, thanking the gods for Leon’s hulking figure. He’s so much easier to spot, even over the other Alphas. His eyes widen as he sees me, his lips widening into a grin, until he notices I’m alone.
“Bring me to the omegas,” I grind out, unwilling to let my anger spill over until it’s needed.
The docile one hides in a corner, her soft sobs sliding into my brain like sharp claws, as if she’s tearing my mind in two. I can’t handle it. I want to make it stop but have no way of controlling myself.
“Take her outside. I will not hear her incessant crying. Not right now.”
Without a word, Leon steps in and uncuffs her, dragging her out of the tent. It’s just Alexi and me, and for once, she looks up at me with a face mixed with fear and dread. It’s as it should be. As an omega, she should know better than to come at me with her high and mighty attitude. Hell, the mark alone tells me she knows better.
Leaning above her, I slam my hand against the pole at her back and stare down into her wide eyes. “Who the fuck is Brennen? And if you know, you damn well better tell me. I’m not in the mood for your games.”
In an instant, her gaze turns from fearful to pissed. “Why is that beta here? Is he looking for Karis? Best to just send him on his way and not give him anything.”
I freeze, everything in my body locking onto her words. Dread curls around my spine and flows up my throat, nearly choking me. She knows this man, and what’s worse is he’s already connected to Karis in some way.
“What is he to Karis?” Part of me doesn’t want to know, but let a festered wound. I have to drain the puss to clean it.
Is he the beta she wanted to fuck, over me? Over my dead, fucking body. I’m more liable to let her watch as I take him, showing him who’s in charge. Violent images tear through my brain, of me bending this stranger over and driving deep inside him, forcing him to cry out and cum on the dusty ground as I pound into that bundle of nerves in his ass over and over.
It’s not a sexual thing. I don’t crave the idea of sleeping with him. I crave the idea of hurting him, humiliating him, showing him I’m the true Alpha and the only one that will ever touch Karis like that.
“My Lord Alpha. Please. Tell me. Is he here?”
“No.” I grind out, forcing my brain out of its loop. “But he has Karis.”
“Oh.” Her voice is barely a whisper, the soft tones rippling with dread, but I can still hear it. “He was cast out of the commune. He wouldn’t stop when Karis asked him to. About a week before you found us.”
My brain zips back, and one face appears from the murky depths of my memories. A beta in the desert. The venom that poured from his lips when I asked him about Karis. He knew her. He pointed the way. It’s that same sniveling bastard that has her now.
Not needing to speak with Alexi any further, I race out of the tent and grab a horse. Maybe if I’m lucky, they won’t be too far. Leon is right beside me, never speaking, never needing to. We communicate in a way that doesn’t require words. He knows I need assistance, and, in true soldier fashion, he’s willing to give it.
With the never-ending desert in front of us, it feels like such a daunting task to find two people, and it’s nice to know that I have Leon as a support. We ride off, and I pull ahead, racing along the water. From what little I gathered from Karis’s mind, I saw that she wanted to be near it to help guide her.
Honestly, it’s the one smart thing she’s done since leaving. It doesn’t make up for anything, but it’s at least a point in her favor. The water is crusted with sand, flowing in a stagnant swirl that mimics my emotions. I feel so helpless, so unsure of things.
It’s a state of mind that I detest.
If she followed the stream, then her hiding place should be nearby. It takes several minutes to find the large rock, but when we do, a burgeoning sense of pride blossoms through my chest. My Karis made it much farther than I imagined. For one so small and seemingly helpless, she moved like a snake through the sand.
The dirt in front of the rock is disturbed, as if she was pulled out. This is where that bastard found her. He preyed on her in a helpless state, and I was unable to do anything to stop it. Hopping off the horse, I ball my hand up into a fist and slam it into the rock, wishing it was his face I was smashing.
The pain that radiates into my knuckles and travels up my arm is barely noticeable. It’s merely a sensation that my body has to process on top of the anger flowing through me. I’ll probably feel it tomorrow, but hopefully, by then, I’ll have Karis in my arms. I can deal with any other pain if I know she’s safe.
Leon walks over to me and places his hand on my shoulder, never flinching when I whirl around to confront him. “I understand your anger, friend. I would feel it too if it were my mate. But you must control yourself. Your scent of rage is polluting the other scents here, and we need that to find them.”
Taking a deep breath, I stand there for a moment, concentrating on the simple movements of in and out. Though it takes a good several minutes, I find myself able to calm down enough to drag the other male’s scent into my nostrils. It’s that same asshole that found us while we were first looking for Karis.
Deep down, I hoped it wouldn’t be, but I can’t deny it. The only bright spot is her delicate scent of fear and rage. She didn’t want to be with him. This wasn’t a rejoining of lovers. Besides, I’d hope that any infidelity on her part would be something I could feel through our bond.
No. He took her by force.
My hands clench into fists as I picture his face. The audacity of taking something that wasn’t his. And that’s not even the worst part. The venom he spewed about her in the beginning is now going to the tally. If the gods show him mercy, his death will be quick. But it will only be by the gods’ hands because I will show him none.
Climbing back onto my horse, I look at Leon and jerk my head in the direction of the scent. We can’t go as fast as I would like, since extra speed means a chance of missing a turn or losing the trail completely. Luckily for us, his pungent odor is powerful, infused with both anger and the lack of bathing.
My lips curl into a snarl as I picture Karis having to endure something that smells so vile. I reach out to the bond again, but there’s still nothing. It drives anxiety deep into my gut. Logically, I know she’s there. The bond still has the hum of life at least, but even if her body is alive, she’s not responding. There’s nothing on the other end.
At least when she was angry at me, I could feel it. What I would give to feel it once more. It doesn’t matter that it hurt or nearly took my breath away. It was life, vibrant and forceful. With her being unconscious like she is, I can’t even tell if he’s hurting her.
Just him laying one finger on her is considered harm in my book, and he’s already done that and more. My blood burns as flashes of the pain she already endured from him lights up my brain. When he curled his fingers into the mark, her cry was guttural, agonizing. It ripped through my heart as if he reached in and tugged at the bond, attempting to wrench it free.
But it held firm. My heart glows with pride as that thought whispers across my mind like a cooling salve to my overheated emotions. Whatever he tried to do with his actions, it didn’t separate us. She’s still mine, and she still has my mark. Gritting my teeth, I duck my head and urge the horse just a little bit faster. With Leon by my side, we should be able to scent things better. What I miss, he should catch, same as me.
As we move, the scent gets stronger, the undertone of anger rising even that much more. I’m terrified for my omega. Granted, he’s not able to re-mark her or even give her a double bond, but he’s capable of violence. I smell it in the air like an oily film. It’s the same scent those in the rebellion wore, only they were fighting on the side of good. This asshole is only thinking about himself.
The horizon stretches out in front of us, an endless sea of sand and rocks. Again, the worry that we will lose him chips away at my resolve. Next time, I’m procuring a transport ship. I will never take on another mission without one. We could have tripled our speed. That, and Karis would never have gotten away. Even in the storm, I could have still pursued her.
But now, I’m stuck on these damned horses, searching for a putrid needle in a haystack. My eyes drift about, attempting to get our bearings. I don’t even know how far away from the base camp we are, and I don’t want to waste time and energy calculating it with my uniform.
Tipping my nose back into the air, Leon and I look at each other, mirrored expressions of shock lighting up our face. His scent isn’t the only one. Now, there are a myriad of smells of all genders and races. Pulling back on the reins, we slow to a stop and dismount, choosing to walk until we figure out what’s going on.
As we reach the crest of the large dune in front of us, what looks like a small city comes into view. It’s not nearly as sophisticated as ours, but it bustles with people from all walks of life. It must be an unreported trading port. Many of them crop up from time to time, but never ones this big.
Pulling my sleeve up, I dial in the coordinates, making a note in case we ever need to either use this port or defend against it. To my knowledge, the only other major ports were near Laxa and Gundhar, but this one makes sense. If my calculations are correct, it’s pretty close to the center of all of us.
I nod to Leon, and we mount back up, wishing to be at an advantage over those just milling about. Gripping the reins in my hand, I turn my horse to the side, easing him down in a diagonal motion. His head flies back at my command, but I know he’ll be more willing to obey this than to just fly down face first.
It takes a few moments, but soon, we’re both back on a makeshift path that leads to the heart of the port. The stench of unwashed bodies slams into us as we get even closer. Whatever this port is, it’s not for the high-born people. Groups of beta males conduct deals on the sidewalks as a mixture of beta and omega women stand outside of door frames, offering their bodies.
Glancing over at Leon, I watch as he pushes his respirators in before they have a chance at calling to him. As a mated Alpha, the scent of another will no longer cause a reaction in me. Not until the bond itself is severed, granting me a freedom I don’t wish to have.
The roads are small and filled to the brim with people. There’s no way we can continue to navigate on horseback. Glancing over at Leon, I tap my side where my blaster is hidden and wait for him to confirm back to me that he’s also armed. We both dismount and hand our horses over to a young beta male whose face is so covered in dirt and grime that I can only make out the color of his eyes.
They’re bright blue, like the ponds at the fisheries on the Water Sector. Just seeing them makes my heart lurch. I never thought I’d be the homesick type, but here I am wishing for just one more hot meal with Karis, one more chance to be together. No one dares swim in those ponds, but there are other blue bodies of water I can fuck her in.
The beta’s hands reach out for the reins, and almost instantly, he slides his fingertips over my horse’s nose and whispers to him, drawing a soft grunt and neigh from the massive beast. It tips its snout forward, bopping the beta’s hand. I never knew this horse to be friendly to strangers before. This child must have a special way with him.
Reaching into my pocket, I push past the blaster and grab some coins, more than what he’s probably expecting, and hold them out. “I need you to take the utmost care of our horses. We will be back as soon as possible.”
The enormous grin he shoots up at me makes my heart clench. Between Karis and me, would we have a child that smiled that brightly? And that’s when the terror sinks into my soul and twists about. Since I fucked her during a heat, could she actually be pregnant right now?
It’s bad enough that Brennen has her in his clutches, but he might also have my unborn child. Granted, I didn’t smell any changes to her before she waltzed out of the tent, but it could still be far too soon to tell. I have no earthly idea when an omega’s scent indicates she’s pregnant.
The thought adds an urgency to this mission that wasn’t there before. Unable to breathe, I simply hand the child the money and walk away. He’s far too young and innocent to understand the absolute fury that ripples under my skin. I need to be far away from him before he sees something he probably shouldn’t.
Once we’re far enough away, I turn to Leon and grip his uniform, drawing him closer to me. “What if she’s pregnant? What if the stress of all of this makes her lose the baby? What if-?”
Leon places his hand around the back of my neck and pulls me forward, resting his forehead against mine. With his free hand, he rests it against my heart and starts to breathe. “You cannot lose yourself in what ifs. Right now, we get Karis back. After that, then we’ll figure out the pregnancy thing. I’m not sure if this will help you, but with her being on suppressants, I would be shocked if just one heat would allow her to get pregnant.”
I nod, forcing air into my lungs. He’s right. I know he’s right. There’s so much unknown about her situation because of those damned suppressants that I can’t keep playing the what if game. Besides her being pregnant, the only other major question is whether she’ll go back into heat.
It’s that thought that spurs me back into action. I cannot control whether she’s pregnant—it’s already a done deal. She either is or isn’t. But with the heat, that is something I can control. The sooner I get her back, the safer she will be. All we have to do is find them.
Brennen’s smell is lost amongst the miasma of bodies, and my heart sinks. If I can’t even smell him, how will I have any chance of finding him? Looking over at Leon, I raise my fingers to my eyes and point at the right side of the street before motioning to myself and pointing to the left side.
With a nod, we split up. Leon will have to make do by just looking in every nook and cranny; however, since I can still smell, I have a slight upper hand. Closing my eyes, I breathe in deep, forcing the bile back down into my stomach. It’s not just uncleanliness I’m smelling, but also blood, despair, and hopelessness.
Yes, there’s still the occasional whiff of privilege. I can smell the stench of their colognes and perfumes as it weaves in and out of this cesspool of agony. Perhaps they’re somewhere higher up, enclosed in rooms that shut them off from the rest of humanity. But they’re not the ones that are important. I need to concentrate on two scents and two scents alone.
Having other Alphas and high-born omegas would just make it harder to trace. The fact that Brennen is a beta already puts me at a disadvantage. Perhaps eighty to ninety percent of the people here are in that dynamic, and most of them are also men.
Instead, I focus on the one scent I’ll never be able to get out of my heart or mind. Karis. If I can just force the others to the side and find hers, then I’ll have a shot. Leaning inside a nearby alcove, positioned so that all but what’s in front of me is protected, I close my eyes and take in another breath.
It takes several minutes of concentration to finally pick up on it, but it’s there. It’s a subtle sweetness that cuts through the grime and desperations, like a flower opening up under the suns to expel its beauty into the world. And she is. My Karis, despite her faults, is a delicate flower, struggling to survive. It’s not her fault she ended up with me, but if I have this second chance with her, I’ll make sure to show her in any way I can that I’m the one for her.
I’m her strong pillar that she can lean upon, the strength beneath her when she chooses to stand tall. I will do my best to never curtail her feistiness. Instead, I will harness it, use it to help Stanlion grow stronger than ever. We need more omegas like her, someone that’s comfortable standing up for what they believe in.
Granted, I’ll still have to keep somewhat of a tighter rein on her so that she doesn’t cause herself or others harm. There’s a selfishness in her that needs to be dealt with before she can reach the greatness she’s destined for. Out of all the things I could do, this will be the most challenging and fun. She will give me the purpose I so long for, even if it’s just teaching and guiding her, molding her into the princess she can be.
I push away from the alcove and follow the scent, shoving past people, not caring if I injured them or not. Any obstacle between me and my omega will either move or be moved. Luckily, since I tower over almost everyone there, they’re quick to get out of my way, bringing me closer to Karis.
The further I go, the stronger the scent becomes, until that’s all I can smell. My lips curl up into a smile as I round a corner, expecting to come across them both, but there’s nothing. It looks like a docking port, but there are no ships. I walk over to the dock and squat down, resting my hand on the stone beneath me. It’s still warm.
Wherever the transport went, it left not that long ago. I just missed them. Damn him. Damn Karis. Damn her stubborn pride. Sinking down to my knees, I rest my palms on the ground and feel for any vibrations, any indication that it’s not a ship that took them.
Nothing.
There’s nothing but swirling sands and blazing suns. Just like that, she slipped through my fingers again, like water flowing through the cracks, only this time, it’s not cleansing, it’s destructive. My heart cracks in two as I stare out over the expanse. Granted, it’s not completely hopeless. If a ship took them, then there’s only two other places they could be.
Laxa and Gundhar. It will take some time, but I’ll rip those cities apart to find them if I have to. Curling my hand into a fist, I strike the ground, careful to avoid my crusted knuckles. I turn my face up to the heavens and plead with Jarosh to help me find her. If any god can do it, it’s him.
In return, I’ll bless my first Alpha male child in his name. I will honor him with a sacrifice of meat and grains—whatever he wishes. I just need to find my Karis. I need to put my soul back together. The emptiness that yawns inside me as she gets further away is pure agony.
I rest my fingertips on my chest and claw at the skin beneath, desperate to carve the pain out of me. It’s not that I no longer want the bond; I just want to stop hurting. There’s an ache inside that pervades my limbs, my bones, and my tissues. It consumes me until all I can think about is the feral need to have my mate by my side.
Standing up, I grit my teeth in determination and turn back into the city. Time to find Leon and finish this once and for all. Hopefully, whichever city is harboring them will allow me to exact vengeance on Brennen, seeing as stealing an Alphas’ mate is a universal crime. The problem is, I have no idea what lies he’s telling them, or what falsehoods he’s going to make Karis say.
Since she bears my mark, he’ll know that he can manipulate her to get his way. Any threat to her is a direct threat to me. Though I don’t know Brennen well, I wouldn’t put it past him to manipulate the situation, twisting her mind until she succumbs to his wishes, if only to spare me. She may be a selfish little brat, but deep inside, I know she never wishes true harm on anyone, and that’s what he’ll take advantage of.
Static stabs at the air from the sleeve of my uniform as Leon’s voice crackles through the communicator, pulling me from my thoughts. Listening close, my heart starts to thump even harder. Leon found the son of a bitch, but there was no Karis with him. Fear moves my steps forward as every worst-case scenario floods my mind.
Perhaps what I’m smelling isn’t her leaving on a ship, but instead, it’s her dead and buried beneath the sands? Reaching back through the bond, I’m only able to calm myself by feeling her soft presence there. She’s still not responsive or alert, but she’s alive.
Sagging with relief, I lean against a nearby wall for a moment and clutch my heart, forcing my breath to even out. Judging by the landmarks, Leon isn’t too far away. I spot a nearby vendor selling food and decide to grab us a bite to eat since we have had nothing for at least a day.
The texture of the meat is odd, rubbery, and devoid of flavor, but it’s sustenance. The moment it hits my stomach, my insides start to clench. Leon and I will need to take better care of ourselves if we want any hope of finding Karis. We have to remain strong for her sake. I buy several more skewers, toss the beta my money, and take off for the strange building a few rows up ahead.
It’s almost non-descript, except that it’s the tallest building in this port. The architecture is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Granted, the entire port is that way. Whoever built this is certainly not one to conform to convention. Perhaps they’re from one of the neighboring cities? But still, that can’t be the answer.
Every bit of this small town looks as if it were transplanted here from another era. I recall some of the buildings as ones I’ve seen centuries ago, but how in the gods would it be here for all this time and no one from Stanlion knows about it? There’s nothing so spectacular to this port that would warrant keeping it a secret, and if it were, Leon and I were High Echelon Guardian Alphas. We were the ones that held the highest classifications.
We should have known about this place. If it’s not as old as the designs imply, then someone went out of their way to make it look aged. Not just the building designs. Every bit of this place is coated in grime, wear, and tear. Who in their right mind would create this?
When I get to the building, I pause outside the doors, noting the sign. There are several languages used that I don’t recognize. Even when I scan them with my communicator, they don’t pick up as any known tongue. Unease drips down my spine as I continue to read through them. What are these strange markings? Do they possibly mean something to the others that are here?
When we started the resistance, we spoke in code, using a cloud of secrecy to keep us safe. Perhaps this is the same thing, and this is a port that harbors all sorts of refugees. It’s better than imagining that they’re all renegades or something worse. Still… it’s an unknown, and I don’t like dealing in unknowns.
I continue to scan the list, hoping to find something to explain where I’m at. Hathana. Perhaps this is the name of where we’re at? Hopefully, at the very least, it’s the name of this building. This one word stands out at the very end, past the native languages of Laxa and Gundhar, in a language I can read. It’s in older Stanlionian though, but still legible. The mystery surrounding this place just keeps getting worse, and I want to be out of here.
Looking around, I note the betas and Alphas milling about, studying them to see if there's anyone I recognize, something that I can cling to for a sense of familiarity. However, no one stands out to me. There are a few Gundharian warriors and some Laxian mystics, but the bulk of people seem average, unnotable, and plain.
Once more, unease grips me and doesn’t want to let go. The need to leave fires up my brain, forcing me into action. I slam open the doors and spot Leon off to the side in an alcove, his blaster pointed at the same guy that told us where Karis was in the beginning. Brennen.
Anger forces out my unease, rippling through my body like a live wire. I need to dispel the energy and soon. I can feel it gathering in my arms, strengthening my legs. At this point, I don’t actually care if anyone steps out and tries to stop me. Forget whatever rules might be in place here. All I can see is Brennen and his pinched face staring up at me as if he’s consumed something sour.
The actual audacity for this beta scum to stare at me as if I’m the problem when he stole my fucking mate. Storming over to Leon, I ignore the words that come out of his mouth, and instead grip Brennen by the front of his shirt and drag him out of the building.
Though the need to obliterate him is strong, I don’t want to chance breaking any international laws that I might not be aware of, so I keep my grip on his clothing but touch nothing else while we’re still in the confines of this strange port. Leon follows close behind after dropping some money onto the table, paying for whatever he consumed.
As soon as we clear the door, I toss the remaining bits of food to the ground, unwilling to eat anything else from this unknown place. There’s too much about it that’s not normal. I can’t chance either getting sick or eating something that I probably shouldn’t. The betas that sit outside are quick enough to scoop it up, devouring the skewered meat in a few bites, so perhaps it’s nothing that’s deadly.
My stomach turns as I watch them, unable to taste anything other than the rubbery texture of what I’ve already eaten. I shouldn’t have consumed anything I didn’t cook myself, but at that moment, I had no idea just how foreign the meat could be. The beta I spoke with sounded like someone from home. His words and nuances were perfect, and so, I trusted something I had no business trusting.
Leon continues to speak to me in low tones, but I ignore him, brushing past the people lingering in the street until we get back to where we tied off our horses. Hopefully, they’ll still be there, and that’s not the meat that I just ate. Looking up ahead, I spot our rides and let out a sigh as we get closer.
The little boy stares up at us, his eyes wide as he sees my grip on Brennen’s shirt. “Where’s the lady?”
At his words, Brennen starts to struggle. His hand claws at my fist, but he’s woefully underpowered. Right now, it will take an act from the gods themselves to get him loose from my fury. I ignore him and address the boy.
“You saw her?”
The boy nods and points to a horse near mine. “She was there but looking down at the ground. She did not move. Is the lady okay?”
Tears prick my eyes at his innocent question. He seems concerned as well, his gaze darting back and forth as if she’ll just suddenly appear, her lips curled into a smile at the harmless joke. If only I could bring her back that easily.
“I -. We don’t know. That’s why we’re going to ask this man questions.”
We turn to leave when the boy calls out to us. “She’s very pretty. Better than the other omegas here. I hope you find your lady.”
Nodding over to him, Leon and I guide our horses to the outskirts of the port. We don’t even waste time getting back on them, not when every second counts. The moment we clear the massive arch that leads into the port, Leon takes the reins from me and frees me up to take Brennen in both of my hands.
“Where is my mate?”
The scum has the gall to look up at me and sneer, as if I’m saying the funniest thing in the world. And in that moment, I stare down at him, imagining every little way I’m planning on torturing him.
The first thing I can take is his eyes. He doesn’t need those to answer. And after, if he still doesn't want to talk, I can snap his fingers. With the strength in my hands, there’s a chance that I’ll rip them straight off, but that’s a chance I’m willing to take.
“Of course you’d fuck and mark that cunt. I’m not surprised.”
Anger tinges my vision, and in that moment, all my planning goes out the window. I slam my fist into the side of his face, watching in detached fascination as a tooth comes flying out to land on the soft sand. Again, I strike him, reveling in the blood that spills from his lips.
It’s a vermillion that coats my fingers and stains the sands, only to be sucked up into the heat. Much more blood will have to spill to turn the ground into the crimson that I long for it to be. Leon steps forward and grabs my hand, refusing to let me pour my anger out on the maggot that dared to speak that way about my Karis.
I turn to him, sliding my fierce gaze over his face. With cool, level-headed tones, Leon urges my hand down. “You need to find out where she is. Then you can kill him.”
At his words, I look down at Brennen, studying his slack jaw and glossy eyes. He’s still alive and still breathing, but it’s coming out as a raspy, wheezy mass of bubbling blood. Leon is right. I can’t let myself lose control; not until I know where Karis is.
Brennen’s lips lift, but just a touch, enough to show the emotion. But even that little bit causes him to wince in pain. “She’s gone, motherfucker. You’ll never find her.”
The words are slow, methodical, and ground out. Every movement of his jaw makes his eyes screw up in pain. Just getting that much out of him was probably pure agony. Curling my hand back into a fist, I drive it into his stomach, forcing his head forward so that more blood spills out onto the ground.
“Keep this up, and I’ll die before you ever know anything.”
I have to speed this up. I have to know where Karis is. I thrust my hand out, gripping Brennen’s balls, retribution flowing through my fingers as I tighten them. I can feel the round orbs shift about in a desperate plea to escape the crushing might of my grip. Brennen’s eyes bulge out as only a thin whisper of sound escapes his lips.
“Where. Is. She? If you want any hope of having children later, you will answer me.”
“L -. L-.” I ease off my grip, allowing him to speak fully. “Laxa. I sold her to one of those robed freaks.”
Satisfied with his answer, I choose to make his ending quick. Tightening my fingers once more, I grip his limp sac and twist as I pull my hand back in a fast motion. The fibers of his skin as it pulls apart reverberate up my arm, fueling my bloodlust. I continue to pull until his entire sac, balls and all, rest in my palm.
A short, loud keening erupts from his throat just moments before his eyes roll back into his head and he goes limp in my arms. He’s not dead yet, but there’s no way he’ll ever survive. Tossing him into the sand, I watch as it soaks up the blood pouring from his body.
“May Jarosh have his vengeance on you when you meet him in the afterlife.” With a flick of my wrist, I toss his testicles and skin onto the ground beside his body. It should make a delightful treat for the birds.
Turning back to the communicator in my sleeve, I first put out a message to the camp. At this rate, it will be much quicker for us to go to Laxa from where we’re at instead of making the trip back to them. In short, concise words, I order them to gather the two omegas and head back to Stanlion.
They are to reside in two separate cells until I’m able to come back and stand at their trial. After getting confirmation that my orders will be carried out, I send another communique to Stanlion, asking for both a transport and a diplomat, just in case things get dicey.
Naturally, there’s fear about Karis’s wellbeing, but until I can find her, I have nothing else to report. I tell them everything that’s happened, except that I have made Karis my mate. I know full well that Jaxxon is listening in; I can hear his huffing breath every time I mention Brennen. And so, I don’t want to reveal that part just yet. I want to see him face to face.
“But he’s dead. Correct?” Jaxxon finally breaks through, his words sharp.
Staring down at the body, I study his chest for several moments before confirming. His eyes are open but unseeing. His body is stiff and rigid, his jaw limp. Soon, his body will be food for any animals that roam about, and I can’t think of any other way for him to go off into the afterlife than this.
“He is dead.”
Jaxxon’s relief is almost palpable as it comes through the static. “Good. I’ll update Annora. Just find Karis. Do whatever it takes to get her back. I’m not familiar with Laxa as it is now, but in my past life, they were peaceable, willing to make deals. It will always be in their favor, but typically not unjust. Just give them whatever they want, and I’ll compensate you when you’re back.”
Closing the panel in my uniform, I take my horse back from Leon and head into the city. Luckily for me, this is one of the war horses and not one of my own personal stock. It would be the last straw if I had to give him up. As it is, a thread of sorrow still winds around my heart as I reach up to pat his nose.
It’s not his fault that he can’t come with us. The transports we own are small, but that’s what makes them so fast. I’m more than willing to sacrifice this warhorse if it means getting to Karis sooner, but it doesn’t make it hurt less. When the gods saw fit to give me an omega, I didn’t realize how much they’d want from me as payment, but she’s mine now, and I’ll give up the world if it means getting her back.
The little boy is still there, his brows drawing down as he sees us coming. His lips turn into a slight pout as he looks between Leon and I. “Where’s the other man? The beta?”
I pause, looking over at Leon for guidance. I don’t deal with children; I never have. But instead of helping me, the bastard takes a step back and smiles before motioning for me to answer the question.
“He is asleep.”
Leon busts out with a bark of laughter, drawing my angry gaze to him.
“He’s dead. Is that what you mean? Everyone dies here, mister. It’s only a matter of time. You don’t have to shield me like I’m a baby. I’m not a baby. I’m nearly ten, old enough for you to not lie to me.”
Shock zips through my brain as I stare down at the small child, hands balled into fists as he stares up at me. The utter fearlessness of him. This is exactly what I picture Karis and my children as being like. Never afraid and always questioning everything around them.
“Yes. He is dead.”
“Good. He was a bad man.”
Once more, my body bristles, wishing I could kill Brennen all over again. “Did you see him do something to the lady?”
The boy shakes his head before looking back at me. Dumbstruck, I watch as he freezes, his body jerking for just a few moments, then nothing. I’ve never seen anything like this. He stares ahead, but nothing on him moves. It’s as if he’s frozen in time. Even Leon finds this odd enough to step forward, placing his hand in between us, his free hand palming the pocket that has his blaster.
After several moments where none of us speaks, the little boy shakes, as if coming out of a dream. “Take heed,” he whispers, his eyes still struggling to focus. “Your victory will be short-lived. Watch those around you. Keep what’s precious to you close. Your bond will guide the way.”
Within seconds of speaking, he looks back up at me, his brow furrowed for a second. “No. I didn’t see anything. But there was something about him I didn’t like.”
He continues with the conversation, going on about how he felt and the anger that swirled around Brennen when he dismounted. And yet, he says nothing about the brief episode that made him freeze in place. Leon still keeps his hands where they are, never budging, not even when the boy looks down at them.
“Why are you so upset? I feel it coming off of you like a cloud sliding off the mountains. Is he a friend of yours? Have I insulted you?”
Leon shakes his head for a moment before drawing back. “I’m just concerned. Is there something wrong with you?”
“Why would you -? Ooh. It happened again, didn’t it?”
“You tell us,” I grind out, refusing to guide him. I want this child to explain what the fuck we just saw all by himself.
“I froze for a bit, didn’t I?” The little boy pauses, his lips quirking up. “I take it you haven’t been around many Laxians?” He laughs for several moments, the wheezing sound starting to grate along my nerves.
“I can understand how scary it can look,” he continues, the laughter dying down. “But I’m okay. Honest. I get visions and then pass them on. I try to convey what I see, but sometimes it comes out in a garbled mess that I can’t even make sense of.”
Leon and I step backward, not wanting to continue threatening the child in any way. If we’re going to have to play nice with Laxa to get Karis back, then the last thing we need is for this child to embellish our actions.
“And these visions of yours. They come true?” I don’t want to believe him, but right now, I’ll gather any clues I can, including ones from this so-called Laxian.
Tears shine in his eyes as he backs away. “You didn’t like it. That’s why you’re so upset. I don’t mean to tell bad omens. I promise. I only say what I see. Please, sirs. Don’t be angry with me. I don’t do it on purpose.”
The hysteria in his voice is too real, too desperate to be faked. Unease slithers down my spine as Leon and I look at each other. We both act as if his words have no bearing, but I can’t shake off the dread that coils around my heart.
I take both sets of reins and hand them to the boy, desperate to forget anything that just happened. Instead of letting fear and terror take control, I latch onto the part where he said victory. I don’t care if it’s short-lived or not. I’ll take it as proof that I’ll get Karis back.
He also spoke of our bond, and that tells me she will be alive, even after getting her back. That’s good enough for me. Kneeling down, I get on eye level with the boy and smile at him, handing the reins to him.
“We no longer need our horses right now, but they seem to like you. Will you watch them until our friends come and get them?”
Within that small increment of time, I realize I don’t want to lose anything else. There’s always another way. When the boy nods, I open my communicator back up and call out for both Basq and Landon; however, at the very mention of Basq’s name, the little body starts to shake and tremble. At this point, I have no idea if he’s about to have another vision or if this is something left over from his earlier one, and I don’t want to find out.
Not wanting to vex him further, I ask for Landon and Gerond to ride to the location and take the horses back with them to Stanlion. He seems to calm down at those names, and so I take it as a sign that it’s the right choice.
Nodding, I stand up and slide my hand over the boy’s hair, tousling it slightly before walking off with Leon. Neither of us speak as we make our way to the docking port; there’s just no way to verbalize the strangeness of these interactions. Still, the boy has given me a lot of food for thought.
After finding Karis, I will figure out what it is about Basq that scared the little boy so badly. Is he someone that hurt him? As far as I know, Basq has never left Stanlion. Perhaps there’s nothing at all wrong with Basq as a person, but that he needs to be there with the group. Either way, there’s something wrong here, but I don’t dare probe at it until I have Karis.
Glancing down at my communicator, I note the time. With our transport taking us, it shouldn’t be difficult or take too long to get to Laxa. They’re still about an hour away at a minimum, and so we keep our eyes peeled for any other form of transportation that’s not an animal.
We get to the docking area and sit, looking about, just in case another ship gets there first. Either way, we will be in Laxa soon. I will move heaven and earth if I have to. I will spend every dime I have, give up my very soul if it means having Karis in my arms again.
Hold on Karis. I’m coming for you.