223. Down to One
223
Down to One
M aya
My hand, still on A’Dar’s thigh, feels his muscles tighten. He’s going to pull the trigger on the three remaining pirates, all terrifying males with crimson and black skin whorled with white markings. The designs on their faces look like death masks or something from the Mexican Day of the Dead holiday. Goosebumps swarm my arms at the way they look. Before A’Dar can pull the trigger, they turn on each other.
I assume none of us trusted Zedd’s offhand remark that she might allow two to live. We all know it will come down to one. These guys are pirates. I assume they have no scruples, no compunctions about killing their shipmates.
They attack each other so swiftly I can barely follow the action. TGN obligingly slows it down so I can watch every thrust, every parry, every nick and gash and cut. They’re snarling at each other, calling each other filthy epithets and ruthlessly fighting for supremacy.
The noises of a moment ago disappear, replaced by heaving breaths and the snick of metal on metal. One barks in pain, then falls face down, mortally wounded. As I focus on the male who just died, I miss a moment of the action. When I finally refocus, both the remaining males are clutching knives the other impaled in their chest.
They’re standing three feet from each other, backs bowed, shoulders heaving with exertion. They’re mirror images of each other. Odder still, they slip to their knees at almost the same moment.
TGN slows the feed even more, so we can see blood spill from their lips as they begin their final death spiral. I can’t bear to watch anymore, so I gaze at the picture-in-picture at the bottom right of the display.
I can almost hear the menacing music from Jaws as the vid feed follows the last remaining pirate down the hallway. This must be the pirate captain, the male who could barely fit into his cryo pod. He’s so big his head almost brushes the hallway ceiling.
I never imagined A’Dar would be the David in a David and Goliath scenario, but my huge Xenon warrior would barely come up to this male’s shoulder.
We’re essentially the only living beings in this cargo bay since the males on the floor are either dead or dying.
“I’m a male of principle,” A’Dar says. “It doesn’t seem right ambushing the male. He’s armed with a sword, I have a laser rifle.”
My eyes widen in shock. So now he wants to fight fair? Is he thinking of hand-to-hand combat with Goliath? Before I can protest, he bends to kiss the top of my head.
“Although it doesn’t seem right, my heart, that doesn’t mean I won’t do it. I vowed to keep you safe. It’s my top priority.”
I scoot closer and tuck my head to his chest. Unable to quell my urge, I inhale deeply, allowing his scent to work its magic. It calms both my body and my mind.
“What do you think Zedd has in store for us?” I ask while we wait for the captain to barge through the doors at the other end of the cavernous space.
“I have no idea, Maya, but by the look on her face, it will be diabolical.”
We’re both watching the vid feeds as the pirate bursts through double doors. It takes my brain a long moment to realize it’s silent in here. The doors remain closed. He didn’t enter the cargo bay.
“Shit!” He’s not the last person standing. There are three females still alive who need to be confirmed kills before he can claim his prize. He isn’t coming for A’Dar, who isn’t even on the roster. By the look of where he is, he’s in the comms room with Ran’Kin and Emily.
“Do. Not. Move!” A’Dar says as he jumps off our perch of industrial-sized boxes, then leaves the cargo bay at a run.