Chapter 26
Chapter
Twenty-Six
Skye
Ijerked a thumb behind me. “Out there? But we aren’t supposed to leave this room.”
The Vandar put a hand to his ear. “Do you hear anything? It must be too early for anyone to arrive at the theatre.”
I paused, straining to detect any sounds beyond the door.
Finally, I went to it and slid it open a crack.
Nothing. No footsteps. No voices. Not even the scuttling of bugs or vermin.
Maybe he was right. Maybe we had the place to ourselves for a while.
It would be nice to get out of the cramped space.
If we were lucky, we could find some food.
I breathed a sigh. “Okay, but if we hear anything, we come right back here.”
He bowed his head slightly. “On my honor.”
It was odd to see flashes of the old, serious Kolt, but it was a good reminder that he was still there. Losing his memories and forgetting who he was might have softened him, but once everything came rushing back, the Kolt I knew—the Kolt I was starting to really like—would be gone.
This isn’t the real Kolt, I reminded myself. The guy who’s becoming your friend isn’t real.
He stood and gallantly swept an arm toward the door. “Lead the way.”
I managed a smile as I repeated the crucial words in my head like a mantra. Not real. Not real. Not real.
Tugging the door open all the way, I stepped gingerly into the dressing room.
All the while, my ears were pricked for the sounds of movement, but it remained quiet.
Kolt followed me, and when we were both behind the rack of dresses, I shoved it aside.
I might be able to squeeze around it, but he couldn’t.
The only light spilled from our hiding space, so I went to the doorway and flicked on the light before opening the door and sticking my head into the hall. “Where do you want to go?”
I turned my head to see Kolt crossing the room behind me with only a slight limp, holding a blaster in one hand. He barely favored his injured leg, which was impressive considering the size of the gash. Maybe this was the Vandar healing I’d heard about, or maybe he had a high tolerance for pain.
“We passed some prop weapons yesterday,” he said. “It would be helpful to find them again.”
“We did?” I didn’t remember fake weapons, but I wasn’t as interested in weapons and battle as he was. I thought back to winding through the theatre. I pointed to one side of the corridor where ambient yellow light flickered from the ceiling. “I think we came from this direction.”
He nodded, walking beside me slowly and keeping his blaster loose at his side.
“Should I have brought my blaster?” I asked. “If we’re going to practice shooting.”
He made a face. “I would rather teach you basic technique than engage in a shootout. Also, blaster fire from inside the theatre might draw attention.”
We walked through the dimly lit space, stacks of boxes and racks of costumes jogging my memory enough to tell me we were heading in the right direction. When we were almost to the stage, Kolt made a triumphant sound in the back of his throat.
Sure enough, there was a half-wall with various weapons strapped to it. They looked genuine enough, but putting my finger to a shiny dagger’s blade told me it wasn’t actually metal.
Kolt took a battle axe from the wall, testing the heft in his hands. “This is nothing close to a Vandar axe, but it will do.”
“You remember Vandar battle axes?”
He hesitated, meeting my gaze with his brow pinched. “I know how they feel, even if I do not know how I know.” He swung the handle down and then back up, swishing it in an expert arc. “I know how to use it, even if I cannot recall the training that taught me.”
At least he hadn’t forgotten all his battle chief skills. I suspected we’d need them soon.
“Do you remember enough to teach me?”
He grunted a yes. “I do not think you are the first one I have taught.” He cocked his head to one side. “But I believe you are the first human I have taught. I am certain you are the first female.”
That tracked. The Kolt I’d been thrown in the prison cell with would never have entertained the idea of teaching anything to a human woman. He’d barely tolerated my presence.
I tried not to think of that as I smiled at him. “Let’s see how good a teacher you are, big guy.”
A smile twitched the corners of his mouth, he handed me a fake battle axe that matched his own, and he motioned with his head to the stage. “Vaes.”
I didn’t tell him he’d spoken in Vandar, as I followed him from the shadowy wings onto the wooden stage.
High above us, faint morning light filtered through skylights and dappled the scuffed planks.
I peered out into the open space in front of the stage with a floor of straw-strewn stone and farther to the elevated bench seats ringing three sides.
It was all empty now, but it wasn’t hard to imagine it packed with people.
The place still carried the scent of sweat and dust mixed with stale ale and perfume, as if both the actresses and patrons still filled the seats and walked the floorboards.
“I’m not sure if we should be here,” I whispered, suddenly feeling very exposed.
Kolt walked halfway across the stage and turned. “The sun is weak. It is still early. If we hear anything, we can run.”
I wasn’t sure if we could make it all the way back to the dressing room if someone entered from the back, but who would use the public entrance at this time? Also, I doubted very much that he could run on his wounded leg.
“If you’re a quick learner, this won’t take long,” he said with a hint of challenge in his voice. “I will move slower because of my leg, but try to keep up.”
That straightened my spine, and I laughed. “Still cocky? Don’t worry about me, big guy. I’m a quick learner.”
His grin was wolfish as he bent into a modified crouch with his injured leg extended straight. He held the axe across his body, with both hands gripping the handle. “Follow my movements.”
I mimicked the position of his body and his hands, bending at my knees. I even replicated his predatory grin.
This provoked a deep, throaty laugh from him, and the sound echoed around us and skated down my spine.
Focus, Skye. Do not get distracted by his sexy voice.
He took a step to one side, and I did the same, but in the other direction. His eyes never left my face, the pupils glittering black. My heart pounded and my mouth went dry. Being stalked by the Vandar—even if I knew it wasn’t real—sent a thrill through me I desperately tried to ignore.
Then he swung his axe up and down, and I hurried to copy his movements, the blades striking each other in mid-air. As soon as they touched, he pivoted on his good leg and spun, bringing his axe around so quickly that I couldn’t keep up.
I stumbled back, the axe flailing. Instead of going for the strike, Kolt lunged forward and caught me.
But my momentum was too great, and his other leg was still too weak to catch him, so I pulled him with me to the floor.
Before my back hit, he jerked me flush to him and slammed his other hand to the wood.
I was breathing heavily, as he then lowered me to the floor with his body braced over mine, a wince the only indication that he’d strained his wounded leg. “Are you okay?”
“I am fine,” he husked, the purr of his voice skating down my spine.
Then I forgot all about battle training and even his wound as his eyes flashed heat, and he captured my lips in a fierce kiss. I let myself get so swept up in the feel of his mouth on mine and the heat of his body as he pressed it to me, I even forgot where we were.
Until I heard a throat being cleared and a foot tapping on the floorboards.