Chapter 13 #2
“Most of the Tributes sent to us from Desert Roseland are females identifying themselves as Rebels. The trouble is, they come from all over that sector. Every gang. Rebels aren’t a singular group in Desert Roseland.
They are every female. If not for our restrictions about age, we’d likely receive them as young as you were when they first started training you.
But Tributes are required to be twenty or older. ”
That last statement changed her expression. Her eyes shot over to me in confusion and shock. “Twenty? Have you never had anyone younger than that?” she asked quickly.
I sneered thinking back on the many times sectors like hers tried, but their Tributes never made it beyond their borders. “Not for as long as I’ve been leader, no.”
Another flash of emotion twisted her face. “So someone who was sixteen never came to you?”
I sensed the importance of her question and stopped to look at her.
“Never. I wouldn’t allow it, Maze. I might be many things, but I’ll never accept children as Tributes.
” My tone was low and dangerous, just the thought sending my beast into a rage.
“And sixteen is a child. So, no, a Tribute that young would’ve never made it out of their sector. ”
Tears swam in her eyes. Before I could think better of it, my arms went around her.
I held her close, my embrace tight and unyielding, desperate to protect her from the life I’d made possible.
Fuck, I didn’t have any right, but I still held on.
Still let her warm breath seep through the thin material of my shirt.
Still reveled in her delectably soft body and intoxicating scent, all while damning the choices I’d made that led my female to tears.
When she pulled away to look up at me, I only let her go so far. It was selfish, and it made me an absolute twat, but I wanted her close.
“They told me you took her. Well, the Sky Demons.”
Her grief-stricken voice twisted my insides.
Fury simmered under the surface of my skin.
My dragon was ready to summon a world of storms to destroy whoever hurt our little Moon Beast, but mostly he was angry at me for being the reason it happened at all, and I couldn’t argue he was wrong.
I’d done this to her. I could’ve changed things and I hadn’t. Not enough, anyway.
Humans sent dragons into hiding. Humans killed my mother to punish my father—a human like them and female infinitely kind and wise who’d barely lived a decent life. Humans drove the world to collapse with their greed and selfishness, but we were no better. I was no better.
“Her?” I asked, my voice surprisingly gentle despite the debilitating self-hatred growing inside my chest.
“My sister,” Maze said, voice breaking, and my spirit broke with it.
“Luna.” A tear escaped her eye and trailed down her cheek.
I wiped it away, silently swearing to fix this in whatever way I could.
“She was sixteen. Seventeen years ago she disappeared. I was eight. They…they said demons—you—took her as a Tribute.”
A roar sat in my throat that would shake the very earth beneath our feet, but I needed to stay in control. She was counting on me to ease her suffering, right the wrongs, and prove she could rely on me, not become a deranged rage monster and scare her away.
“I promise you, children were never received under my orders, and I will look into it, Maze. If she’s in my territory, I’ll find her.
If your sister was sent to us as a Tribute, it means someone went against my orders, and I’ll see that they meet a grizzly end for the part they played.
At the very least, I will look into it and see if I can track her disappearance. That much I can do for you.”
Her soft hand touched my face, and I stiffened. “Thank you, Onyx. I didn’t want to, but I trust you. Maybe more than I should. But I’ve always trusted my gut, and you’re relentlessly honorable, if not a bit grumpy.”
I would’ve laughed, but her sad smile was a claw around my heart, squeezing. It was impossible to do anything but hate myself for the life my little Moon Beast was forced to live.
Her hand wrapped around my taut forearm, hoping to steal my attention but stealing my heart instead.
“I’ll tell you everything I know about the mission I was sent here on.
About what they planned and how many were sent.
About the Rebel leaders. Anything, I’ll tell you it all.
Just promise me not to hurt the other Rebels.
I doubt any of them know the truth. Just, if you can promise me that much, I’ll tell you everything.
If I can burn those greedy fuckers down with me, I—”
A brutal snarl escaped me as I bent my head toward hers, the shift close to my skin.
“No, Maze. You are mine as I am yours. No one will hurt you or the Rebel females sent to us. Anyone who tries will answer to my dragon.” My thumb stroked her lower lip.
“We’re going to speak to Iris and fix this.
I vow it. You have the power of the Sky Demons leader behind you, and I’ll prove it when we return. ”
I’d right the wrongs for my little beast. Sectors like Desert Roseland would cease to exist, their females and children rehomed and the crimes committed by the many males against them met with my stormy brand of justice.
It didn’t matter what it took to convince my faction, what mess it made, or if it destabilized everything, but Tributes, human enslavement, ended in our territory once I returned.
No more excuses.
Iris had all the plans laid out to ensure the process was seamless and that the humans were given suitable reparations and support to start their new lives.
If I ordered it, the Sky Demons would bend the knee no matter how they felt about it.
Any who didn’t I’d deal with myself. I only wished I’d done it sooner.
Maybe if I had, Maze wouldn’t be suffering now.
All I had left was to convince my little Moon Beast to stay. Because no matter how unworthy, I wanted her. I’d do anything to keep her, and I’d start by finding out what happened to her sister, if only to bring her closure.
Maze’s eyes were wide when I cradled her sweet face. Then I sealed the vow I’d made to her under the full moon with a kiss so wild it might as well have been a threat.