Chapter 31
Calypsta
The Rendezvous Point
“Get up,” Reyne growled as he tugged on her shackled wrist.
No matter what I say or do. Trust in me, my love. Kendra repeated the words in her mind, wanting to believe them, however, she couldn't shake the unsettling fear that created doubt.
Had he been playing a game with her this entire time?
Had this been his plan from the beginning?
Her mind swirled in confusion.
When Kendra didn’t budge, Reyne fisted a handful of hair without the gentleness she had grown accustomed to. “Ouch.” She grabbed the chain and tugged back with a heated glare.
“Reyne, there you are,” said a deep masculine voice.
“About time, Asher,” Reyne responded with a hint of annoyance. He released his grip, freeing her scalp from his rough hold.
A scowling dark-haired Taleari guard, dressed in a grey military uniform, emerged from a bend in the trail. “What took so long?” Asher questioned.
She continued to regard Reyne with an angry stare and rubbed her sore scalp.
“This spitfire here. She drugged me, causing my landing to veer off course.”
Asher tossed back his head and roared with laughter. “I never thought I’d see the day the mighty Reyne was almost bested by his mark.”
“She is feisty for a Valerian.” He patted her head, like she was his pet. She swatted his arm with her free hand.
Asher's humor sobered and his gaze settled on her with unrestrained contempt. “Mordrick will enjoy breaking her.”
“Indeed.” Reyne’s fingers bit into her forearm and he yanked her to her feet. Infuriated by his rough treatment, Kendra tried to slap him with her free palm. He stopped her mid-strike and growled in her ear, “remember what I told you, wench.”
“I will gladly take her from here,” Asher offered and reached for the chain that Reyne held in a tight grip. Reyne raised a palm, halting him. “No one touches my prisoner but me, at least not until we reach Talear and I have personally delivered her to Mordrick.”
Asher inspected them for a long minute. “Pity. I would love to wrap that chain around her Valerian neck and drag her to the ship.” He pivoted and headed down the path, toward a group of similarly attired soldiers.
Reyne spun her, letting his fingers brush hers before he shoved her forward. “Move.”
“I hate you,” she spat over her shoulder.
“A?a c? ?mi tot aminte?ti, iubirea mea.” So you keep reminding me, my love.
“What did you say to her?” asked Asher with an annoyed huff. “You know I hate it when you and your brethren speak in a language I don’t understand.”
“I told her how much I hate her.”
His lie stunned her, but now she understood his true intentions.
“I can see why.”
Being despised for her Valerian heritage was one thing, but being threatened with a chain around her neck, and then being mocked was irritating. “Spune-i c? dac? ?ncearc? s?-mi ?nl?n?uie gatul, ?l voi lovi cu piciorul ?n vintre.” Tell him if he tries to chain my neck, I’ll kick him in the groin.
Asher spun back to them. “What did she say?”
Reyne smirked. “She wants to kick you in the balls. Hard. I don’t recommend letting her get that close. Trust me.”
Asher’s smile faded.
Kendra lifted her knee, pointed at it, and then at his groin.
Asher covered himself and resumed leading the way with a hurried step, increasing the distance between them.
A short time later, the trail broadened into a grassy field and Kendra stopped dead in her tracks. The orange sun had risen high in the vast blue sky, its bright rays bouncing off hundreds of shiny objects scattered across the expansive landscape.
Blinking, she tried to convince herself that what stood before her was merely an illusion. A mirage. However, there was no denying that a regiment of Taleari soldiers stood in tight formation before a massive ship.
The fear about being left alone on this planet seemed insignificant compared to the sight of the army in front of her. She should have allowed Reyne to leave her here. Unfortunately, now she could only rely on Reyne, even if her trust proved to be misplaced.
As they neared the Taleari vessel, she saw a prisoner on his knees, surrounded by armed guards. His wrists were bound, and his head hung low. Despite the Taleari uniform, she recognized his wild braided blond hair.
"Garrett," she uttered his name and attempted to run to his side, but Reyne restrained her with a firm and painful pull.
“Du-te la el ?i le vei ?nr?ut??i.” Go to him, and you will make it worse. His icy gaze met hers, a warning flashing in their translucent depth.
“I don’t care. Let me go to him,” she cried out, tugging on her chafed wrist.
Reyne released the chain. “Du-te, dar ?tii c? faci o alt? gre?eal? prosteasc?.” Go then but know you are making a foolish mistake.
She ran towards Garrett, but a scowling guard stepped directly into her path, blocking her.
"Let her pass," Reyne commanded.
“I don’t think…”
Reyne gestured to his Ramachii tattoo on his bicep. A look of instant recognition crossed the guard's hardened features. With a quick nod, he deferred to Reyne's superior rank and moved aside, but not before he flashed Kendra a contemptuous glare.
She sprinted the short distance, skidding to her knees. “Garrett, what are you doing here?”
“Kendra,” Garrett glanced up at her with a mix of relief and panic. “Trying to rescue you, little sis."
She caressed his battered and bruised cheek with gentle care. He looked terrible. Worse than terrible. Tears welled up in her eyes. "What happened?” She picked a few blades of grass from his braids.
Garrett’s swollen lips twisted in a wry smile. "I'll tell you what happened." He cocked his head to the side, while his azure gaze slid to the unconscious heap beside them. "He happened.”
Kendra gasped in outright horror. "Quinn," A lump formed in her throat. Quinn lay motionless on the ground; so still, Kendra feared he may be dead. "Is he?"
"No, at least not yet."
Kendra grabbed Quinn's shoulders and rolled him over until his head rested on her knees. She couldn't tell how badly his face had been beaten because dried blood covered most of it. She shook him with gentle pressure. "Quinn, can you hear me?”
He didn't stir, but he was breathing. That was a good sign.
Garrett nudged Kendra's side with an elbow. "He did this to himself, the damn fool.”
"How did this happen? I mean how did the two of you end up here together?” A frown creased her brow. “Especially together?"
"Odin’s idea, not mine.” He let loose a painful grunt. “We intercepted the rendezvous ship and replaced their crew. We landed here in hopes of ambushing Reyne, unfortunately these Taleari are a tad paranoid and sent another ship. We were outnumbered and didn't stand a chance."
"We will get out of this mess," Kendra vowed despite having no clue how. Right now, their situation appeared hopeless—for all of them.
“Time to go.” Reyne reached for her, pulling her to her feet. Beside them, several guards reached for their prisoners. Garrett was the first to be yanked up and herded up the ramp. Quinn was next.
Kendra watched with a wave of helplessness as the guards dragged his unconscious body—feet dragging, up the ramp. She could only pray they didn't inflict further injury with their brutal treatment.
When Quinn's body disappeared into the ship, a stout balding man with a weak chin and dark beady eyes descended the ramp. He halted before her, his oily gaze assessing her with cool disdain as his pudgy hand reached for her face.
Recoiling, she retreated backwards and bumped into Reyne’s solid chest. Like a statue, Reyne remained rigid and immovable. If it weren’t for his even breathing, Kendra would think he’d been replaced by a replica of stone.
“Reyne, you have done well. Mordrick will be pleased.”
“Magnius, I don’t give a damn if Mordrick is pleased or not. I just want my reward, as promised.” His tone was icy, detached. “I assume it will be ready.”
“Of course, your precious water will be ready and waiting.” Magnius scowled and reached for the chain.
“Back off, Magnius,” Reyne barked. He took Kendra’s shackled wrist and circled the length of metal links around both his forearm and hers, binding their wrists together, back-to-back.
His lean pinky latched onto hers.
“No one touches her until we reach Mordrick. Understand?”
Magnius flashed Reyne a heated glare. He pivoted and headed back up the ramp with a grumpy snort.
Once he had disappeared inside, Reyne leaned down and whispered a quiet warning.
“He speaks ancient Calysptian. Say nothing in his presence.” He ascended the ramp, following Magnius into the ship.
Bound as they were, wrist to wrist, Kendra had little choice but to walk alongside him to her unknown fate, her pinky clutching his as if her life depended on it.
When they reached the bridge, Reyne slid into an empty control station and pointed a lean finger to the floor beside the chair. “Kneel. Your place is on the floor…at my feet.”
Although she wanted to climb onto his lap and wrap her arms around him, she realized she had little choice other than do as bid.
After lowering herself to her knees, she leaned against his leg, trying to make her action as subtle as possible.
As crazy as it seemed, the warmth radiating from him somehow made her feel safe, even though she was anything but.
She may die soon, or worse.
For the second time since leaving the crumbling building, she regretted going against Reyne. Sure, she would have been scared, terrified even, but she would have been safe. But her only focus had been Reyne, her lover. Her love.
Damn. She cursed herself for being such a naive fool.
“Send word to Mordrick,” Magnius commanded. The crew shared similar looks of confusion, but no one jumped to do his bidding.
Coming forward, the captain cleared his throat. “Yes sir.”
“Tell him we have secured his prize. Advise him we also have the two prisoners who hijacked our first ship. Also, advise him the stolen ship has been recovered. The crew remains unaccounted for.”
The bridge vibrated with a fierce rumble as the engine ramped-up and the vessel lifted off the ground.
“Get your damn cursed hair off me, wench,” Reyne sneered with disgust and pushed her wild tangles off his lap, letting her silky mass cover their bound wrists from view.
“Fuck you, henchman,” she retorted with an angry snap.
His warm palm gave the back of her hand a reassuring squeeze that melted her heart.
During the short jaunt from Calypsta to Talear, Magnius glanced at her several times with a sly look and a faint secretive smile on his pudgy face.
Whatever he saw, it pleased him.
She shivered and leaned further into Reyne’s thigh.