Amid Stars and Darkness (The Xenith Trilogy #1)

She took her time getting to her feet, attempting to cling to some semblance of dignity. Besides, running from predators was never a wise choice. It only excited them more. She thought about slapping him, but you only got one freebee slap against a psycho and she didn’t want to waste hers.

“That”—she forced her spine straight and took a threatening step toward him—“is never going to happen.”

His eyes widened in shock at her boldness. Had he thought he’d scared her into submission already?

“Like I said,” she growled, “you don’t know me. I’m not the meek pushover Lissa you remember.”

People were starting to move toward the door that had just been reopened, and she turned to go. At the last second she spun back.

“Oh, and by the way,” she told him, “I don’t want my future children to be sullied with the douche bag gene, asshole.”

She left before she could do or say anything else suicidal.





CHAPTER 15

Of course, she had no idea where she was going. Outside of the bunker was the first of many square rooms she’d have to pass through in order to make it out. She’d managed to keep up with the first four or five turns, but that was way back at the beginning. She didn’t have to look to know the exact moment Trystan stepped up behind her; she felt him there, burning at her back like a flame. It occurred to her with a sick twist in her stomach that the members of the royal family probably all knew the way.

Was he waiting on her to show him? Obviously, as the Zane of what had for so long been a warring country, he wouldn’t have been privy to the way out. The Basileus didn’t strike her as the type of man who’d leave the well-being of his family in the hands of others, so they had to know which direction to go themselves, which doors to choose.

Which meant so would Olena.

“Lissa Olena.” A soldier she’d never seen before stepped forward, bowing his sandy-blond head. “Ander Ruckus sent me to escort you out.”

“He did?” She tried to hold back the frown but couldn’t. Why would he send someone she didn’t know? And, more important, who didn’t know her? How did he explain to this soldier that she didn’t know her way out of the maze?

“Yes, Lissa.” He bowed his head again. “He said to tell you that he’ll meet you in your chambers as soon as he’s able.”

“All right…” Crossing her arms over her chest, she indicated with a half wave that he should begin leading the way. Hopefully he’d take that as a sign she was allowing him to escort her and not that she didn’t know where she was going.

Fortunately, Trystan hadn’t said anything, though she felt him moving along with them. After a while he fell behind a few steps, but she doubted it was to give her space. Sure enough, when she risked a glance back, it was to find he’d been detained at the opening of one of the rooms.

He watched her over the shoulders of the two soldiers blocking him as she passed into another hallway and out of sight. She wasn’t sure, but he looked pissed at being held back, and she wondered what it was the Vakar soldiers could possibly want from him to risk his wrath.

“Watch your step, Lissa,” the guard leading her said, offering a hand to help her over the lip of the doorway.

“Thank you.” She walked with him toward a door on the left. “What’s your name?”

“Teller Dreadus,” he told her.

“On Earth, dread’s not exactly the best word,” she joked, smiling so that he’d know that was all it was. She was looking at him when he opened the next door, stepping through when he motioned her before him.

If she’d been paying attention, she probably would have realized something was off. Ruckus never let her walk into a room first. It was apparently too risky.

She felt the punch to her side before her senses picked up on the other presence. The blow was strong enough that it sent her sailing to the right, slamming into the metal wall with a heavy oof. Her head ricocheted off, and for a second she saw dancing black spots. Once her vision had cleared, she was able to make out three soldiers, including the one who’d led her there. They were surrounding her, crowding her into the corner.

Her anger rose and she stubbornly got to her feet, ignoring the sharp pain from her left ribs, where one of them had just hit her.

They were the same massive alien size as the rest, tall and fit, but not bulky. The smell of sweat surrounded them, and tension was a thick cloud in the tiny box of a room. It was somewhat comforting, knowing they were nervous, worried. It probably wouldn’t help her, but at least they’d suffer from anxiety after they killed her.

And it was clear that was what they were going to do.

“Don’t be stupid,” she said, trying to reason with them anyway. “Pretty sure this is subversion.”

They gave her funny looks and she cursed. Subversion probably wasn’t a word they had here. But seeing as how they were going to kill her anyway …

“Mutiny?” she tried again. More confused looks. “Damn. I’m calling you traitors, idiots. Get it?”

Not the right thing to do. A pissed-off soldier lunged for her, and she dropped to a crouch so that he ended up hitting the same wall she had. Scurrying out from beneath him before he could regain his balance, she twisted onto her butt and kicked out against the next soldier’s thighs.

It didn’t move him enough, but it caught him off guard and she was able to scramble to her feet. Frantically, she looked around for anything that could be useful. It being an empty room, however, there was nothing.

“Ruckus!” She really wished she’d asked how far that connection reached now.

Stupid.

The soldier who’d lured her here, Dreadus, moved toward her, coming close enough for her to lash out. Curving her hands, she used the only weapon she had, raking her nails across his soft cheek.

Four thick welts instantly formed from his brow to the point of his chin, red welling. A couple of beads of blood rolled down his jaw and plopped onto the cold, gray stone floor.

So aliens bled red. Who knew?

He made the mistake of freezing, probably surprised that cowardly Olena had struck him. Had they expected her to huddle in a corner and beg?

Taking advantage of his hesitation, she kicked out, landing a blow to his right kneecap. She heard and felt the pop, and rushed out of the way when he toppled with a howl.

The man who’d hit the wall earlier stood, preparing to lunge at her again. She was in the process of backing away when suddenly the door to her right opened and Trystan was standing there. He was staring at Dreadus, who was still on the ground, clutching his leg, and didn’t seem to notice there were two other soldiers in the room.

He’d partially blocked her view, but she saw the man against the wall push forward, still intent on attacking despite the Zane’s arrival.

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