Chapter 20
Markus paced the room, waiting while King Reichardt and King Malachi discussed with General Ranier what would happen now with the Zyon.
General Ranier gave him a look, ordering him with his eyes to calm down. “I understand that you have a few warriors here on Earth that are interested in traveling to the other planet to search for more of our people. I propose an exchange. I have warriors and a few females that would like to try living here on Earth. They’ve spent ten years on a battle cruiser and are ready for a change.”
King Reichardt looked at King Malachi. “I can agree to an exchange.”
“Yes, I believe all the kings would agree to an exchange. When do you plan to start your new trip?”
General Ranier ran a hand over his short hair. “I want to give my people a month or two to have time to shift and fly on Earth. Deep space travel is hard and we don’t know how long it will take to get to this other planet. Plus, I will need to train those from Earth to take over duties currently done by those of my crew who will be staying.” He glanced over at Markus. The men chuckled at seeing Markus’s restlessness.
Markus went over to the window and looked out at the stars. He felt his dragon fighting to break free to go to their mate.
“Markus, sit down or something,” Roan told him, motioning to a nearby chair.
“I can’t, my dragon wants out and wants our mate.”
“If mating makes you act so crazy, count me out of it.” Roan crossed his arms like he made a decision.
“You say that now…but when you meet your true bondmate, it’s like nothing else. A piece of yourself that you never knew you were missing is suddenly there, making you feeling whole for the first time. It’s amazing.” Markus tried to go to the chair to sit down but just as he did, he felt fear come over him and knew it wasn’t his.
“I’ve got to go to her!” He started toward the door just as all the men froze at hearing a dragon call warning. They all got to their feet and rushed to the door.
He saw his mother and sister and many others coming toward the main ranch house. King Reichardt ordered the women to stay and a few of the warriors to remain behind to guard them. Markus didn’t wait for the others, he shifted into his dragon form and took to the air. The dragon call was from Sonar, and he knew Sonar was guarding Valorie at the saloon. He felt pain now and it was his mate’s pain. His dragon roared in fury. Someone would pay for hurting their mate.
It took about ten minutes to get to the saloon but it felt like it took forever. They landed behind the saloon and found Sonar’s body, his head lying on the ground next to him. The human sheriff and the male called JJ were there, but they hadn’t seen Markus and the others yet. King Reichardt handed him a pair of pants and shirt. They all dressed, and then he and King Reichardt moved forward out of the shadows while the other four men stayed hidden.
“What going on? Where’s Valorie?”
The sheriff glared at him. “This is a crime scene, you need to leave now.”
“I’m Valorie’s…boyfriend. Where is she?”
“That’s what I would like to know.” Sheriff Jenkins looked at JJ.
JJ ran a hand through his hair. “I saw Val taking the trash to the back but she didn’t come back. Then this guy, all of a sudden, jumped to his feet and ran to the back. I got worried when neither of them came back inside so I came out here to look for them and found this guy with his head chopped off—but no Valorie. I know she didn’t do this, she’s not that type of person.”
Sheriff Jenkins shook his head. “I agree, but we have to find her. She may have witnessed this or the ones who did it may have taken her.”
King Reichardt stepped forward. “Hi Sheriff, I’m Rei of the King R Ranch. Markus is an old friend of mine. I have a guy with me that is a great tracker. Could he come forward to take a look at the scene?”
“As long as he doesn’t touch anything. We’ve already called a crime scene team to come and collect evidence.”
Reichardt motioned for one of the males from the shadows to move forward. He walked around the scene and took in the scents. He then moved toward the other end of the building. “I notice three sets of male footprints, then there was four…and Sonar made five. There was a fight then the four males went this way and dragged a female with them. Let me track them further. I’ll call when I find them.”
“Go ahead,” Reichardt told him.
“Son, don’t try to take these guys on. Call into the sheriff’s office immediately.”
“I want to go, they have my mate.” Markus moved forward but Reichardt motioned for him to wait.
The sheriff looked at Markus. “We’ll get her back. Just hang in there.” He and JJ went to greet the ambulance and other deputy sheriffs.
Markus could track Valorie on his own. “I can’t wait, I have to find her. I am connected with her but it’s weak. Either she’s unconscious or she’s injured.”
“We’ll follow you.”
Markus removed his clothes and handed them back to Reichardt, then he leapt into the air, shifting into his dragon form. His dragon easily spotted the tracker who was still in human form on the ground. Where they took her couldn’t be that far.
His dragon perked up as Valorie’s scent grew and finally their bond pulsed stronger. He flew toward a farmhouse in the distance. He had to get to her in time. He couldn’t lose her now.