* * *
They were up bright and early the following day, having slept in several pueblos not far from the campfire. Airis fed them more odd foods that weren’t so bad, then gathered additional Tohrí and got packed up. Packed up, meaning pretty much just more arrows to fill their quivers. That and a couple extra daggers.
Talk about living off the land. They didn’t even bring water. Guess they didn’t want to be weighed down. Which made Garret laugh, imagining Airis’ face were he ever to get a look at the team’s rucksacks. No doubt, he’d balk aghast—then laugh his big, blond, forest-elf ass off.
Departing with four more Tohrí than before, the convoy set off, each Niran bringing along his own dekdónni. Garret eyed the beasts as they made their way toward the bridge, some soaring with wings spread wide, some carrying riders. Did the Tohrí keep them like horses? Have stables for them and shit?
They crossed the huge stone catwalk cut back into the forest, backtracking a bit northwest, according to Paris. Sure enough, after a good hour or two of hiking, the terrain turned wetter, denser. They were back in the jungle.
Garret scanned their surroundings. Every direction looked the same. He turned to Airis. “You sure you remember where you saw our people’s ship? It’s been a year, what if it’s covered in vegetation?”
Airis and Kato exchanged looks as they moved through thick undergrowth, their steps damn near soundless, like all the Tohrí.
Airis smiled. “Leí, oddling. We remember it well. Nothing else on Nira looks anything like it.” He pointed up ahead as several dekdónni padded nearby. “Not far from here, but we must first cross over a river.”
Paris nodded. “Yeah, the river. Their beacon was on the other side.”
“Oh yeah,” Eli grunted. “Definitely remember the river. Almost got eaten by tachi along its bank.”
Garret tamped back a shudder.
Kegan cursed and scrubbed his face. “Let’s not ever bring that up again. Okay? Okay.”
Airis chuffed, the sound soft, so much softer than a Kríe’s. “I vow to Nira that we will not let you get eaten.”
He was teasing, Garret could hear it clear as day in his tone, but his promise still eased Garret’s nerves, nevertheless.
He flicked Airis a smirk. “I’m gonna hold you to that, Tohrí. We humans frown pretty heavily on being chow.”
Airis cocked a brow, then glanced down the length of Garret’s body. “Pleasant thought, I admit…” He grinned and looked away. “But you are far too small to hold me for long against anything.”
Paris choked on a laugh.
Eli and Kegan snorted, too.
Garret rolled his eyes and fought a smile. Tohrí humor was wrong. Hell, if Airis wasn’t male, he’d almost think the guy was flirting. Garret paused in thought, considering their tracker. Paris was male—but also bi. Maybe some Tohrí were bisexual, too? Figuring he’d never know, he brushed it off and just kept on walking.
They reached the large river roughly ten minutes later. It looked pretty deep and had a steady current going, with sheltered coves randomly nestled along the bank.
Garret glanced around. “Uh, Airis? I’m not seeing a fucking crossing.”
“And that’s a pretty sizable drop,” Eli added. He peered over the edge. “Yeah, man. Fifty feet easy.”
“Fuuuck.” Kegan ruefully eyed his dry clothes. “Please tell me we ain’t swimming. Soggy sucks.”
“Yeah.” Paris nodded, regarding the water. “And since this here is an alien jungle, there’s probably alien leeches all up in there.”
The team groaned in unison.
Airis laughed and shook his head. “Nún. No swimming.”
Helix crossed his arms. “Then what’s the plan?”
Airis’ eyes flashed. Peering upward, he loosed a low yip. Kotchka dropped down from a tree. “We fly.”
Garret’s brows shot up fast.
Paris punched the air. “Yes!”
Airis grinned and gave his companion a quiet command.
Next thing Garret knew, his black-haired tracker was flying, while rowdy Tohrí dove off the cliff with arms wide.
“Holy shit.” Kegan gaped, watching dekdónni dive off too, barking and cawing as they swooped down to catch the daredevils.
“Fuck,” Eli laughed.
Sasha smiled with a nod.
Even Helix’s dark eyes betrayed his excitement.
Ten minutes later, they all were across—some wind-blown and grinning more than others. Another half hour longer, and they closed in on the site. Garret’s heart kicked up a notch.
“There. Just to the right of all those tall broken trees.” Airis pointed to a large metal structure in the distance. Damn near half of it was covered in vines and foliage.
“Shit,” Kegan muttered. “They’ve been slackin’ on the upkeep.”
Garret frowned. The sight didn’t bode well. His teammates wore similar expressions. The scientists weren’t there, and hadn’t been for a while. From the look of things, maybe not since they first crashed.
Exhaling, Garret raked a hand through his dark blond hair, then gestured to the spacecraft. “Go on ahead and open her up. There’s gotta be something inside we can use.”
Kegan slid Garret a pessimistic look. “Gonna go check out the cockpit.”
Garret nodded, watching his team jog ahead, the ship still a good thirty yards away. He glanced around, wondering where their own downed bird was. Paris had said that only a couple of miles separated them. Not that they had time to go searching for it now. Two detours hadn’t been part of Airis’ agreement. Besides, they’d probably never find it without their tracking gear.
Eli and Helix reached the spacecraft first and got busy clearing off vines. Sasha and Paris arrived soon after to help. Once they cleared the vessel’s side plug door, Eli opened up the hatch and dropped the ramp.
Garret watched them climb inside, disappointed but not surprised by their findings. Tough break. Maybe their streak of better luck had come to an end. Next stop: Múnrahki castle.
Sighing, he traipsed forward with the remainder of the convoy, until he noticed that every Tohrí had pulled up short.
Garret paused too, and looked at Airis. “What’s wrong? Why’d you stop?” Even the dekdónni had gone stock still.
Stance braced, Airis scanned the trees intently, ears twitching. “We are not alone here,” he murmured. “There are others.” He sniffed the air.
Garret tensed and peered around again. The forest had gone quiet. “You mean, besides the usuals? ‘Cause I don’t see—”
Abruptly, he stopped, spotting something in his periphery. Movement up in the branches. Then a big dark blur dropped from a tree. It landed with a thump less than ten yards away. Garret gaped. The blur was one of Gesh’s pack.
“Kríe!” Airis barked, quickly grabbing his bow.
His clansmen did the same, nocking their arrows.
Another Kríe descended, same distance away. This time to the left. Then one to their right.
The dekdónni lunged forward.
“Nún!” Airis barked. “Dekdónni, climb!”
The beasts snarled, but then darted up the trees out of sight, their angry caws echoing through the canopy. Garret glanced up after them, frowning. Guess there wasn’t enough room to spread their wings, but fuck, couldn’t they have stayed to help out?
More Kríe touched down behind them, then a few straight ahead, caught in Tohrí crosshairs the instant they landed. Garret recognized them. Miros. Roni. Naydo. Beng. Even the twins. Who, with the others, now surrounded—and outnumbered—them.
Garret’s heart pounded anxiously. He glanced to their craft. His men had no weapons. Were utterly defenseless. Fortunately, he saw no Kríe around the ship. Maybe the pack didn’t know the guys were there. As long as they stayed hidden, good and far from the action, they’d be safe until—Out of nowhere, Gesh dropped onto the spacecraft’s large roof, the heavy impact resounding through the forest. Metal buckled beneath his weight. Still crouched from his landing, he loosed a thunderous roar that shook the trees.
“Fuck.” Garret tensed from head to toe.
Airis growled.
Then right on cue, Helix and Eli tore out the door. Eyes darting to Garret’s group, they braked in alarm, their gazes quickly registering all the Kríe.
Paris and Sasha emerged next, then Kegan did too, all three freezing in their tracks atop the ramp.
Shit, shit, shit.
Garret glanced up at Gesh. None of the team had even spotted him yet. Gesh grinned and stepped to the ledge, a big fat knife clutched in his hand.
Oh, God. What was he doing?
And still the other Kríe didn’t budge, just held their position surrounding Garret’s group. Garret’s eyes darted restlessly between his men and the pack, while beside him, Airis aimed for one of their chests. Why were they just standing there? He didn’t understand.
But then he saw them, more Kríe emerging from the brush, small sticks in hand as they headed for Garret’s men.
Oh, fuck. Oh, shit.
Garret finally understood.
These Kríe surrounding them were there to keep them at bay while the rest swooped in and captured Garret’s team. The humans Gesh had wanted so desperately from the start—and clearly was still determined to fucking get.
Air lodged in Garret’s chest. The Kríe had been waiting for them. He eyed the strange implements in their hands. Were they weapons of some sort? Did they plan to stab his team? Weapons aside, not even his ex-marines stood a chance against so many.
The guys tensed, spotting them.
Eli and Helix braced to engage.
Kegan cursed and shielded Paris and Sasha.
“Secure them,” Gesh snarled. “Incapacitate if you must. As long as they draw breath, they will suffice.”
Jesus. Garret tamped down an anxious oath. Gesh just gave his pack the green light to do damage.
The Kríe readied to pounce.
“NO!” Garret bellowed, sprinting forward. “Get back inside! Get back inside the fucking ship!”
His men glanced his way, clearly registering his words, but before they could take a single step to retreat, Kríe lunged, knocking the marines off their feet. They flew off the ramp and crashed hard to the ground. Kegan spun around to shove Paris and Sasha back inside. But more Kríe blitzed, bringing those instruments to their mouths. Tiny projectiles shot out and nailed the men still standing. They staggered, then stumbled, hands fumbling to pull out the darts, only to topple over the edge into Kríe arms.
“NO!” Garret hollered again, but before he could reach them, was tackled by one of the pack surrounding their group.
“Now!” Airis shouted.
Arrows whizzed overhead, a furious barrage in every conceivable direction. The Kríe atop Garret roared. Guess the bastard got hit. But then he yanked Garret up and dragged him, limping, toward the spacecraft. The reason was clear. Once they had all of Garret’s team, the Kríe were going to up and fucking split.
Garret fought to get free. “Get your fucking hands off me!”
“Quiet!” the Kríe grated. The one called Miros.
But Garret wouldn’t be quiet. Wouldn’t be cowed. Wrenching around, he grabbed the arrow in Miro’s side and gave the thing a big ole hardy yank.
Miros howled and loosened his hold.
“Garret!” someone shouted.
Garret glanced over his shoulder as he grappled to escape.
Airis, racing his way, dodging countless Kríe. Juking as they dove at him. Hurdling obstacles while firing his bow—three arrows at a time, Garret noticed. But as the blond male closed in, he didn’t slow down, just leapt up and plowed Miros over with both feet. The Kríe slammed into the dirt.
Airis yanked Garret off the ground. “Do not ever leave my side again!”
“But my men!”
“They will not take them! I vow to you, we will not allow it!”
Arrows tore by their heads. Roars and shouts resounded. Garret glanced back. Both sides were fully engaged. Kríe on top of Tohrí. Tohrí ducking and dodging, ever unloading their bows into the enemy.
Garret gaped, eyeing the Kríe. They had arrows freaking everywhere. In their arms and shoulders. In their backs and thighs. Some had even taken them in their glutes. And yet, somehow the brutes barely seemed fazed. Their adrenaline must be like high-test fucking octane.
Airis pulled him along, running and leaping over foliage. A handful of other Tohrí kept up pace. They advanced toward the ship. Garret couldn’t see his men—until he did.
“Oh, God.” His heart plummeted.
Piled haphazardly against the ship, his men lay unconscious. Even Eli and Helix had been tranq’ed.
They pulled to a stop at the foot of the ramp.
Garret vibrated, furious. “You fucking bastard.”
Gesh merely grinned and dropped down from the roof. “You are just angry because I won.”
Garret glanced back at the battle still waging—or maybe it wasn’t. Now that Gesh’s pack saw that he and the others had gotten past them, they no longer seemed interested in fighting. Snarling, the Kríe turned and lumbered toward the ship, only pausing to bare their fangs at the Tohrí who kept shooting them.
Garret turned back and glared. “You haven’t won. Not yet. Still got one more human to bag.”
Gesh chuffed. “But to bag you is unnecessary, moyo. You will come with us voluntarily to watch over your men.”
Airis’ drew his bow and aimed dual arrows at Gesh’s face. “Release them to us or I will not be so kind with my aim. I have one notched for each of your eyes.”
Gesh chuckled as the rest of Airis’ band joined the gathering. “As if you would do such. You are rodents. You do not kill.”
Airis narrowed his eyes. His chocolate irises flashed. “True. We try not to unless a life is in danger. Our dekdónni, however, are less rigid in their stance.”
Gesh’s grin faded fast.
Airis smirked and eyed the trees, then fired three deep yips up into the canopy. Instantly, all eight beasts dropped like lightning out of nowhere, plowing Kríe to the ground with fiery squawks.
The downed pack mates roared, but before they could shake it off, Airis shouted, “Dekdónni, seize!” and, yup, game over. The winged beasts had their victims pinned beneath their big paws, with their razor-sharp beaks clutching their necks.
The other Kríe went rigid, then turned to attack, but the Tohrí already had arrows trained on their chests. Notched and ready, the blonds’ expressions unmistakable. This was no longer a game. The stakes had been laid. If they fired their bows this time, it’d be to kill.
Airis lifted a brow. “Well, savage? What say you? One word and your riffraff lose their throats.”
Gesh’s eyes shot to one pack member in particular who’d been pinned. His right-hand man. The one they called Roni. The leader’s face wrenched into a mask of pure rage. He hadn’t won after all. In fact, he’d epically failed. And by that murderous look in his eyes, he fucking knew it.
His huge body bristled.
Then a roar ripped past his lips.
Garret stiffened, his ears screaming. The Tohrí just looked on, waiting for the leader to finish his tantrum.
“They are mine!” Gesh exploded, throwing his blade to the ground. “I had them first! But you stole them like rotten thieves!”
Airis scoffed, lowering his bow. “We have stolen nothing, boor. We do not claim a single one of these strange oddlings.”
Garret fought not to roll his eyes. Could Airis not just call them humans?
“Bellah,” Gesh snarled. “Then I will take them all back, and you and yours can be on your way.”
“Hmm.” Airis shook his head. “Tragically, we cannot. I made them a pledge and cannot honor it if you take them.”
“What pledge?” Gesh ground out.
“To escort them to Múnrahki.”
Gesh’s lips curved into a sneer. “We are headed there right now.” He slid his gaze to Garret. “We can escort them.”
Airis smirked. “Where is the decency in passing my debt to another? I am a noble creature, savage. That means I have honor—”
“I know what it means!” Gesh snapped. He glanced at Garret’s men. “If you do not claim them, if they are not yours, then it is up to them whether they come with us or stay.”
Garret barked an incredulous laugh. “You think we’d choose to go with you? The assholes who took us prisoner? Who planned to trade us like goddamn cattle?”
Gesh leveled him with harsh eyes. “You wish to find your people, tah? I know where they are right now. I can take you to them directly. These rats cannot.”
Garret clenched his jaw. “You said you didn’t know where they were.”
Gesh met him glare for glare. “I might have lied.”
Airis looked at Garret. “No might. He did. I am certain. His kind lie all the time.” He mouthed, “No honor.”
“Silence, tree rodent!” Gesh boomed, shooting Airis a scathing glower. “I have waited too long for this. Have no time for your antics. These hewmens, they mean nothing to you, but they mean everything to me. So return to your treacherous spawn and never come back.”
Airis’ smirk faded fast. “Why do you call us traitors?”
“Because according to our king, that is exactly what you are. Have betrayed us in ways that can never be forgiven.”
Airis stilled and glanced at Kato who stood to his right, then looked back at Gesh. “Nún. You lie.”
Gesh bared his teeth, ear twitching. “Why would I lie about that?”
“I do not know, but we are honorable. In what ways have we betrayed you?”
“Why not ask the king yourself?” Gesh countered, jaw clenched. “Your people’s dark deeds, he keeps them close to his chest. Refuses to loose their stench upon his kingdom.”
Every inch of Airis went rigid, his expression quickly troubled. The other Tohrí looked equally disturbed. “I do not know what has happened, but I assure you, we are innocent. Clearly, there has been a misunderstanding.”
Gesh laughed. “Why is that? Because your people have honor? Because your precious Tohrí race can do no wrong?” The Kríe’s grin vanished. He glared at Airis coldly. “In truth, yours is the worst race of them all.”
Airis shook his head. “You are wrong. Your king is lying—”
“Enough, rodent!” Gesh cut him off. “Understand, I do not care. All I want is what is mine.” He pointed at Garret’s men. “And they are the only way to get it.”
Airis frowned, then returned his bow to his back and irritably crossed his arms. “Then it appears we have come to an impasse.”
Oh, thank fuck. He wasn’t going to cave and let Gesh take the team.
“Look,” Garret interjected, raking a hand through his hair, “maybe there’s a way we all can win. A way Gesh can get this thing he wants so fucking badly and we can finally grab our guys and split.”
No one responded. They all were too busy glowering at each other.
Garret cursed in frustration. “Come on. What’s the alternative? Gesh and his pack will continue stalking our asses, and God knows that’s no fucking fun.
“And what if we find our scientists but the king won’t let them go? Not to mention your guys.” He looked at Airis. “What if the king does have them? What’ll you do then? Your leaders have no leverage. The king hates you all too much. So how will you ever negotiate your people’s release?”
Still holding Airis’ gaze, he pointed to Gesh. “He’s your only fucking ticket. The only one you’ve got. If we somehow help him get this thing he’s losing his friggin’ mind over, maybe he’d be willing to talk to the king on your behalf.”
Gesh furrowed his brows. “Talk to the king? Negotiate a release?” He turned his gaze to Airis. “He has your kin?”
“We suspect that he might. Many have gone missing. But until now, we did not know of his contempt.”
Gesh rubbed his jaw and nodded.
Airis watched him expectantly. “Do you know of any such dealings? Heard of any talk?”
“Mah, not specifically. But he does have labor slaves.”
Airis stiffened and glanced at Kato. His jaw ticked. “That is them.”
“Sure looks that way,” Garret muttered. He peered back at Gesh. “So? You gonna do this, talk to your king for them, or not?”
Gesh crossed his arms and brooded. Tense moments later, he finally nodded. “If I cannot trade you hewmens then there is only one option left. Steal meesha and his team from the castle.”
“His team?” Garret prompted. It was time for Gesh to fess up—even though Garret and his men already knew.
“Tah.” The pack leader nodded again. “Meesha is one of the hewmens you seek.”
Garret stared at him crossly.
Gesh growled and looked away. “I sold them to the king. It is not my proudest moment. But I should have kept my meesha. I was a fool.”
“If you knew they were at the castle,” Garret shook his head, aggravated, “why not just tell us that before?”
“Because,” Gesh complained, “you would have asked me more questions. Questions about things I could not reveal. ‘How did they get there?’ ‘Why do they linger there still?’… I can only lie so much. It bothers my stomach.”
Garret threw up his hands.
Tohrí muttered in disgust.
Gesh just grunted and waved them all off. “What is important is that I am willing to work with these betrayers. I have scouted the area and know of several hidden paths. But meesha, I know he will not leave his people behind, and my pack is just too small to handle them all. More will be needed. The castle grounds have many guards.”
He paused to count all present. “Twenty-eight including my pack…” His expression looked uneasy. “That should be enough…”
Garret nodded, not really seeing an alternative at the moment. If they asked this Kríe king for their friends and he refused, no doubt he’d up his security as a precaution. They couldn’t show their hand. The king could never know they were coming.
As if reading his mind, Gesh muttered, “We cannot fail. We will only get one chance. We must succeed.”
Garret eyed him dryly. “You know what would’ve helped us out with that? If my team had our fucking gear and the weapons you took from us.”
Gesh met his gaze, slowly smiled, then gave his pack mates a nod. Just like that, they were loping off through the trees. Gesh looked back at Garret. His auric eyes gleamed. “Nira smiles on us. We have those very things right now.”
Garret blinked. “You do?” He peered around. “Where?”
“Stashed nearby for safe keeping. After my pack and yours were separated, we came back to this craft, suspecting you would eventually show up. While we waited, and tended to our injuries—” He shot the Tohrí a glare, “—we combed the area until we found each of your packs.”
Garret fought a burgeoning smile. When his team woke, they’d be ecstatic.
“So to clarify,” Airis crossed his arms, regarding Gesh skeptically. “You will go and negotiate with the king on our behalf, and in return, we will help liberate the humans?”
Gesh nodded once. “Tah. But if the mission fails, no more talks.”
Garret looked at Airis. “You cool with that?”
Airis eyed his band of brothers. Their gazes said everything. They were anxious to find their kin. He inclined his head, “Leí,” then called out, “Dekdónni, yield.”
Garret exhaled. “Good. Let’s go make ourselves a plan.”