Chapter 18
Jaron pointed at each of the men. “Sasha, my team mates, Arak and Kyele. This is Bounty Retriever Sasha F’lan.”
After a slight hesitation, Kyele pushed his mask up and let it hang about the back of his neck. Sasha took in the scar marring one side of his face, the menacing gaze and nodded. “Thank you both for coming to my rescue.”
Both covered their faces and turned to Jaron.
He owed The Collector for all he’d done to them. Especially Sasha. She trembled standing next to him, her green pupils dilated, hints of red beneath the bronze glow of her cheekbones.
At first, he’d worried Dr. Kirkem had succeeded in forcing her to release as they’d done him. But she’d answered him honestly.
It was obvious she was still under the influence of the drug. Her body betrayed its arousal from the light aroma emanating from her skin to the glazed look in her eyes and her swollen breasts with the hardened peaks. He tried to think of a way to calm her as she struggled to fight the effects.
Arak flickered a glance in his direction and tipped his head subtly toward Sasha. If any one could scent her body’s reaction it was the fellow Argoran. “Are you going to be alright, Sasha?”
“Yes, just get me out of here, Jaron.”
Her familiar lightly accented words rang with a rich flavor that hummed with confidence. “I can do that.”
Her shoulders eased and her gaze appeared more lucid. “There are a few guards who survived. Stragglers remain from the previous attack. I got the feeling The Collector was waiting or expecting help soon in order to leave.”
The realization he’d made it in time shook Jaron. As Sasha moved to pass him, he grabbed her by the arm, careful of her skin. Her eyes glittered, desire evident. All too easily Jaron recalled what it had felt like to have his body not under his command.
He could imagine Sasha’s hatred toward Dr. Kirkem for witnessing her lack of control. He gathered her close and pressed his head to the top of hers. He murmured several things she probably didn’t understand. Enotia had many words for love or loving and her translator was sure to miss a few. He didn’t care. All that mattered was holding and reassuring her.
“Jaron. No time,” Kyele muttered with a roll of his eyes.
Swallowing past the thickness of his relief, Jaron nodded and gripped Sasha’s hand. This time he wasn’t letting go no matter what she said. They were leaving together.
Arak peered around the door. “Clear.”
They left single file, Jaron trusting these two to lead while he continued to check on Sasha. He shouldn’t have worried. She kept pace with him, gliding quietly over the ground they covered, a result of the smooth stalking grace of the cat within her.
It wasn’t long before Dr. Kirkem began to speculate aloud about Joni. Taunting, questioning, his goal obviously to discover any information about her.
“Are any of you associated with the Jutak holding my Joni? Do you think she misses me as much as I miss her? I wonder if she has to lie and pretend what was between us was all forced.”
Kyele grew more and more stiff if possible. No one spoke. Occasionally, Dr. Kirkem met their glances, waiting for one of them to take the bait. Replying would have fed his ego. He said other things that became background noise.
The crashing sound of approaching soldiers reached them. “Shoot anyone who gets in our way. We have no time left.”
Jaron only cared about getting Sasha out alive.
“The Jutak who has her will always fall short in one area,” Dr. Kirkem announced.
His tone had changed. Grown smug. Jaron’s muscles tensed in preparation. He glanced at Arak and they nodded slightly at each other. They’d stop Kyele if The Collector pushed too hard.
“Pain and pleasure only I could do for her,” he tossed out.
Jaron reached for Kyele, but it was Sasha who surprised them, her movement swift and true. Dr. Kirkem screamed, slapping a hand to the side of his head. Blood seeped between his fingers and splattered the ground. In startling clarity, Jaron realized the mutilated oval shape lying on the dirt was The Collector’s ear.
“Shut! Up!” Sasha’s threat didn’t go ignored. Whimpers escaped his firmly pressed lips, but he ceased his barrage of meaningless chatter. “I don’t know who Joni is, but she’s probably grateful to be away from you. In fact, I’d bet credits on it.”
Kyele met Jaron’s gaze and his elated humor was difficult to miss. Moving Sasha on the other side, away from the suddenly quiet doctor seemed a good idea albeit late. Her muted growls tipped the corner of Jaron’s lips up. “Keep moving. We don’t have time to bicker with him.”
They managed a few more feet. Apparently pain and a missing ear wasn’t a strong enough detriment. The Collector started again. Only this time he began reminiscing about his favorite torture sessions.
With Joni.
On and on he went, the glow in his eyes proof of how much satisfaction he took in the memories. As a Jutak, Jaron experienced many horrors and witnessed atrocities he’d never unsee. Dr. Kirkem rivaled the worst of what Jaron had come into contact with.
Dr. Kirkem licked his lips, mouth curved in a smile and his pants jutting in an obvious bulge of arousal. “Her fear. Her screams. Mmm, I’ve never experienced anything sweeter.”
Sasha hissed, jerking in Jaron’s hold but he didn’t let go. Kyele, on the other hand, broke away and was on The Collector before Arak or Jaron could do anything but watch. Kyele assumed his other form, becoming a sleek, tall funnel of silver gray, an ability only those born of the Spectar bloodline possessed.
The whirling force zipped around the screaming doctor, engulfing him at the center of the destructive force. Blood sprayed. Screams turned to gurgles. Sasha choked off a cry, staring in appalled fascination.
When it was over, Kyele shifted back to his physical body, panting. Jaron glanced down at the mess. The Collector was done. He admired the crumpled form of the now deceased doctor. The knife work was that of someone who’d perfected the art. Trust Kyele to have chosen to decimate him in this manner. What was left of him wasn’t worth taking back to Enotia.
“I guess Torkel will not be able to question him about his involvement with Lothar,” Arak said into the stunned quiet.
Kyele exhaled and closed his eyes. When he opened them again he was utterly calm. He leaned over and retrieved his fallen laser. “He was going to attack the hostage.”
The bland tone and lie didn’t fool any of them.
“Torkel should have made me acting Team Leader,” Arak added.
Sasha stared at Kyele, green eyes dark with memories Jaron never wanted to know. “Whatever reason you had, thank you.”
***
Sasha’s second bout of freedom tasted as good as the first except this time she harbored no doubt they’d escape this planet.
“Come on,” Sasha tossed over her shoulder, already racing down the hill.
Jaron and his friends stayed near, never farther than steps around her at all times. They remained vigilant and she appreciated the caution. None of them knew what to expect.
At her side, Jaron reached for her then stopped. Conflict registered in his eyes. She wished she could rip his mask off. She lov…no she liked his face. It was the only L word acceptable right now. The rest would be dealt with later.
“What is it, Jaron?”
She heard his sigh over the sound of guards trampling in their direction. Trying to be quiet at this point was a wasted effort. “I don’t want to touch you if it’s going to bring you pain.”
Rocks and sharp thorns tore at the soles of her bare feet, but it was nothing compared to the jab to the heart his words gave. “No pain.”
He stroked a hand down her cheek and Sasha caught her moan in time. He glared. It was such a Jaron gesture and the memory of the man in the cell beside her was at the forefront of her mind. “You came back for me.”
This time when he reached for her, his hand slid down her arm in a silken caress. She didn’t mind the prickles of desire left behind. “I came back for you.”
Words stalled and a thick knot formed in her throat. Mouth dry, she swallowed, but needed to get it out. “You keep your promises.”
He huffed a laugh. “Yes.”
Shouting followed them as the last of what remained of The Collector’s force gave chase. She wondered if they’d give up once they discovered his destroyed body or continue to pursue.
Jaron exchanged hand signals with his friends then turned toward her. “Five minutes, Sasha. We’ll be on the shuttle and leaving this place far behind.”
Leaving. At last. When this was all over she would return to Argora, back to her job as a Bounty Retriever. Jaron would return to Enotia and his job with the Jutak warriors. Pangs of loneliness struck. He’d be with his teammates, men who cared about him and she’d be back to her solitary lifestyle with no one to count on but herself.
“Sasha?” Concern darkened his eyes so Sasha forced a smile to her lips.
“Keep up,” she teased and increased her speed.
Jaron laughed. It fizzled through every inch of her pores. His laugh was among the many things about him she’d remember and hold close to her heart.
The new scent ruined the moment.
It happened in the blink of an eye.
An unavoidable incident that if given the chance Sasha would have done the same thing again no matter the outcome.
A lone guard popped from behind a tree. His matte helmet hid his face, but she didn’t need to see his face. All that mattered was the laser he aimed at Jaron, his eyes lit with humor as he attempted to catch up because of her taunt. Arak or Kyele called out a warning. Too late. Far too late.
Light glowed from the muzzle of the weapon as it fired. Sasha spun on her heels, turned into Jaron’s path and jumped. Her arms wrapped around him as the force of her weight and leap carried them both to the ground.
Burning, fiery agony shredded her back. Sasha muffled the instinct to scream and surged to her feet, claws extended. Jaron rolled away. More lasers blasted around them, the stench overpowering.
Sasha swayed on her feet and blinked in a daze. The sky tipped sideways.
“Are you hit?” Jaron yelled, catching her in his arms. His eyes glinted with worry.
Sasha swallowed back nausea. Move. Move. Only she couldn’t. “I don’t…I don’t think so.”
Searing pain lanced through her. She’d never been struck by laser before. Knives, teeth, claws. This felt different. It burned. More agonizing. Slowly Sasha fell to her knees. The jolt sent another ripping sensation up her side.
Hands caught at her and soon the ground comforted her. They needed to keep going. Get away from Dr. Kirkem’s men. Sasha refused to hold them up this time. She struggled to get to her feet, but nothing happened.
“Sasha, kitten stay still.”
Sasha tried to agree, but her lips didn’t move, her mouth numb for some odd reason.
“How is she?”
“Bad.” Jaron’s voice trembled as he answered Arak. He reached for her hand entwining their fingers. Sasha tried to turn to her side, wanting to see his face and hissed at the pain burning across her back.
“No, no. Don’t move,” Jaron begged.
“Can’t see you.” Her words slurred. Sasha inhaled and exhaled past the hurt. She wanted to see him to ease the panic starting to fill her. What was wrong? Why couldn’t she move?
Jaron’s face appeared in front of her heavy-lidded gaze. He’d removed his face mask. It took a moment to realize he lay flat on the ground beside her. Lips she’d kissed curved in a tremulous smile. His fingers tightened on hers to a brutal extent. “Right here, kitten.”
“Full grown. Not a kitten.” She glared or tried to. Something kept her from succeeding. “Hurt.”
All humor faded and his blue eyes grew serious. “I know. We’re going to get you help. Hold on for me. Please.”
Didn’t he know she’d do anything for him? Hadn’t she proven it? “I didn’t stay alive in that place waiting for you to rescue me so I could end up dead.”
As far as jokes went it fell flat. She could hear Arak and Kyele talking, not the specific words. Sasha listened to their soothing cadence and closed her eyes.
Jaron groaned. “Keep your eyes open for me. I need to see your pretty eyes.”
She squeezed his hand because it hurt to talk and she no longer had the energy.
“Kyele? Tell me you got him.”
“The threat has been eliminated.”
Jaron lifted her into his arms, jostling her. Sasha winced at the renewed burn. His lips skimmed her temple. “Sorry. So sorry.”
Arak spoke but it was too much work to look for him. “I’ve contacted Dr. Maku. Kyele’s gone ahead. He’ll get the shuttle for immediate take off.”
“I don’t hurt anymore.” She didn’t. The pain tearing through Sasha faded. As well as the awful forced desire to have sex. Jaron should be pleased at her disclosure.
He pulled her in tight to his chest and groaned, burying his face in her hair. “Don’t you dare let go, Sasha.”
“J-jar…” Sasha tried to hold him, to loop her arms about his neck but her arm flopped down. Maybe because he ran at breakneck speed.
“No, no, no.”
“We’re here, Jaron. Strap her in.”
Doors swished opened and closed. Warm body beneath hers. “I’m holding her. I’m not letting her go. Do up my harness.”
Straps and firm hands touched her and the click of the belt tightening filtered through her dwindling senses.
“Kyele, grab a booster,” Arak instructed.
Bodies moved around her, a sharp prick in her arm and cold heat flowed through her veins, but the pain didn’t come back. Nothing except dark clouds and Sasha didn’t have the strength to open her eyes.
“Sasha.” Jaron’s lips touched her ear. “Sasha, please. Hold on for me. Can you do that, kitten?”
“Mmm.”
“I want to hear y-your voice,” he begged, the words breaking. “Promise me, Sasha.”
Sasha hated liars. She hated people who broke promises even more. She refused to do that to him. “Can’t.” Her stomach rolled. “Don’t feel good, Jaron.”
Wet drops splashed her cheeks as he pressed his face to hers. “Promise me. Promise me, damn you.”
He sounded miserable. She wanted to. Her lips parted. But the words never came.