“Well, well, well. What do we have here? A filthy mongrel and his equally disgusting pet?”

I recognize that voice in an instant. I could dream it — it would have to be a nightmare though.

Resha.

My nemesis. He’s a commander in the Thaboist Warrior Regiments, and he regularly competes in the Tournaments. I’ve defeated him in hand-to-hand combat more times than I can count.

By the look of his eyes I’m sure he’s counted every single one of them.

“Resha,” I growl angrily. “Tell your men to stand down.”

His squad has got their rifles pointed right at us. Aiming a weapon at a fellow Zoran is completely unacceptable. If we have problems, we fight it out, using our fists.

Rifles are reserved for our enemies.

“Never,” he says, gesturing at my wings. “You are… unnatural. A perversion. The laws don’t apply to freaks like you.” He spits on the ground near my feet to illustrate his point. “I always knew there was something off about you.”

Resha’s proud face is fixed into a scowl. The Thaboist is one towering red mass of pure rage. Reasoning with him in this state would be quite a feat, but I’m not one to shy away from a challenge.

“Every time I beat you, it was fair and square, Resha. In fact, do you want to go again? I’ll gladly stain the earth with your blood, if that is what it takes!”

Adrenaline courses through my veins as I spread my wings, barring their view of my mate. Several of his soldiers chuckle, but a hateful glance from him puts a quick stop to that.

“Save it for the courts,” he says, jabbing his gun into my naked chest. “They’ll decide your fate.”

In an instant I pull away his gun and deck him across his red face with a closed fist. I whirl around, ready to grab my mate and kick off. All I need is a split second and we can fly off to safety, the canopy of trees providing us with the cover we need.

Yet, when I turn, I find a Zoran’s arm wrapped tightly around my mate’s neck, cutting off her air supply.

“Don’t move,” he growls.

“Don’t you hurt her,” I say. “I will tear your arms off and beat you to death with them.”

“Kneel,” the soldier bites.

I have no choice. Leah means everything to me.

“Don’t!” She protests.

“Take me,” I say. “Release her.”

Resha kicks me hard in my back, and I stumble down to the ground.

“No chance,” he snarls. “Why would I let a filthy mongrel like you walk free? Now that would make no sense. No sense at all.”

I look up at him and see the rage burning in his eyes. I wait for the punch to come, and I see he wants to throw it more than anything, but beating a man on the ground is too low — even for him.

With his squad watching his every move, anyway. If we were alone, I’m sure he’d have no such qualms.

“Take them away,” he says. “Before they make me sick.”

“Check the logs,” I say, yanking at my chains. The Thaboists have us chained to the very wall in a damp cave, like we’re a pair of rabid dogs. “It’s all there. We both have clearance from the Sacred Order to travel through the jungle to the Trade Ports. Every moment you keep the both of us locked up here is one in which you are defying the word of the Sacred Mother Dragica!”

“I don’t give a flying Qro about your ‘Sacred Order’,” he scowls. “First Theros, and now this?! The Regiments won’t tolerate anymore mongrels like yourself muddying up our gene pool. I’ve tolerated your kind long enough.”

“Listen to what you’re saying. This is madness.”

“No,” he growls. “Your mutated wings, that is madness.” He pulls out a serrated knife and smirks at me with an evil glint in his eyes. “In fact, I think I ought to help you out of your little predicament. What do you think, boys?”

The soldiers snicker.

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Don’t tempt me!” He says, placing the blade at my neck. “You have no idea what I’m capable of!”

“Leave him alone, you brute!” Leah calls out from across the room.

“Ah, the half-breed speaks,” Resha says. He wanders over to her, balling his fists.

“Don’t you fucking dare!” I scream. “Don’t you—”

Resha swings right for my mate’s exposed stomach. In that second, our gaze meet across the room, and I see her green eyes are filled with focus.

Our abilities react to one another and a blindingly bright flash fills the entire cave. Pure energy races through my system, and my wings spread wide with a power and vigor I didn’t know were possible.

The chains holding me in place split right in two — as do Leah’s. This is exactly what the Mating Star Prophecy foretold. Our abilities enhance one another. Together, we’re capable of anything.

Leah drops down to the floor right before Resha’s fist connects, and instead of striking my mate, he breaks his hand upon the unyielding cave wall.

He cries out in pain, and before he can get his bearings I am upon him, my balled fists raining down with a vengeance.

His attempt to hurt my mate has awakened a deep-seated rage inside of me, a protective instinct stronger than anything I’ve ever felt before, and I feel compelled to strike and strike until Resha is well and truly defeated.

I only stop when Leah pulls me back, her soft touch extinguishing the blazing fire inside of me.

Resha’s goons are frozen in shock. They’re not so tough without their leader, and they make no attempt to stop us as we exit the cave.

“I’m sorry you had to see that,” I say as we enter the jungle. “The Trade Ports are only a short march north of here. We can send your message soon, I promise.”

“No, it is my fault,” Leah says. “I should have waited. I should have listened to you.”

I reach out for her hand and she lets me hold it. The gentle touch soothes the aching in my fists.

“You freed us both,” I say. “That was all you.”

She shrugs. “Maybe? I don’t know what happened, but I did feel a… connection.”

“I feel the same way,” I nod. “I’m sure your message will bring help to Garna. We are close.”

“I hope so, because if it doesn’t, I have to find a way to travel there.”

If it comes to that… I will join her.

It’s not even a question. My decision has been made. Our destinies are linked. I will follow her anywhere.