Page 35 of Slavic

RuarcandIboth took off running, trying to escape the cave-in headed our way, only to find a massive ship sitting in the hangar.MySirewas yelling something, but the explosion had been so loudIcould not make out his words.Buthis intentions were clear when he motioned for us to get on the ship.Iwas almost to the ramp whenIsawRuarcfall, his body twisting in agony.

WithstrengthIdid not know existed,Ipicked up his massive frame and headed up the ramp, when suddenly mySire’sangry voice stopped me.LayingRuarcdown just inside the ship,Iran back down the ramp only to find mySirein hand-to-hand combat with several of thePyrkyneguards.

Chargingthe closest one,Igrabbed him, throwing him effortlessly away whenIhear a scream behind us.Somehow,Iknew who it was beforeIever turned, andIstill remember it like it is all happening in slow motion.Oneof the mainAynarmages must have figured out mySire’splans for escape, because he held myMamin his arms with a smirk on his evil face.

MySireandIboth stopped in our tracks when we saw the knife being held against her throat.Mybrothers come running back down the ramp, but with a single look from the mage, they all lay convulsing in pain.Theirbodies controlled by the monster holding myMam.

Everythinghappened so fast after that, it’s still a blur in my mind.Iremember mam looking at mySirewith so much love in her eyes and somehow,Iknew they were going to sacrifice themselves to get us free.MySire’swords burned their way into my mind that rising when he yelled. ‘Slavic, save your brothers, get to the ship now, and do not make our sacrifice be in vain,Son.’

Manytimes, since,Ihave wondered whatIcould have done differently.Hehad raised me to follow every order he whispered, andIdid just that.Iran toward the ship, somehow gathering up each of my fallen brothers in the process.ThemomentIhad them all inside,Iturned to face the mage holding my life giver. ‘Carrymy love with you always my child.’That’swhat she said to me a tick before mySirewas able to fight his way toward her.Hehad a plasma pistol raised that he had stolen from one of the guards and was aiming it at the mage.Thenthe mage started laughing as he cut her throat open right in front of us.

Becausesire hesitated, this gave the otherPyrkyneguards time to retaliate.Hewas dead before myMam’sbody even hit the ground.Iam not sure what happened after that, but the ramp shut. in my face and my brothers were free of theAynar’spowers.Ifought against the many hands holding me back.Ifound myself thrown to the floor, still yelling their names as we launched into space.Frommy understanding,Einarhad to give me a sedative whenIstarted fighting all of them, trying to claw my way back down the ramp.”

Asthe memories overwhelm me, a tiny finger wipes the lone tear off my cheek.Blinking,IfindRubylying beside me on her side, so closeIcan feel the heat coming off her small form. “I’mso sorry,Slavic.WhenIasked that question,Idon’t know whatIexpected, but that wasn’t it.Iknow we all have our own personal hells, but damn.I’mimpressed you all survived that.”

Shetraces the hunks missing out of my shoulder and nowIbrace for her disgust as she knows howIcame to be this damaged. “Iunderstand little one, if my form is appalling to you.”

“Yourform says a lot of thingsSlavic, but appalling, horrific or disgusting are not any of them.WhatIsee under your skin is strength, honor, love, sacrifice, leadership, but most of all, a boy who tried his best to save and take care of his family.IfI’dbeen in your spot,Iwould’ve questioned my parents’ choices.Instead, you took their sacrifice and did exactly what they asked of you, ‘take care of your brothers.’I’msure if there’s an afterlife out here, they are both watching you from above, proud of the man you’ve become.”

“Beinga thief is not something to be proud of, littleRuby.”

“Idisagree, because how else would you have found me?Imay not understand why things happen the way they do, butI’mnot stupid enough not to realize who saved me and my sister from what would’ve been a living hell.Youcould’ve walked away, and most would’ve.Seldomdo others entangle themselves in problems that don’t directly involve them, but your morals and your standards wouldn’t let you.”

“Icould never have left you.”

“Youbelieve that because of this mate thing, but what if that hadn’t been the case?Youhad no ties to the other females, and yet you still saved them, or at least your brothers did.Areyou telling me that you’d walk away?BecauseI’mcalling bullshit.Youstill would’ve bent down and lifted me out of that nest!”

Ido not answer, butIcan tell by the smirk on her face she knows the truth.Takingher hand in mine,Ikiss the ends of her fingers before pulling her close.Whenshe does not fight me,Ituck her into my side and close my eyes.Mymind and body exhausted from reliving the memories.

Chapter Twenty-Two

RUBY

Slavichas pulledme up tight against him, causing me to wake up overly warm for a change, with a massive gray arm draped heavily across my side.Ishould be upset, but at this point why sweat the little shit?Hehasn’t done anything offensive or inappropriate, soIcan deal with a little bit of snuggling.Ishould have expected this after laying down next to him last night.Hehas told me repeatedly how muchImean to him, andI’mnot sure how to feel about all this.Mostguys would never be that open, but the big marshmallow is determined to make me his.NormallyIwould be objecting to his highhandedness, but now?Well,I’mextremely comfortable right here.

Mymoving around must have woken him up because his breathing changes, and for just a second, he squeezes me. “Sassycan’t breathe,”Iwhisper out with a giggle.

“WhoisSassy?Arethese translators not working?Ithought you told me your name wasRuby.”

Whenhe groggily grumbles this out,Ipat his arm and roll my eyes becauseIswear,Ican feel his confusion. “Slavic, it’s an earth joke.I’mstillRubyand you need to learn not to takeeverythingIsay to heart.Sarcasmis a way for me to deal with stressful situations, andI’vehad more than my fair share of those here lately.”

Thewatch thing on his arm beeps and several lights blink on and off. “IthinkKitis trying to get ahold of you.”

“Thereis noKiton this ship.”

“Youare ruining my fun this morning, grumpy ass.”

“Ihave already brought out the fire in you this rising, and we have not even left the sleeping chamber.”

“WhatcanIsay?I’mjust a ray of sunshine in a shitty ass world.”

Heactually chuckles a little andIturn in his arms, wanting to witness the rare mirth on his face, but he quickly frowns again.

“Itseems like big and grumpy is your resting bitch face, huh?”

“Youseem to have left off one name little mate.IfIrecall,I’vebeen called big, ugly, and grumpy.”

“True, butIthinkI’lltake back the ugly, though you’ll never beThor.However, you are quite fetching in your own way, or maybe you’re just growing on me.Now, you’ll always be big, after all,Ibarely reach the top of your chest ifI’mstanding in front of you, butIguess grumpy is here to stay.”Thatwatch thing beeps again. “Shouldn’tyou get that?”

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