Page 34 of Zar

Flare didn’t look her way. “Get inside the bathroom,” he ordered. When she didn’t move, Flare shouted, “Now, Callie!”

The urgency in Flare’s tone spurred Callie into action. She ran across the room and started to step into the bathroom just as the door to the bedroom burst open. A large winged man stood on the other side. He had long black hair, similar to Zar’s but he wore it tied back from his face. A jagged scar ran down one side of his face. When his black gaze landed on her, Callie trembled. There was so much hatred there. Bone-deep and ugly in its power. He wore black jeans and a black t-shirt that stretched over a muscular chest and only seemed to emphasize the size of his thick arms. He was a huge bear of a man. His wings were different than Zar’s. One was black, but the other was grey. Flare’s roar as he flew through the air and hit the winged creature full force had Callie freezing in horror. The pair came at each other, swords clanging, fists flying. God, it was like watching two avenging angels go to battle. Callie couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. When their unwanted visitor all but threw Flare across the room, Callie heard the crunching of bones as he hit the far wall. Flare dropped to the floor. He tried to get up, but Callie could see even from the distance that he was terribly injured.

“Stop!” she cried, unsure where the single word had come from. She’d never in her life been so afraid, but Flare was dying, and all to protect her. She couldn’t stand by and do nothing.

The monstrous alien-man stopped in his tracks, his gaze zeroing in on her. His eyes narrowed as he looked her over, then a grin appeared. “He chose you.”

Callie tried not shake from head to toe, but it wasn’t easy. “What’s your name and why are you here?” Well, she’d almost spoken without sounding like a scared little girl.

His grin widened and he slammed his sword into the floor in front of him. “Naxon and you must be Callie.”

He knew her name? That wasn’t scary as all fuck. “I believe there’s a search party out for you, Naxon.”

He tilted his head to the side and came closer to her. Callie held her ground. Something in her gut told her that Naxon would expect her to cower. She refused to give him what he wanted. “You aren’t what I expected, Callie. I assumed Zar would choose a sweet little Zenarian woman. One who would bow to his every command.”

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Flare stand. Keep stalling, she ordered herself. Zar would come. He had to. “Yeah, well, surprise.”

His gaze went over her body, then landed on her injured hand. He frowned. “Who caused you to bleed?”

“None of your business,” Callie shot right back. Oh, lord, that was dumb. She watched as his facial expressions hardened. There was something very familiar in the shape of his jawline and the deep set of his eyes. Zar had that same square jaw, that same prominent brow bone. Were they related?

Naxon stretched his wings out and they were every bit as large as Zar’s. “You have a wicked tongue. I imagine you keep Zar on his toes.”

She started to speak, but suddenly movement from behind Naxon caught her eye. Zar. And behind him was Dyre. Callie breathed a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, Naxon figured it out seconds too late. He turned just in time for Zar’s fist to land in his face. Naxon fell to the floor. Flare and Dyre were both in front of her suddenly. Cutting off Naxon’s path to her. Naxon stood, rubbing his jaw and grinned. To Callie there was something very off about that smile. As if there was no real emotion behind it.

“You always did have a wicked right hook,” Naxon muttered.

“Leave here and I may let you live, Naxon,” Zar said in a voice edged with steel. He sidestepped until his body was directly in front of her, with Dyre and Flare flanking him. Zar reached back and motioned her forward. When Callie moved close, Zar’s arm curved around her and held her in place. She didn’t want to feel relief at his nearness, but that’s exactly what happened. Zar would protect her. Callie knew that deep in her bones.

Callie peered around Zar and found Naxon watching them. Callie could practically see his evil mind forming a plan. “She’s adorable,” he said, a strangely emotionless grin curving his lips upward. “For an earth-born.”

Callie cursed, which caused Naxon to chuckle. Suddenly Zar’s sword was at Naxon’s throat. “She is mine.”

“Yes, Zar, I figured that out all by myself.” A few seconds ticked by. “You can drop the sword. You’re little plaything is safe from my evil clutches.”

Plaything? Oh, I don’t hardly think so. She started to protest Naxon’s shitty description of her, but Zar hissed, which effectively quieted the next words out of her mouth. She noticed that Zar didn’t drop the sword.

“Then why are you here?” Zar asked, his arm tightening around her. “Need another scar to match the first one I gave you?”

“Just wanted to drop in and say hi,” Naxon replied.

Zar glanced over at Flare. Whatever passed between the pair, Callie didn’t know, but Flare moved closer to her and tugged her farther across the room. “Stay put,” Flare whispered, crouching low as if ready to defend her to the death. God, that was a sick thought.

“You never should’ve come near her, Naxon,” Zar bit out seconds before lunging forward.

Naxon dodged to the right, causing Zar’s sword to miss the man’s throat. Instead it sliced an ugly gash into the muscle and tendon just below his shoulder. Blood spurted and Naxon cursed. Then the battle was on as both men shouted in a different language and slammed into each other. They were the same in size, massively built and appeared to be equally expert fighters. The clanging of metal as daggers were drawn filled the air. Callie could only watch in horror as Zar fought. She glanced at Dyre and her anger got the better of her when she realized he wasn’t helping Zar. “Do something!” Callie shouted at the red-haired alien.

Dyre glared at her. “Quiet,” he ordered, as his attention went back to the fight.

Naxon managed to hit Zar’s ribcage with a dagger, but if Zar felt any pain he didn’t show it. God, he didn’t even flinch. Callie’s heart nearly stopped as she saw the blood trickling down Zar’s side. When his talons extended, those lethal, eight-inch, razor sharp claws at the top of his wings, and slammed into Naxon’s chest, Callie held her breath. Naxon stumbled backward and clutched the area directly over his heart. His eyes grew wide and he hissed. Zar moved fast, going at Naxon again, burying his talon into his chest once more. Suddenly Naxon spun around, his wings flexing and contracting as he all but flew from the room. Zar went after him, followed closely by Dyre.

Callie tried to move around Flare, but he only grabbed hold of her and shook her hard. “You will stay here!”

She tried to yank out of his arms, but he was too strong. Flare pulled her against his body and held her dangling in the air. Jesus, it was like facing off against a brick wall. “Zar is out there fighting that asshole alone,” she muttered, going still as she realized her struggles were useless against the giant Zenarian. “Go help him, Flare! Please! Dyre clearly won’t.” Callie couldn’t stand knowing Zar was alone against Naxon. She closed her eyes tight, but still the sight of blood on Zar’s ribs were imprinted on her brain. He could bleed to death. Zenarian or not, he could still bleed to death. The thought sent a shaft of pain through her, nearly doubling her over.

“Stop, Callie,” he ground out as he set her back on her feet and turned her to face him. “I am helping him by keeping you safe. If anything happens to you, Zar will be overcome with a pain the likes you cannot imagine. And Dyre will intervene if necessary. He would give his life for our king.”

She could imagine it because she was feeling something very similar at that moment not knowing if Zar was dead or alive. Tears fell down her cheeks and she couldn’t get a handle on why she was so upset. Zar shouldn’t mean so much to her. They’d shared a bed, but it wasn’t as if she loved him. Did she? Oh, God, please let him be okay.

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