Page 21 of Broken Triad

I take a deep breath in, gathering up my courage. I’m scared of the three of them. They’re brutal. They demanded Rachel be punished. They wanted toownme. The way they look at me, with that mixture of possessive need and hatred, makes me quake.

But they also saved my life.

And if they could save me, they can save the only person in the world I love. My father isn’t to blame for my servitude. He was tricked, blinded by optimism of the life he thought he owed me. Now he’s trapped below ground, keeping silent deep below in the caves, and he must be terrified, because there is no triad of Aurelians keeping watch over him.

That’s what I hope. Because as bad as the thought of him trapped in the mines is, the alternative is worse. He still hasn’t contacted me through the smartwatch. If he’s not down deep below, where there’s no signal…

I won’t think of the other possibility. I won’t. I stalk quickly through the hallways, movement and action clearing my mind of worthless worry as I slip through the courtyard to the base of the tower where the triad resides.

My heart pounds as I open the door silently and slip inside. It’s unlocked. The only thing they’re worried about is Scorp, and a lock wouldn’t stop those creatures for more than a second.

I walk up the spiral staircase, listening for any sound, until I’m at the landing to the entrance door at the top. I’ve been here a hundred times, bringing up snacks for Paulus when he’s in his study.

The door to the tower is open. I raise my hand to knock to let the Aurelians know I’m here, when a huge hand wraps around my mouth, a second hand around my waist, arms pulling me tight against a muscled body and lifting me as I try to scream. I kick and fight, reaching down for my blade, the pouch of herbs falling to the ground, but the hand around my waist darts, smacking the knife from my grip and making my hand ache from the blow.

I’m lifted into the bedroom where Krazak and Khra wait, sitting at the table, dwarfing the human-sized chairs.

I am placed roughly onto one of the chairs across the table from Krazak and Khra, and pressed down firmly against the wooden chair. Bolden’s big hand is on my shoulder as he looms over me. I don’t know how he was hidden in the entrance hall when he’s so big, but I didn’t even sense him before he grabbed me. Now he stands behind me, hand heavy on my shoulder, threatening to grab me again if I move.

“Sneaky little creature, stalking through the night with a knife. Who sent you?” Krazak snarls it out. The bruise on his forehead has turned an ugly purple, his left eye shut completely and unable to open.

I clear my throat, my mind racing, trying to find the right words to say. “The knife’s for Scorp. I came here to help you with your wound. I told you before, I knew something that would work. I’ve made a paste of herbs that will heal you.”

His one good eye moves to the fallen pouch of herbs on the ground that fell from my dress when Bolden smacked the knife out of my hand.

“So that’s how you did it. Herbs. I should have known. Some foul witch’s brew to cloud our minds. How did you know Aurelians were coming? Did Queen Jasmine place you here?” Krazak’s wide eye stares out with anger and understanding. Khra is watching me like a hawk, silent, his features intelligent and certain as he judges my every word, the intonation of each syllable, the rigidity of my movements.

I shake my head violently. “No, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I went down to the gardens to get a mixture to heal you. My mom taught me, long ago.” I motion, slowly, so they don’t think I’m trying anything, to the pouch on the ground.

Krazak barks something out in Aurelian, and Bolden grabs the pouch, throwing it carelessly on the table. Krazak never lets his eyes stray from me as he opens it carefully, as if a viper might dart out.

“So what poison is this? Speak, operative.”

I shake my head, and reach forward, slowly grabbing the pouch. Krazak lets me take it, but his one open eye narrows in suspicion as I open it, dipping my finger in the greenish paste and putting it on my tongue. It’s got a fresh, earthy taste, like aloe vera mixed with tubers. “See? It’s not dangerous. I just want to help.”

Khra leans forward. His gaze is like a wolf’s, but he’s no brute animal. There’s a deep intelligence innate to him, the kind of cunning of a warrior who has survived centuries. “Did you rub some paste over your body, then? Is that how you did it?”

“Did what?”

Krazak looks up at Bolden, and as if by a silent signal, the huge alien grabs me and roughly lifts me. I gasp as I’m pressed down against the table. I don’t even have time to scream before he rips my dress open, the beautiful fabric tearing like paper, until I’m in only my undergarments in front of the savage triad. My breasts are heaving with fear.

I knew this might happen if I came here. I knew the cost.

Bastards!

I know better than to curse them out loud. I saw what happened when Rachel defied them. If they’re going to have me, I don’t want them to punish me while they do it. Tears come to my eyes, and I try to be strong.

With one hand, Bolden presses me against the hard wood of the table. I look up at him, and his stoney eyes are burning, his strong jaw and powerful face as if a sculptor made an ode to masculine strength, all hard lines without a trace of gentleness. There’s a scar running down his neck, and it only makes him look more fierce.

Being pinned down, unable to move, helpless against the alpha males, my body responds instinctively. I hate how heat floods between my legs, how tingles run through my body. I could try to fight against his grip, but I can’t fight againstthat, this primal yearning for the huge alien warrior. In the chaos of the planet falling to Scorp, there is nothing my body craves more than strength and protection, this primal, animal self born through eons of self-preservation that makes my body react to this hard, tight grip on my naked shoulder as he pins me down.

Bolden’s rough, huge hands run over my body, but it is not the possessive groping of an alien claiming its prize. He breathes in, heavy, his nostrils flaring as he reacts to my scent, but his eyes are cold and clear as he runs his hand over my skin, making goosebumps rise. His fingers graze down against my belly button, tickling me, and my nipples harden obscenely, visible under my bra. I’m so ashamed, so helpless, my cheeks flushing red in indignation and humiliation as he breathes in, and I know he is tasting my naked lust.

Bolden runs his fingers over my skin, then brings them to his nostrils, sniffing.

“There’s no paste on me! I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He fixes those cold grey eyes on me. Then he cocks his head over at Khra. The other warrior grabs my shoulders, pressing me down against the wooden table, as Bolden leans in, sniffing me. I shiver as his stubbly beard grazes against my belly button, and to my horror and shame, he brings his mouth closer to my panties. I try to squeeze my legs together, but he grabs my legs, opening me as if he doesn’t notice my defiance.

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