Page 52 of Xara and the Xenobeast

She shuddered, pulling the pups closer. They sensed her distress, their tiny bodies vibrating with answering anxiety. Dot nuzzled against her hand, his oversized eyes looking up at her trustingly.

“It’s going to be okay,” she whispered, not sure if she was reassuring them or herself. “Ash knows this planet better than anyone. He’ll protect us.”

But as the minutes stretched into an hour with no sign of him, her worry grew. The pups became increasingly agitated, their chirps more insistent. Even Trouble, usually so independent, refused to leave her side.

Finally, she couldn’t stand it anymore. She needed to know what was happening. Gathering the pups, she moved deeper into the cave system as Ash had instructed, finding the small chamber they sometimes used for storage. She settled the pups in a secure corner.

“Stay here,” she told them firmly. “I’ll be back soon.”

They chirped in protest, but she was already moving, retracing her steps through the winding passages. As she neared the main chamber, she heard movement—the heavy tread of Ash’s footsteps.

Relief flooded her, but it was short-lived. When she emerged into the main chamber, she found him gathering more weapons, his movements sharp with tension. Blood—not his own—spattered his chest and arms.

“What happened?” she gasped.

He whirled, eyes narrowing when he saw her. “Told you to stay hidden.”

“I was worried,” she said, moving closer. “Is that blood? Are you hurt?”

“Not mine.” His voice was clipped. “Found two scouts. Dead now.”

The casual way he said it should have horrified her, but all she felt was relief that he was unharmed.

“How many more?” she asked.

“Don’t know.” He strapped another blade to his forearm. “At least a squad. Maybe more.”

“A squad? How many is that?”

“Eight to twelve. Elite hunters.” His silver eyes locked with hers. “Trained to track and kill.”

The fear she’d been trying to suppress surged back. “What do they want?”

Ash’s expression darkened. “Found shuttle wreckage. Your scent.”

Understanding dawned, cold and terrible. “They’re looking for me? But why?”

“Human. Far from Earth. Valuable.” His tendrils writhed with agitation. “Resource to be exploited.”

The clinical assessment chilled her more than any emotional outburst could have. This wasn’t just about Ash’s past—it was about her future. The Zarkari wanted her as a specimen, a curiosity, maybe even a bargaining chip with Earth.

“What do we do?” she asked, forcing herself to focus past the fear.

“Fight,” he said simply, then hesitated. “Or you could surrender.”

“What?” she stared at him, incredulous.

“They want you alive.” His voice was flat, emotionless. “Might not hurt you.”

She understood then what he was offering—a chance for her safety, even if it meant their separation. The selflessness of it struck her to the core.

“No,” she said firmly. “I’m not leaving you. And I’m definitely not surrendering to people who would experiment on me or use me as leverage.”

Something like relief flickered in his silver eyes, quickly masked. “Then we fight.”

“Together,” she insisted.

He started to argue, then stopped, looking at her with a mixture of frustration and pride. Finally, he nodded once, reaching into his cache to pull out a smaller blade.

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