Page 30 of Rogue: Planet Athion
“Where is it?” Marick snapped at Xavier.
Xavier shook his head and doubled over. “Damn, it hurts.” His hand went to his head as if in pain.
Marick jerked his head at one of the guards. “Scan him and find the teleportation device. Rip it out of him if you have to. We’ll find out exactly who you’re working for and why you’re here in our specialaccommodations.” His eyes gleamed wickedly.
The guard approached Xavier, but before they could get close Xavier was leaping toward me, his hand wrapped around my wrist, and then the world was filled with light.
11
“She’s coming to. Vitals are good. Burns on the neck are healing fine too.”
I opened my eyes to Xavier’s pale blue eyes filled with concern. His lips cracked a smile. “You’re awake, good.”
My body was tingling, and my head felt fuzzy, and for a moment there was nothing but confusion, and then the memories flooded me. Marlon and Killion dead. Marick laughing and then my rage and fear and the light.
I tried to sit up, but a large hand landed on my chest, pushing me back down. I stared down at the lean fingers, the neatly manicured nails, and the pale blue skin. Not Xavier’s hand. Panic surged through me, and I grabbed the wrist on instinct and twisted it sharply.
A deep voice cursed, and the hand was whipped from my grasp but not before I got a good look at its owner.
“Calm it, Rogue.” Xavier leaned across me, blocking me from the other lean Athion with eyes like embers. “You’re safe now.”
I allowed my pulse to slow while I scanned my surroundings—silver chrome edged in indigo. “We’re on your ship.”
“Yes.” Xavier leaned in and pressed his forehead to mine. “We’re safe. We got away, and we’re in hyperdrive. They can’t come after us.” His hand was on my shoulder, and his thumb made soothing circles on my skin. “They can’t get you now.”
Safe. I was safe. I … Marlon and Killion and Anton and … “The others? Where are the Trads? Where’s Vex?”
Xavier released me gently, his mouth turned down. “I couldn’t get to the two Trads, but Vex was holding on to you when I grabbed you. He’s here. He’s safe.”
The other Athion snorted in derision, and my gaze snapped to his. I sat up and swung my legs off the gurney.
“You got a problem with that?” My tone was flat.
The ember-eyed Athion opened his mouth to respond, but Xavier interrupted. “No. He doesn’t.”
“Xavier …” There was warning in the other male’s tone.
Xavier pressed his lips together. “We have days to discuss this, Lore.”
“Or we can just float him,” Lore said.
Float him? “What the fuck—”
“No,” Xavier snapped. He gripped my shoulders. “Look at me.”
I tore my gaze from Lore’s stern face.
“I won’t let them float him. I promise you,” Xavier assured me.
“I need to see him.”
Lore made a strangled sound. “You do realize that his kind are why you were on that asteroid in the first place, right? Why you were taken from your people?”
“His kind?” I hopped off the gurney and stepped around Xavier to come face to face with the wiry Athion. “His kind abandoned him to a fucking fighting pit. They locked him up and held him captive. He did nothing wrong.”
Lore frowned. “From what I gather, the pits are home to criminals. He must have committed an atrocity to be there.”
“And what about me? What did I do to deserve to be there? Am I a fucking criminal too?”
