Page 33 of Songbird
“Izzy is mine.” Tarrick hissed, coming a step closer.
Kayzon waved his hand as though he considered Tarrick’s presence little threat and laughed. “Then come and get her. You are fat and weak, but at least my guard will get a little exercise before they kill you.”
My blood boiled at Kayzon’s cruel words, and I lashed out, my leg kicking towards him in an attempt to make contact, although I was too far away to make purchase. The guard holding me gave a rough jerk, making my head snap. Tarrick’s face contorted with anger, yet I sensed it wasn’t because of Kayzon’s insult. The fury simmered just beneath the surface, pulsing with a fiery intensity like a volcano on the brink of eruption at the guard putting his hands on me.
Tarrick’s jaw clenched as one balled fist moved slowly, landing at his throat. With a movement so graceful, it seemed unreal, he tore away both his padded jacket and cloak, revealing the muscled warrior I knew existed underneath the subterfuge.
Kayzon couldn’t hide his gasp of surprise. I eyed him smugly. “Tarrick’s not fat. You’re fat,” I quipped, giving him my sauciest smile.
Dark eyes flipped to me, simmering with hatred.
“Kill him.” Kayzon spoke the words without a hint of emotion, the nod given to the largest guard, who handed me off to his comrade.
A deep, guttural sound, somewhere between a roar and a laugh, rumbled from the massive Kerzak as he pulled out his blade and lunged forward. His towering size was intimidating, but Tarrick’s speed and agility proved unmatched as he gracefully sidestepped the swinging blade and knocked the Kerzak to the ground with ease. Tarrick’s movements seemed an amalgamation of the brutal strength of Jamie Fraser, mixed with the fluidity of Bruce Lee, with a touch of John Wick for good measure.
My mate was badass. A completely gorgeous badass. The thought sent pride burning along my nerve endings and laughter bubbling in my throat.
Kayzon grabbed my arm as he pushed the second guard forward. “Kill him!”
The second Kerzak dove into the fray, his blade slicing through the air with a satisfying whoosh. But Tarrick was quicker, dodging and kicking with precision and skill that left his opponent disarmed before the larger Kerzak could regain his footing.
As the first guard came back for another round, Tarrick’s movements became a violent ballet. Even facing off against two massive beasts, I didn’t fear for him until my eyes caught sight of something small and shiny in the hand of the smaller guard. A blaster, a weapon outlawed by Jala on the space station. Of course, these hairy bastards wouldn’t play by the rules.
“Tarrick!” I screamed a warning as the Kerzak took aim.
But just as I watched a thick finger tighten on the trigger, a deafening buzz filled the air, and a blinding flash of light erupted from behind me. The sudden burst of energy seemed tohave a mind of its own as it tore the gun from the guard’s hand and sent him writhing on the floor in agony.
“Halt!” Praxxan’s boots pounded against the metal flooring as he rushed into the chaos, flanked by a dozen guards. The smoking blaster in his hand evidence that he had been the one to save Tarrick’s life. The Kerzak guards gave up easily, raising their hands over their heads in a gesture of supplication.
Kayzon was not so swayed. Instead, his thick arm encircled my waist, jerking me off my feet, and I felt the press of a cold, sharp edge against my throat.
“Very impressive,” he taunted the brothers. “But not impressive enough.”
“Let Izzy go.” Tarrick faced us, his jaw set and his chocolate brown eyes seething. I let my gaze flicker over his body, noticing a light sheen of sweat on his chest, but he showed no other sign of injury.
“I am the one in the position to make demands. Not you,” Kayzon hissed, pressing the blade even harder against my throat. “I demand safe passage off this station, or I will kill her.” Spittle flew from his mouth as he spoke, hitting my cheek like drops of hot slime. Gross.
Tarrick took a step forward, seemingly unperturbed by Kayzon’s state—which, based on all theLaw and OrderI’d watched, spiraled with each breath. “You have hurt and terrified my mate. There will be no safe passage for you. Ever.”
Kayzon laughed, but the sound had lost its arrogance to a more manic tone. “You know I care nothing for the human. Give me safe passage, or she dies.”
Tarrick’s eyes flickered at me, their deep chocolate hue growing softer and more affectionate. His lips twitched into a gentle smile. “Do you trust me, Izzy?”
“With my life,” I answered without hesitation and added, just in case Tarrick wasn’t fast enough to keep Kayzon fromslitting my throat. “I love you.” No matter what happened, I didn’t want to go another second without saying those words to him.
Tarrick sucked in a deep breath, a faint smile playing across his features for a moment, before leveling his glare back to Kayzon.
“Last chance. Let my mate go.”
“Give me safe passage,” Kayzon roared, more droplets of hot spittle hitting my cheek.
“No,” Praxxan echoed the sentiment, coming to stand beside his brother, flanked by the guards. “Kayzon, you are under arrest for crimes against the Alliance and humankind.”
The laugh that boomed near my ear sounded desperate. “Then you have just condemned your precious human to death.”
In that terrifying moment, I felt the sharp edge of the blade press against my throat. My heart hammered as I braced to feel the inevitable slice that would end my life. But before Kayzon could carry out the deadly deed, I noticed Praxxan slyly hand Tarrick a small knife. My mate moved with fluid grace, his wrist giving just the faintest flick and flinging the blade through the air. I didn’t have time to take a breath before the blade hit its mark—right between Kayzon’s eyes. A gurgled sound of surprise came from the thick gray lips as the beast staggered, the blade falling away from my throat. I jerked away from his hold, looking back and, for a final time, meeting the eyes of the male who made my life a nightmare before he crumpled to the ground. He seemed surprised to be dying. I hoped he went straight to hell. As for me, I headed for sheer heaven.
“Tarrick!” My voice cracked with a mixture of relief, regret, and a myriad of other feelings that I couldn’t quite identify. It was like trying to hold on to a handful of water, slipping through my fingers before I could grasp it fully. Butamidst all the turmoil, there was an overwhelming sense of longing and love.
