Page 101 of Warrior's Captive
“I think you may be mistaken,” Vivian said carefully. She couldn’t trust the female. For all Vivian knew, the guards could have planted her there as a spy. Though what the point of that would be, Vivian didn’t know.
“Ah,” the female said. “I have been here twelve cycles. Every four they take some of us and bring in more. Twice they have allowed potential buyers to come and examine us. Darosheiil—the Aeddannar—”
“Is that the dark one?” Shira interrupted. “The one who pretends to be the good cop?”
“Good cop?” The female paused, then whistled assent. “Yes, good cop. He thinks he is a businessman. I listen to him too.” She didn’t smile, but the shape of her face changed slightly.
“What day of the cycle are we on now?” Shira asked.
“Four. Today he will bring a new buyer.”
There was no time left. But what could she do against six guards and with Shira and Ori hostages to her good behavior? She was one woman, barely trained even with access to the knowledge held in the bonding marks. Stay alive. That had been drilled into her head. Stay alive and wait for the professionals to get there. But if they didn’t act and Tai’ri was too late, then keeping her head down and playing possum wouldn’t matter, anyway.
Still . . . if this Darosheiil didn’t try to sell her or Shira and Ori, that would buy more time.
“Alright,” Vivian said. “I think we should keep our heads down, not draw attention to ourselves.”
“You’re hoping their buyers will pick someone else,” Shira said.
“We need more time.” That was all she was willing to say, but Shira understood.
“Right. But we need a Plan B, Viv. And when we get out of this alive, I’m taking you up on that offer to train with your guards.”
The green female didn’t interrupt the exchange, waiting patiently. Vivian decided to trust her. She had information they needed and if the female was a mole, well it wasn’t like they weren’t already screwed, anyway.
“Alright, let’s plot.”
* * *
The burn in her marks was a low, unbearable thrum. Anger, a sharp anticipatory taste of vengeance, filled her mouth. The emotions flowed through her, taking Vivian in their grip until her very vision sharpened, her muscles tensing with desire to do battle.
The posted guards lounged in their positions. There were three of them in the room, and other than discouraging talk they kept to themselves. When Darosheiil returned, he would have another three with him. Six guards in total.
The marks flared, and Vivian bit back a cry of pain. Sudden certainty filled her. These feelings, these emotions weren’t hers, though she was happy to embrace them.
One of the guards snapped to attention, and the others followed suit, their eyes with that half unfocused look from listening to someone speak. They must have comm implants. Their sudden tension could only mean one thing.
Tai’ri was here.
“Steady,” Vivian murmured. Shira heard her, and she knew Byeo-mi-cha’i would as well.
The door slid open, and Darosheiil strode in, his energy less calm than his first visit. She shifted onto her knees, appearing at ease with her hands resting on her thighs. Shira cradled Ori to her chest in a makeshift sling that would hold the child still so she could use her hands.
Darosheiil came right to Vivian and Shira. “It seems you were juicer bait than I anticipated, my dear.” Anger belied his casual tone. “My forces have taken quite the hit, among other things.”
She said nothing, and he smiled. “Still no response?”
“You didn’t ask a question.” Vivian spoke with the same blank expression and soft tone, then shut up.
“True, true,” Darosheiil said, pursing his lips as he stared at her with those soulless eyes that pretended to be kind.
There was no time and baiting him to lash out would erase what little she had. She embraced the burn of the marks, gathered Tai’ri’s emotions to her chest and sank into them. Sank into the muscle memory until the strange trance like euphoria began to flood her senses.
Breathe.
Remember her training. Open herself to her mate. Silence. Focus.
“He’s through the first ring,” the pale Aeddannar said, coming into the room abruptly. “Permit me to kill the female now and leave her body for him to find, with my own hands.”
