Page 3 of The Price of Peace
“You always think you see her. You see her around every corner. You just want to go home,” a second voice responded.
“Of course I do. But you know I can’t until we find her. Regent Jökull wants her badly.”
“Why?”
“How the moons should I know? And I don’t care. It doesn’t matter why. It just matters we find her and bring her to him, and I know it was her at that bar. Three days ago, I was nursing a Centaurian ale at the Back Slot, my favorite dive bar in Port Rykan, and there she was! Just like in the picture! Tawny skin, violet eyes, that white-blonde hair. It was her! It had to be! And we’ve followed her here. Just like I know I saw her duck into these tunnels not half an hour ago. She’s here somewhere.”
What the fekk? Are these guys hunting me?
Xyrox’s finger came up to his lip in a shushing motion.
Like I’m going to make a sound when those two clearly followed me here.
His dark brows shot to his forehead as his green eyes flashed in my direction.
Did you hear that?
Xyrox nodded.
That’s … impossible.But before I could wonder anymore about it, the ex-intergalactic agent pulled me against his chest and into a dark alcove I hadn’t even noticed. He covered me with his large, dark red body.
“Turn off your lamp and close your eyes. They’re glowing.” His voice was more of a motion against my ear than a sound, but I heard him loud and clear. In any other circumstance, I wouldn’t be taking orders from my bounty, but these guys were obviously hunting me, and, at the moment, I didn’t see any option but to accept the help.
Wait? Did he say my eyes were glowing? What the hell does that mean?With no time to question, I closed my eyes and tucked myself tight against Xyrox’s tall, broad body. I didn’t know why this Regent Jökull wanted me, but I also didn’t want to find out. Being the hunted rather than the hunter was not on my Kartokian card today. But leave it to me to get myself into some weird situation.
The voices fell silent as the footsteps got louder, scraping against the rock behind us. Xyrox pressed me harder into the stone. My hands rested on the wall of naked, warm muscle that made up his chest. They felt like rocks heated by the mid-day suns. I fought the urge to rub my hands against the smooth texture and instead rested my forehead on his sternum, trying to make myself as small as possible. My breaths were quick and short, but not because I was anxious. I felt myself inexplicably,I relaxing into the fugitive’s hard body as I drew in his spicy, masculine scent.
Mmm … what is that? Smoked battolinwood? Yum.
I mentally slapped myself.Stop it, Peace! Danger, girl! Focus!
Don’t worry, I’ve got you, little bounty hunter.
I scowled.Fekk! He tells me not to be quiet, and he’s talking, anyway. The fekking idiot is going to get us killed.
You’re the one with the big mouth.
What?
You’re the one running your mouth.
You can hear me?
Of course I can hear you. You’re practically shouting.
But I’m not talking. I’m thinking to myself.
Shh! They’re almost on us!
I’m not talking out loud!
His breath hitched in my ear—out loud this time.Fekk. Neither am I.I think we’re talking using just our minds.
Are you crazy?!Before I could think anything else, the footsteps stopped directly behind us.
“I thought I heard something,” the first voice said.
“I didn’t hear anything.” The steps paused. I was afraid to even breathe. Xyrox’s chest quit moving. His heart thumped under my hand for one beat, then two.
