Page 70 of Splintered Shadow
He ignored the emergency beacon. No one needed to know their location at the moment.
Dressed and fed, they crawled into the tent. She snuggled next to him on the sleeping mat and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
“Good night, sweetheart. Don’t you dare get hurt again,” she said, the yawn softening her threat.
He loved her so much his heart hurt from the enormity of it.
The king made a bargain to send her back to Earth if possible, and he agreed. Vekele had always believed himself to be an honorable male. For the first time, he wanted to break his vow.
He would keep his mate any way he could, even if he had to chain her to his bed again.
Chapter Fifteen
Sarah
“For a malewho says he does not like trouble, you find plenty of it,” Kenth said, striding down the ship’s ramp.
Four additional guards followed. Their uniforms were stained and disheveled after a long night. Kenth wore the same uniform as yesterday, complete with bullet hole and bloodstain. Among the guards, Sarah recognized Luca, the guard who took her phone for examination.
“You’re alive!” Sarah rose to her feet, stiff and all her muscles aching. Last night’s promise of a bruise turned into a deep violet splotch covering her hip and part of her stomach, matching the ones on her arms. Honestly, the busted lip and swollen cheek hurt worse.
Ghost crowded in front of Sarah, pressing into her to get her to back up. He growled, his shadows doing athing. He appeared twice his size and full of menace.
Pitch swooped down to land on Ghost’s back. The karu stretched her wings and shrieked.
That was new.Sarah had no idea if Pitch cried for war or wanted Ghost to chill.
“Princess?” Concern sounded in the guard’s voice.
“They’re friends,” Sarah said, her hand on the back of Ghost’s neck. The bond felt stronger with touch. From his end, she felt a surge ofprotectandpackandstrangers. Sarah sent a message of calm. They knew Kenth. They liked Kenth.
Ghost relaxed but remained close. Pitch returned to Vekele’s shoulder.
Kenth marched straight up to Vekele. “She needs a medic. How irresponsible you are to enjoy camping in the wilderness when your mate is…” She waved a hand at Sarah’s face. “Turning those colors.”
“I am well. Thank you for your concern,” he replied in a dry tone. “Scans indicated minimal damage to soft tissue. She has taken anti-inflammatory medication. What more could I do? Fly her directly to the capital and meet the assassins at a medical facility?”
They stared at each other, both tense and exhausted. Vekele needed a solid day’s sleep, and Kenth looked like she had clawed her way out of a grave, complete with dirt under her talons.
This wasn’t helpful.
Sarah placed a hand on Vekele’s arm, letting him know her position. “I’m fine, all things considered. Vekele was shot, but it was superficial. What happened to you? I’m sorry I left you—”
Kenth dismissed her concern with a wave of her hand. “As was proper. Protocol in that situation is to remove members of the royal family and retreat to a secure location. Is this secure, Your Highness?” She turned her sharp gaze back to Vekele.
“I disabled the tracker on the flyer. No one found us until I messaged you,” he said.
The other guard, Luca, inspected the flyer. “Doesn’t this belong to Councilor Raelle?”
“Does it?” Vekele huffed, sounding amused.
“The councilor will be delighted to have assisted the prince,” Kenth said. “Have you followed the news reports?”
“Not for more than a year,” Vekele said.
“The king is missing.”
A long moment passed. Vekele remained motionless. “You removed him. I heard—”
