She’d die here, alone. She was sorry she couldn’t save Poppy, but she thought Rhain would remember her. And at least he would live.
She threw her hands out once more, and there was a blast of energy as the wall gave way. Pain ripped through her, and she collapsed to the ground.
Then there was nothing.
Rhain came to face down on hard rock.
He stifled a groan, aches and pains flaring in his body. He was alive, and nothing seemed to be broken, nor was he bleeding profusely.
He sat up and touched his head. His vision wavered. His temple and cheekbone were tender.
What had—?
Mal.
Pulse racing, Rhain pushed to his feet, searching frantically.
There.
She was laying on her side nearby.
He ran and dropped down beside her. “Mal?”
She was unconscious and covered in hexid blood, but when he saw her chest moving, he blew out a breath. He dropped down to sit beside her and pulled her into his arms.
After she’d thrown up that energy wall, he sent Thadd, Trist and Carvia back into the tunnel.
Then, at the last second, he’d used his abilities to collapse the roof… Between him and the others.
The last thing he’d seen was Thadd’s furious face.
Yes, his captain of the guard would be very unhappy with Rhain.
Carefully he ran a hand over Mal’s face. Courageous, foolish woman. So quick to sacrifice herself for others.
He lowered his forehead to hers and felt the warmth of her skin. He was so thankful she was alive.
He looked around. Faint light filtered in from above. The blast wave had caused some of the walls and part of the roof of the cavern to collapse. He saw a patch of light high above them.
Surrounding them were the bodies of dead hexids and nearby, he saw the Zhalton man.
The man was dead. His eyes stared lifelessly. Rhain felt the darkness inside him twist. The man was with the auroras now.
But his death had been needless.
Krastin and Zavir were to blame.
Rhain breathed through his rage. He stroked Mal’s silky hair, trying to find a sense of calm.
A minute later, she stirred and her eyelids fluttered.
“Ugh, how much tequila did I drink?”
“Mal.” Rhain brushed his fingers along her cheek.
Her eyes widened and she looked up at him. “Rhain.” She tilted her head and took in the dead hexid bodies. She grimaced. “Did I do that?”
“You saved our lives.”
He helped her sit up and she leaned against him.
“I feel like I’ve had a bad case of the flu for three weeks. I’ve got no energy.”
“You’re burned out from the energy expenditure. It’ll slowly replenish.”
“Well, Rusty used to always tell me that if you’re not hurting, you didn’t try hard enough.”
Rhain just grunted. He saw the instant she spotted the Zhalton man’s body. Sorrow crossed her face.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“He’s at peace now. But I will avenge him. Krastin. Will. Die.”
At his tone, she frowned. “Hey.” She cupped his cheek. “Turn down the scary.”
Air shuddered out of Rhain. “I struggle with it.”
“With what? You’re entitled to be angry.”
“It’s more than that. My father’s blood runs in me. The urge to fight, kill, and conquer.” He looked away, couldn’t look at her.
She snorted.
Shocked, Rhain whipped his head around.
“Rhain, you can be uber alpha sometimes, and bossy, but your people are free, happy, and prosperous. You’re a good leader, and the total opposite of your asshole father.”
Rhain frowned. “His blood runs in my veins.”
“Maybe. But we aren’t just genetics, or our parents. We make our own choices, and we all have secrets and things hiding in dark corners. But I know that you would never do this.” She waved a hand at the dead hexids and altered Zhalton.
He cupped her jaw and forced her gaze to his. “I find you endlessly fascinating, Mallory West.”
“You shouldn’t. I’m not really that special.”
He shook his head. “You’re a loyal friend. Brave to the point of recklessness. You charge into fights to protect others with little thought for yourself. From what I’ve seen, you protect complete strangers.”
“Rusty always taught me to help others.” She rubbed her temple. “He had a saying about it, something about not standing on the sidelines, but hell I can’t remember right now.” She shrugged. “He taught me to always try to do the right thing, even when it was hard to do.”
“I think I would’ve liked your Rusty.”
She grinned. “I’m not sure he would’ve liked you. You’re too fancy, and too rich, but he would’ve loved your swords.” Then she frowned, gaze focused on his face. “You have a hell of a bruise coming up.” She leaned closer and stroked the side of his eye.
It was tender. “I think I connected with a rock when the blast threw us.”
She probed it gently, her lips tantalizingly close to his.
Her green-gold gaze flicked to his and she stilled.
“Mal, when we get out of here, I’m going to have you.”
Heat flickered in her eyes—desire or anger, or perhaps a combination of both.
“Really?” she said.
“Yes. In my bed. I want to uncover every part of that tough body of yours. I want to lick you, kiss you, and discover what sounds you make when I sink my cock inside you.”
She sucked in a breath and shifted. “Do I have a say in this?”
“Are you going to deny how you feel? I can see you squirming.” He lowered his voice. “Are you wet for me?”
“Rhain.” She huffed out a breath. “This is crazy. You and me, it’s crazy?”
“But it feels right.” And it did. Too right.
“Fine,” she said. “But I get to explore every inch of that big, muscled body of yours too.” She leaned closer. “And I’ll see what sounds you make when I’m riding your cock hard.”
Her words had his cock harder than it had ever been before. He cupped the back of her head and kissed her.
She made a hungry sound, then nipped his bottom lip, and kissed him back.
When they pulled apart, his blood was humming, and he felt a trickle of energy seeping back into his body.
“Well.” Mal cleared her throat. “With that motivation in mind, I guess we’d better find a way out of here.”
He helped her up. “Are you feeling better?”
“I’d say your kiss is pretty potent, but I think your ego is healthy enough, Overlord.”
“My energy is returning.”
She nodded. “Mine too.”
That’s when Rhain felt a ripple of energy.
He turned, scanning the ruined cavern and saw several hexids slink out of the shadows, their overlong arms flexing.
“We have company,” he said quietly.
“These things never quit.” She pulled her sword free of its scabbard.
Rhain did the same and looked up. “You think you can climb up to the opening above? Without falling?”
“A girl falls into a lake once and no one let’s her live it down.” She eyed the rock wall. “Well, if my options are stay in the dark hole with alien monsters or climb out, I’ll climb.”