Having a partner, someone to depend on, was foreign. When he’d been an assassin for Artemis, he’d worked alone. She’d kept his sisters back at her base as an incentive for him to complete the mission and return. That was how she’d controlled all of them.
Having someone you cared about on a mission was no easier. And he did care. The more time he spent with Jamaeh, the harder it was going to be to leave her behind.
She could go with me.
The thought had gripped him by the balls and wouldn’t let go. They hadn’t even had sex yet. Hell, they hadn’t even sat down to a meal together, just a man and women enjoying each other’s company.
The air around him changed. He raised his fisted hand, only belatedly realizing she might not understand the sign to stop. He should have known better. Her footsteps halted. Leaving her on the path, he inched ahead, painstakingly taking his time. This wasn’t something you could rush. Not if you wanted to live.
A slight whiff of body odor in the air confirmed there was someone ahead. They might already be dead, but he wasn’t betting on it. Knife in hand, he crouched low and crept closer, keeping his senses attuned to any changes in the atmosphere around him.
“We’ll get them come morning,” a male voice said.
“I’m waiting until Osmon comes back with reinforcements,” another added.
There were at least two. Zaxe waited, patience a part of his DNA. He didn’t shift position, didn’t fidget. He did flex and relax his muscles to keep them from cramping. A light snore was his eventual payoff. It was a few hours until dawn, the time when people lowered their guard and slept. It bothered him to kill sleeping men, but they’d tried to kill him. Worse, they’d shot at Jamaeh.
Hardening his heart, he made his move. Two quick swipes of his knife and they were gone without ever waking. For men who lived and breathed violence, it was the best they could hope for.
The top of the rocks was in reach. Best to check it out before heading back down. It didn’t take him long to sweep the area, collecting weapons before climbing upward. He met no one else. That had to be the last of them. At least on this side. If Baraj was doing his job, they should be in the clear.
Time to move out before reinforcements arrived. Or maybe they’d take the positions up in the rocks this time. Something to think about.
He wanted to rush back down, but that would be a mistake. He needed to remain stealthy. Baraj wasn’t to be trusted, and there could be more men hiding. A rock face like this would have indentations, maybe even caves that were easily overlooked in the dark.
The sky was lightening. The sun would rise soon, bringing with it another day of deadly heat. They needed to eat and refresh themselves. None of them had slept.
Jamaeh was where he’d left her, back to the wall with her pack beside her. She was wide awake, the strain of the night reflected in her bloodshot eyes and pinched expression.
She stood and wiped the seat of her pants and rolled her shoulders. “That’s the end of it, then?”
“Yes.”
The blaster in her hand came up, angled at his head. He had a second of disbelief before she yelled, “Down.”
He dropped and rolled, weapon drawn, but it wasn’t necessary. She fired, hitting the man as he attacked from above. His body hit the side of the rocks and tumbled off the path, falling to the canyon below.
“I thought you said that was the end of it.” Her face was pale. “I thought you were good at this.” She crouched and buried her face in her hands, pulling it back up when she almost clunked herself with the blaster.
“I must have missed a hiding spot. I went all the way to the top.”
“Don’t do that again.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He went to his knees beside her and stroked a hand over her hair. “Thank you for saving my life.”
“Yeah, you’re welcome. We’re even now.” When he tilted his head in question, she added, “You didn’t let Reman keep me.”
“Never.” That would be the most heinous of crimes.
Giving a small cry, she threw her arms around him. “Don’t scare me like that again.”
He held her tight, breathing in the scent of her warm skin. There was dust and sweat, but beneath it was a hint of honey and musk. “I’ll do my best.” He wouldn’t make a promise he couldn’t keep.
Her laugh had an edge to it. She’d been through so much and handled herself so well. “We need to get going,” he reminded her. Baraj wasn’t going to sit around and wait for them. And sunrise was almost upon them.
“I know.” They were face-to-face. Her braids were tangled, the reddish hues dimmed by dust. The dark circles under her eyes made the green appear even richer.
“I’ll keep you safe.” The vow sank into the very marrow of his being. Other than his sisters, he’d never wanted to protect anyone. Caring left you vulnerable. Without even trying, Jamaeh had become vital to him.
“You’ll try, but you might not be able to. If something happens to me, promise you’ll do your best to get my brother away from Helldrick.”
The kicker was that she was right. He couldn’t promise something wouldn’t happen to either of them. Life was unpredictable at best. And their worlds were more dangerous than most. “I’ll do what I can.”
“That’s all I can ask.” Lowering her head, she took a breath and mustered a tired smile. “I suppose we should go back down there.” She gazed out over the narrow canyon below. “It seems so peaceful from here. Guess looks are deceiving.”
“They can be.” She was a beautiful woman, the kind that should have been pampered and cared for from birth. Instead, she’d survived the hardships of her life and thrived, clawing out an honest living when the odds were against her.
When she started to stand, he stayed her. Wrapping a hand around the back of her neck, he pulled her forward. With his blood fired and his protective instincts on overdrive, he wanted to strip her bare, wash the dirt and flecks of blood from her skin, and make love to her until she screamed his name in pleasure.
She’d saved his life. He pulled her in until their foreheads were touching. Their breath mingled. Her fingers slid around his wrist and squeezed. They both knew this wasn’t the time or place.
Zaxe raised his head. The first rays of the sun caught her face, turning her from woman to avenging goddess. His goddess. He straightened and held out his head. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Nine
His fingers gripped hers as they began their downward trek. They were strong and firm and rock steady. Fine tremors continued to run through her. I killed a man. It had happened so fast. There’d been no time to think, only to react. And her priority had been saving Zaxe.
He was big and self-assured, moving through life with a confidence that was both appealing and maddening. His gaze was always watchful. He was larger than life.
He almost died.
If she hadn’t shot their attacker, Zaxe would be lying back in their dirt, his life-force snuffed out in a split-second of indecision on her part. Or not. He was wearing a battlesuit, something she’d forgotten in the heat of the moment.
Unless he’d fired at Zaxe’s head.
That would have been the end of him. No, she’d done what she had to do.