Resolve straightened her spine. She’d done what she’d had to do. Zaxe would escape and fulfill his mission. And she’d find her brother and get him back home. There was no future for her and Zaxe. They both had responsibilities.
And she might not even have a future if she didn’t come up with something to appease Reman. But that was trouble for another day.
Darkness shrouded the dessert as they skimmed across the sand at breakneck speed, over and around dunes. The muscles in her arms and legs began to ache from holding herself so tensely, so she forced herself to relax.
The journey gave her far too much time to think. There were so many regrets in her life, things she wanted to do but hadn’t managed yet, dreams that were yet unfulfilled. Would she have time for any of it, or was she on her way to her death?
All the things that seemed important only days before, all the petty problems, dissolved under the onslaught of life and death situations.
And at the center of all of it was Zaxe.
Where was he? What was he doing or thinking? Even though hours had gone by, she could still taste him, feeling the fiery passion as he’d kissed her in the midst of running for their lives. It was a crazy thing to do, yet she’d kissed him back. The primal urge to connect, to choose life over death, had been palpable at that moment.
The sled bumped something, jostling her. She grabbed on to the driver, but eased up as the vehicle slowed. An encampment seemed to rise up from the desert. This was what she’d expected from the outcasts. Compared to this, their settlement was an oasis. The tents were dirty and ragged and the men pouring out of them no better. Their eyes were hard and cold, their hands all holding weapons.
She wanted to swallow but the sand and heat had dried her mouth completely.
They drove straight to the largest tent right in the center of the camp. The man who stepped out was huge, his red hair streaked with gray, his lips turned down in a frown. The lines around his mouth and eyes were deeper than they’d been the last time she’d seen him.
“Where are they? Where are the ones who killed my men?” he roared.
Jamaeh said a small prayer as she climbed off the back of the sled, wondering if her legs would hold her. They were shaky after the ride, and facing Helldrick wasn’t helping. She wanted to look around for Esau but didn’t dare take her eyes off her father.
Her captor grabbed her none too gently by the arm and dragged her forward. “Checked with our contact in the settlement and only two people were taken in by Qasim. The male got away, but we got her.” He shoved her forward. She stumbled but stayed upright.
Helldrick’s eyes narrowed as he scanned her from head to toe. The backhand caught her off guard. Pain exploded in her cheek. The ground rushed up to meet her as she fell hard, her arm taking the brunt of it.
“Stop.” This voice was younger and tinged with fear. Esau. He fell to his knees beside her, fear on his face. “Why did you come?” he whispered.
“How could you think I wouldn’t, especially when I didn’t know where you were gone?”
Her brother’s eyes widened. “I left a letter on my bed.” He glanced at Helldrick, who was standing with his massive arms crossed over his chest and a smirk on his face.
“Help me up.” She needed to be on her feet, not on her behind on the ground. Ignoring the aches and bruises, she took her brother’s hand letting him pull her upright. “There was no note.” She addressed that comment not to Esau, but Helldrick.
“I took it. No need for anyone to know my business. Only a fool leaves a trail to be followed.”
“Yet here I am.” Taunting him was stupid, but she wasn’t about to cower or back down, no matter what he did. She had more spine than that.
“I’m sorry, Jamaeh. Father said he wanted to spend the day with me. I left a note saying I’d be back later. Next thing I knew, I was here.”
“You drugged your son?” If she had a blaster, she’d shoot him between the eyes.
“Nothing to harm him. And he’s my son, my property. You’ve had too much influence over him. Made him weak.”
“He’s a better man at his age than you’ll ever be.” She braced, waiting for the next blow, but he threw his head back and roared with laughter.
“There’s the spirit I’m looking for. Pity you weren’t born a boy.”
“Count your lucky stars, old man. If I had, you’d already be dead.”
He shook his head, more amused than frightened.
“Now that we’ve had this lovely family reunion, we’ll be going.” It was brazen but worth a try.
He shook his head. “You’re not going anywhere. Not until I get answers.”
“Reman isn’t happy with you,” she tossed out. “Seems you owe him money, left him high and dry.”
He waved away that concern. “I’ll make it right with him. I always do. No, I’m more interested in the man looking for me.”
Shit, how did he know about that? She pressed her lips together.
“You think I didn’t know about that? I have people everywhere. Back in Badwa and with the outcasts. They tell me things.” He stalked forward, wrapped his hand around her throat, and lifted her right off her feet.
Choking, she clawed at his hand, gouging deep and drawing blood. He didn’t even flinch. He might be old, but the man had the strength of three men. Esau charged forward to help but was caught by two men and held back.
“Jamaeh! Let her go! Let her go!” Esau’s pleas fell on deaf ears.
She kicked out her feet. Black spots filled her vision. He was going to kill her. The strength bled from her limbs, leaving her limp.
Esau still had a chance. Helldrick would try to turn her brother into a younger version of himself. An image of Zaxe filled her heart and mind, along with a deep regret for what might have been if things had been different.
But fate and life had other ideas.
Then a deep voice pierced the black veil closing around her. “I believe you’re looking for me.”
Her back hit the ground. Throat constricted, she painfully sucked air into her lungs through her nose. Even though her eyes watered, there was no mistaking him.
Zaxe had arrived.
****
Every muscle in Zaxe’s body urged him to go to her, but he stood his ground and faced his prey. The timing had to be perfect if they were going to make it out of here alive. His mission had been to kill Helldrick for the king of Gravas. That mission had changed. Helldrick would die because he’d put hands on Jamaeh, tried to kill her, his own daughter. The man didn’t deserve to live.
Zaxe was outnumbered, but that was a minor detail. It wasn’t the first time. He’d planned on doing more reconnaissance, but time had run out. The younger male helping Jamaeh up was Esau. The likeness was unmistakable. With his light-brown skin, red and black hair, and green eyes, he was a male version of Jamaeh. And from what he’d heard of the conversation while skulking around the camp, it seemed the boy hadn’t gone willingly. Helldrick had taken the note and the boy’s clothes, assuming his sister would write him off and be done with him.
Helldrick didn’t know his daughter at all. There was nothing she wouldn’t do to protect those she loved.
She protected me, a voice in his head reminded him.
“Who the hell are you?” Helldrick demanded. His men surrounded Zaxe, their weapons drawn. “You look local, but I don’t know you.”