The guy behind me gives me another knock. He’s working on my last nerve. I turn and snarl at him, crouching and baring my teeth. I don’t stand a chance against him or any of them, but this is bullshit. I had almost forgotten how bad they all are.
I know I don’t have any choice. Not really. Making them wait is the only act of rebellion I have. Even that has run its course. I shift, watching as the asshole in front of me does the same. He is smirking broadly. “You always were a feisty one, Raven-girl,” he sniggers.
“Lance,” I say, holding back an eye-roll. I should have recognized him in dragon form.
He nods. “Always good to see you.”
I note how he leers at me. My breasts, between my legs…down my thighs and back up again. A slow perusal that has my skin crawling. I roll my eyes. “I can’t say the same.”
He laughs. “Always with the joking.”
Really?
I’m being deadly serious. He honestly needs to get a life. Lance tried to get me to go on a date with him when we were teenagers. I always turned him down even though he was nothing but nice. I had a crush on West from when we were kids. I dated a few guys because West didn’t seem to notice me. I eventually stopped when I realized I just plain wasn’t interested in anyone else. It was at that time that Lance pursued me relentlessly. It was irritating as hell, but it also finally got West to notice me.
Go figure!
So much has changed since. That was another lifetime ago.
“Enough with the nonsense,” Jackson says behind me. “We need to get her back under lock and key. Tarek will be pleased. It looked like one of the other groups may have captured the male.” He makes a face like the thought of Stephan disgusts him.
“Lucky for you! Capturing this one might just be enough to redeem yourself,” one of the others says. He’s older. I recognize his face, but I don’t know him. It’s the same with the other two surrounding me. One is older. The other quite a bit younger. A newbie for sure.
“I have nothing to be ashamed of,” Jackson snorts. “Or to redeem myself over.”
Another of the older men snorts out a laugh and shakes his head. “If you say so.”
“The female is easy on the eye and a firecracker in bed. I’ll miss using her. It was a convenience to have her warm my bed until I found a mate. It was as simple as that. I never planned on taking it further. I informed Tarek of her questionable actions as soon as I became aware. I did nothing wrong!” He holds up his hands.
My heart is sinking when I realize he is talking about Star. He found out what she did and handed her over to Tarek. Just like that.
“You’re an asshole!” I say, locking eyes with Jackson. I’m buzzing with energy.
“You’re the asshole, Raven. This is on you! You’re the reason she’s in there right now.” He points at the doors that lead to the cells. “You’re also the reason you’re going in there right now, too.” He looks pissed. “Don’t give me grief about something you did.” His eyes are blazing. I’d like to think that it’s because he’s upset that Star is locked up, but I’m pretty sure it’s because he’s been made to look bad. Image has always been everything to Jackson. It’s the main reason I’ve always known he would never mate Star. Never ever!
“I left. That doesn’t make me an asshole. Excuse me for not enjoying being treated like dirt…like nothing. No, I’m sorry…women in this weyr are treated like less than nothing. Excuse me for wanting more for myself!” I yell at him. I know it’s falling on deaf ears, so I’m not sure why I’m attempting to get him to understand. “We’re sick of being told who we can be with…who we can’t be with. Sick of being used as baby-making machines. Sick of being told what to do and when to do it.”
“That’s enough, Raven,” Lance says. I’m shocked when there’s tenderness in his words. “We’re also just doing what we’ve been told to do. Let’s get you settled.” He grips the top of my arm, careful not to hurt me.
“We’re not sheep. We shouldn’t have to follow blindly,” I make one last effort. “What you don’t know is that it’s awesome living amongst the humans. There’s a whole new world out there. Full of possibilities.”
“It’s the humans who are sheep,” one of the older guys says. “The humans…not us.” He has no idea. Then again, maybe he does. This weyr is a good place to be if you have a dick between your legs. Otherwise, not so much. And here I am, being pulled back into all of it. It’ll be kicking and screaming, punching, and scratching.
Bastards!
I allow myself to be led by Lance. I think he’s trying to be nice, but that doesn’t compute with his earlier treatment of me, so I’m on my guard.
Another dragon lands just ahead of us. Lance jogs over there. They talk in muted tones. I think I hear the word ‘male’, and I’m not sure, but I think I hear Stephan’s name… That makes no sense. They shouldn’t know his name. How would they know his name? I must have been mistaken. As hard as I try, I can’t make out much more. The odd word, but it tells me nothing.
“That looked important,” Lance says to Jackson. “Why don’t you go ahead,” he says to the others. “I’ve got this,” he adds. “It’s one tiny woman.” He snort-chuckles.
“You sure?” Jackson asks. He frowns when he looks towards the cellblock.
“Absolutely.”
“Griffin…you go with them,” Jackson says.
“I said I’ve got this,” Lance growls, his hand tightens on my arm. “I can handle her just fine.”
Jackson frowns again, then he finally nods once. “You can stand guard out here, Griffin. The rest of us are needed elsewhere.”
“Did they catch him?” I blurt. The words are out before I can stop them.
“None of your business,” Jackson replies.
“Please tell me,” I beg. I don’t care. I need to know.
“What is it to you whether he’s been captured or not? Either way, you will never see him again.” Ice hits my veins. It splinters its way through me. I want to beg some more, but it is futile. I can see it in his eyes. “Say ‘hi’ to Star for me.” I see his eyes cloud for a second, but the emotion is gone in a flash.
My heart sinks even further. “Fuck you!” I snarl, despite the tears pricking in my eyes. “She’s too good for you. Always was, always will be.”
He grunts.
Does this mean they captured Stephan? Or maybe they’re still in pursuit. Frustration and anger course through me.
“Let’s go.” Lance lightly squeezes my arm.
I see Jackson shift. I hear the others do the same. Griffin will stand guard in his dragon form. His senses will be sharper. He’ll know if I so much as set a toe outside that building. Despair is setting in. I have to try to be strong.
My heart sinks even further when I see a guard at the door as well. Lance and the guard exchange pleasantries. The guard uses a key on a chain around his neck to unlock the door. I hear the lock re-engaged as soon as we are inside.
There are two cells with bars across them, and two rooms. Star is in one of the cells. She jumps up as soon as we enter. She’s wearing a t-shirt like the one I was given before. “Raven!” she yells as she rushes to the bars, stopping just short of touching them. They’re infused with silver. She won’t be able to teleport out.