Chapter 24

24

Drak

An-nana's mood improves greatly after I take care of her cunt. She is not hiding frowns or dragging her small hu-nim feet while we continue our search. Instead, she smiles and takes my hand in hers, walking by my side with her normally confident stride. Pride has my chin held high as we make our way through this complex structure of many stores.

"We should check the basement," my mate tells me. "There aren't any stores down there, but it might be a good place to hide."

It is a smart thought. My An-nana has many wise things to say.

"Mm," I grunt in agreement. "I believe we must be cautious with the structure and our ability to escape it before we enter."

My mate hums in contemplation. "You think it's a mess down there?"

"There could be damage down there that we can not see from up here. There may be traps as well."

An-nana nods. "Okay, so we go, but not too far in until we can tell that the ceiling isn't going to cave in on us and crush me."

"It will not crush you." I will not allow it.

She snorts. "If the ceiling caves in, it will definitely crush me."

"In the case of a collapse, I will shield you with my body and hold you until I can pull us from the rubble. You will never be crushed when I am by your side, my mate."

Her eyes sparkle at me, and I preen under her gaze.

"You know, that was romantic as fuck—even if it would sound ridiculous without context, Drak."

I grin. "Thank you, my mate."

Clapping her hands together, An-nana peaks around a corner and tells me that it is clear. "Stairs are this way, big guy."

"Stee-vee calls Marrec this," I muse as we continue to walk, unsure of how I feel about it. It sounds nice—I like being called big—but it is not as sweet as when she calls me her babe nor as sensual as when she calls me baby .

She crinkles her nose, her frek-ulls moving with the action. I wish to kiss the scrunched up skin but cannot as she inquires, "Big guy?"

"Yes."

"Hmm," she hums. "So, you like ‘babe' better then?"

I smirk. My mate knows me so well.

"I do, but I like all words from your lips, An-nana. Your mouth is so sweet that I will soak up whatever names it chooses for me."

Her cheeks tint pink. "You're a kiss-ass, you know that?"

"You should like me to kiss your ass?" I tease, licking my lips.

She scoffs, playfully whacking my arm. "Keep your dirty thoughts to yourself, mister. We're here."

My feet halt as do hers. I assess the small set of stairs we have remaining and tilt my head. My body does not feel wary— none of my natural senses sparking with anything to make me cautious. Even though I shouldn't hesitate, I do.

There's something in the air that feels different. I do not know if it is because of the change in altitude, or the extra worry I have when I know I must keep my mate safe, but my feet do not move either way.

"What is it?"

"I need a closer look to see," I say carefully. Holding a hand up to keep her in place, I take a few steps down the stairs and begin to clear my mind. There is silence but a faint unease about the atmosphere that I do not like. And when I breathe in deep, the air in my lungs doesn't taste as if we are alone.

"Drak?" An-nana asks. She has approached me from behind, soft as can be. She is an excellent stealthy hunter, my mate.

"I believe I sense hu-nims," I inform her quietly, looking over my shoulder at her. "It is an oddly small sense. Like the underground section of this Urth dwelling is muffling what I can feel."

She sucks back a gasp, hope glowing in her eyes. "Really?"

An-nana is wishing to find her family here, and I will not deny that is my hope as well. "We must be as cautious as we can, keeping our voices low and our guards up. We shall not use light to illuminate your path so that we can remain invisible for as long as possible. I can see without it, so you will hold my hand and follow my steps?"

"I doubt it's entirely pitch black down there, but I agree we should start with you leading me. Your instincts are what will keep us alive."

Pride swells in my chest, my mate's trust sweeping over me. It is a marvelous feeling to know your female feels safe with you.

"Are you ready?"

She nods. "Locked and loaded, babe. What do you say we find my family and get the hell out of here so I can finally show you how much you mean to me, hmm?"

Catching her lips in a kiss, I smile against her mouth. "I say yes."

My An-nana giggles and clutches my hand into hers, her other wrapping around the handle of her hu-nim weapon.

Before we can move forward, her eyes lock on my chest, and she frowns. "Is your soul seed light dulling?"

"It is shutting down for reconnaissance," I explain, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. "Going unnoticed in the shadows is an Aprixian hunting specialty. It will turn back on when the sense of danger has gone."

"Neat," she says. "Make sure that's the only time it turns off, okay? No one gets to think you're available."

A slow smirk tips my lips. "Because I am not."

"Exactly."

Rolling my shoulders back, I begin our descent.

I do not like the smell of the underground immediately. It is like old water and death. Thankfully, it is not too pungent.

When we get to the bottom of the steps, I take another whiff of the air, and my ears twitch. There are small Urth rodent creatures scattering away from us, finding me to be a threat. Once the pitter-patter sound of their miniscule feet ends, I am able to notice more.

It is not entirely dark in the path ahead of us. In fact, An-nana may be able to see more than I had expected. Some sections of this place have windows, I think. The ceiling is much shorter than the rest of this building, barely tall enough to not touch the top of my head. The unease of feeling cramped is not the worst part, though.

Reluctantly, I realize that we will need to venture further before I can feel or hear much else. So, holding my mate's hand, I guide us deeper into the daunting space, reminding myself that no harm will come to her while I am here.

I have faced much larger and powerful threats. Both hu-nims and zom-bays alike are no match for the space warriors I have slain in my past.

With the rodents and the sound of dripping water somewhere, it is hard to isolate noises and smells. But eventually, the familiar sound of a heart beating echoes through me. It is unsettling and exciting all at once.

Halting An-nana's body with my hands, I freeze, ears prickling.

"You can hear something?" she asks with a whisper.

"Someone," I mutter quietly. "A hu-nim. Only one that is close."

She maneuvers around me, staying close so that I do not stop her. Trusting her gut, An-nana uses the small Aprixian light I have given her to sweep the long hall. Both of us are startled when the purple hue illuminates someone.

A hu-nim.

A living one with breath in his lungs and life in his eyes.

Familiar eyes.

"Caleb?" An-nana chokes out, her voice filled with emotion.

I nearly gasp. Have we truly found one of her brothers?

"Anna?"

His voice is raspy like he could use hydration. The sound of it does not worry my mate, though. No, she recognizes him further. I can tell by the pure joy that surrounds her and the way her heart stammers on its next beat.

"Caleb?" she repeats like she cannot believe her eyes.

From my place behind An-nana, I can see his larger frame. Large for a hu-nim, of course. Despite his eyes being identical to his sister's, his hair is a dull yellowy-brown. Not bloody- fire colored like my lovely female's. But still, I can see the resemblance.

"Holy shit, how are you?—"

His words die on his tongue as he moves to come closer.

Like a flash, my mate's brother is captured from behind, a silver hu-nim blade pressed against his throat. A choked sob escapes An-nana's lips, and my eyes narrow on the hu-nim male threatening Cay-leb. He does not see me, but I see him .

Instincts kick in, and when I notice tears in my female's eyes, I see red.