Chapter 24

Drovo

CW: characters bound against their will, physical violence

“Back into the darkness you go, scum.” Scaron spat at us before he rolled the boulder over the cave entrance.

We were tied up again. Both of us had our hands tied behind our backs.

Brexl was quiet. He didn’t even rustle where he sat. I scooted myself along the floor until I could reach the cave wall. There was no telling how long we’d be here, and I wanted to at least lean against something while I waited for our rescue. They would rescue us, I was sure of it.

“Don’t worry, they’ll help us get out of here.” We had the priestess on our side, which was the same as having the goddess rooting for our victory.

“The full moon is tonight.” Brexl murmured. There was no harshness in his voice, only defeat.

“I know.” If we weren’t rescued and the Savrix drug us out under the light of the full moon to find us not glowing, that would be the end. There would be no force on this planet that could save us after that.

Time passed in the dark. It was impossible to tell how much time, but I knew by the rumble of my stomach that the evening meal would be soon. Was it past the evening meal? Was it already dark outside? Had time run out?

There was a creaking outside, and the boulder moved from the entrance. I braced myself for whatever consequences were about to come my way.

“Drovo?” a familiar voice called out into the darkness.

“Drovo,” Favalor’s voice drifted to my ears as he lifted me from my sitting position and led me outside.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw it was dusk. There was still light in the sky. It wasn’t night yet.

My youngest brother Zoru brought out Brexl, who looked at our rescuers as if he couldn’t believe they were actually here.

Zander was with them. I thought my brothers might help us, but Zander? He approached me with a bone knife in his hand and I wondered for a brief moment if this wasn’t a rescue after all. Had they drug us out here to kill us before the Savrix could? Was this a mercy killing to save us from the Savrix’s wrath?

But Zander did not stab me with his knife. He walked behind me and cut my bindings, then Brexl’s. I rubbed my wrists where the rope had been.

“Where are the females?” I would not rest until I got Kayla out of here.

“They’re waiting for you at the stone wall.” I hadn’t noticed Trivix standing behind my brothers. The elder male came forward and bowed to Brexl with his fist to his chest.

“You shouldn’t be doing this,” Brexl hissed.

“I have failed you once. I won’t make the same mistake twice.” Trivix’s tone was firm. He wouldn’t be moved on this issue.

“But if the Savrix finds out -”

“The Savrix can do what he wants with me. As long as I can get you out of here alive, that’s all that matters to me.”

“I am not worth this!” Brexl growled. “You did not abandon me before. You made a smart decision to rid yourself of the monster that I am.”

We all grew silent. I had suspected that he did not see himself in a positive light, but I had no idea he thought of himself as a monster. Brexl? The most gentle soul I know?

“My grandson, you are not a monster,” Trivix began.

“I hear people coming,” Favalor whispered. “We must go.”

Our small group ran on silent feet to the stone wall that bordered our land. As soon as I saw Kayla’s dark skin shimmering with the gold hue of the setting sun, I ran as fast as my feet could take me.

“Drovo!” she cried out, and I swept her into my arms.

“My mate!” I buried my face in her braids and took in her sweet scent.

“Are you hurt? Did they do anything to you?” She held me at arm’s length to look me over.

“No, they just kept us tied up in a dark cave.”

“Oh, is that all?” She said in a sarcastic tone.

“Let’s get out of here,” Taylor said as she took Brexl’s hand in her own. He did not try to break free of her grasp, but he did not lean into either. His earlier confession played through my mind and it became clear to me that he did not feel worthy of her.

“Let’s go,” he growled.

Brexl and I lifted Kayla and Taylor to the top of the wall, where they slid to the other side and dangled by their fingers before they dropped the short distance to the ground.

Brexl and I climbed up the wall with our clawed hands and I noticed Favalor was climbing next to me.

“I’m going with you.” My younger brother looked at me with such compassion that it broke my heart to tell him no.

“You must stay here with our sire. He is growing old, and will need you to look after him.”

“If we leave and father stays here, the Savrix will punish him for our misdeeds,” Zoru added. He might be the youngest among us, but he held a wisdom that belonged to someone twice his age.

Favalor nodded his head and dropped back down to the ground. I looked down one last time at my brothers, who had grown into mighty hunters.

“I love you both.”

They placed their fists over their hearts and bowed. Tears stung my eyes, but I pushed past the well of emotions I was feeling. I needed to get Kayla out of here. Once we were safely beyond the Savrix’s reach, I would feel every emotion this cursed trip forced upon me.

I climbed over the wall and landed on the ground in a squat and Brexl landed next to me. Jelly was already there, hooked up to the chariot, and looking very well fed. Goddess bless my brothers for taking care of Kayla’s pet.

“Hop on,” I motioned for the females to climb onto the mobility device. “I’ll lead Jelly. Brexl, you’ll keep an eye out.”

My dekes brother nodded his head in agreement.

Once everyone was in place, I led Jelly by the leash in a quick jog. The beast wasn’t pleased with the pace I was setting, but he didn’t fight me, either.

The trees were singing a song of trepidation. What were they afraid of? It did not matter. Whatever it was, it would soon be behind us.

I hadn’t gotten very far into the forest when suddenly an arm appeared out of nowhere and struck me in my belly.

I fell to the ground, gasping for air.

“Drovo!” Kayla’s voice reached my ears a moment before I felt her hands on my body.

I looked up to see my attacker. It was Dameron.