Chapter 6

The fierce beauty of Vasz surrounded Taryn. The mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks capped with snow. The forests swayed in the wind, a sea of green and gold. The skies above were a deep, vivid blue, untainted by pollution.

The air was fresh, carrying the scents of earth and growing things. It was a good day to be out in the wilds.

It would have been a better day if Taryn wasn"t escorting a filthy little human.

The human in question was currently stumbling over the uneven ground, his worn boots struggling to keep up with the long strides of Taryn and his warriors. A rope was wound around his body, tying his arms to his sides, and Taryn held the other end.

Rhys. Taryn"s lip curled. The name was an ugly hiss.

The human was panting with exhaustion, his face flushed with exertion and framed by dark, sweat-damp hair. Despite his filthy state, his green eyes were sharp.

And he never stopped watching Taryn.

Taryn tore his gaze away from the struggling human, focusing instead on the horizon. The mountains, the forests, the sky — it was all a distraction from the uninvited presence at his side. But even with his eyes fixed ahead, he couldn"t escape the human"s scent.

Rhys"s scent was unmistakable: intense, earthy, and laced with a subtle sweetness that gnawed at Taryn"s resolve more than he cared to admit. The distinct smell of human should have been repugnant.

Yet, against his will, it was appealing. Unnervingly so.

Taryn clenched his jaw, his senses rebelling despite his efforts to ignore them. He had commanded the young warriors to apply the pheromone-blocking salve, ensuring they were not distracted by the human's scent. But he had refused to dull his senses. The hunt was still on. They were tracking runaway humans through the wilderness. Disabling his sense of smell would jeopardize their mission.

And now, he was paying the price.

Every breath carried Rhys's scent deeper into his senses, a reminder of the human"s presence. His muscles tensed with an instinctive pull, a contradiction of revulsion and raw attraction that he couldn't shake.

Images leaped unbidden into his mind—memories of nights disturbed by the sounds of Rael and his human mate, Elian. Taryn had heard them through the thin walls of the alpha"s quarters, their intimacy an affront to his sensibilities. The soft murmurs, the laughter, the raw cries of pleasure—they had grated on his nerves, stoking a fire of anger and disbelief. How could a Borraq, especially an alpha, allow himself to be so vulnerable, so entwined with a human?

Taryn clenched his teeth, the past merging with the present in unsettling clarity. He had sworn to himself that such weakness was not for him. He would not succumb as Rael had, bound to a human by some inexplicable force. Yet here he was, his own body betraying him at every turn.

Unable to resist, he glanced at Rhys, the human"s green eyes meeting his for an instant. Rhys"s expression was a mix of defiance and fatigue, his breath coming in harsh pants. And despite the grime and exhaustion, Taryn"s senses flared with unwanted images—of closeness, of touch, of heat.

Taryn tried in vain to push the intrusive thoughts from his mind, but the image of Rhys beneath him burned bright. He imagined the human"s lithe form pressed against his own, their bodies moving together.

He could almost feel the heat of Rhys"s skin against his, the slide of sweat-slicked muscles as they writhed in carnal bliss. Rhys"s scent would envelop him, that intoxicating blend of earth and sweetness that clouded Taryn"s senses and stoked the flames of desire raging within.

A tremor ran through Taryn as he pictured capturing Rhys"s mouth in a searing kiss, claiming that tempting mouth with his own. He imagined the way their tongues would glide together, the taste of Rhys"s unique essence flooding his senses. Taryn"s large hands would roam the expanses of Rhys"s body, mapping every arc and plane, reveling in the contrasts of soft skin over lean muscle.

He envisioned pinning the smaller human beneath his bulkier frame, eliciting gasps and whimpers of pleasure from those sinful lips. His name would be a prayer on Rhys"s tongue as he sheathed himself in that tight, velvet heat. Their cries would echo through the wilds as Taryn claimed his mate, taking him apart with each powerful thrust, until they both shattered in ecstasy.

The intensity of his forbidden fantasies made Taryn"s blood burn. His heart thundered in his chest as instincts he had long suppressed roared to life. This wasn"t just lust - it was the primal drive to possess, to mate, to bind himself eternally to this infuriatingly alluring human. Despite his staunch beliefs, Taryn"s very core yearned for that union, that completion.

A growl rumbled low in his throat as he tightened his grip on the rope, using the coarse fibers to anchor himself. Rhys glanced back at the sound, green eyes glittering with intrigue and no small amount of defiance. Just that heated look sent another jolt of arousal searing through Taryn"s body.

He could take the human right here, right now. Claim him as his own, consequences be damned. The thought of Rhys writhing beneath him, finally submitting to Taryn"s dominance, made him burn with feral need. But somehow Taryn found the fortitude to tear his gaze away, jaw clenched against the maelstrom of want and self-loathing that warred within him.

He was a warrior, a protector of his clan, not a slave to base instincts. Taryn tore his gaze away, forcing his breathing to slow. Summoning all his control, he brought his focus back to the task at hand: his territory.

It was a disgrace that Taryn had to escort a human through the heart of his clan"s lands. But there was no other choice. Taryn and his charges were far from his clan"s village — there was no way to get assistance on this mission. If he did anything other than hunt them down, he"d just be giving the runaway humans time to spread further into his lands.

No, it was just him and his warriors on this mission. They had to hunt the rest of the humans who had dared to set foot on Vasz. Taryn couldn"t rest until his clan"s territory was free of the vermin.

But the chase was proving to be a difficult task. Humans were slippery creatures. When Taryn"s forces had descended upon their pit, the miners had slipped away with surprising amounts of skill.

The humans hadn"t panicked, leaving visible tracks — instead, they"d run together as one, moving lightly through the wilds, doubling back, and covering their tracks. Taryn had scouted, waiting for them to return to their ship… But the humans had left the mine site entirely, heading somewhere as if they had a goal.

Taryn frowned. That had been unexpected. He"d expected panic, not competence. He was confident that he and his warriors would be able to catch the remaining humans… But it was an extra headache that he didn"t need.

He had enough on his plate already.

Taryn"s grip tightened on the rope binding the human as they trudged through the rugged terrain. His jaw clenched, a muscle twitching with repressed fury. This Rhys was an affront to everything Taryn held sacred — the purity of Vasz, the honor of his people, the memory of his fallen brother.

A low growl rumbled in Taryn"s throat. By rights, he should deliver the human straight to the central authorities to face judgment. It was the duty of every Borraq to turn over any humans found on their lands. Harsh punishment awaited those who dared violate their world.

But Rael... Rael had complicated matters with his own human pet. Taryn"s eyes narrowed at the thought. His clan leader"s inexplicable affection for his human mate was an embarrassment, a stain on their honor. How could Rael bring such a thing into their ancestral home, into the heart of their clan?

Taryn risked a glance at Rhys, his lip curling with disgust. Humans were little more than vermin, their insatiable greed leading them to plunder and defile wherever they spread. Yet for some unfathomable reason, Rael had grown attached to one.

Would Rael seek to keep this human as well? The very idea made Taryn"s stomach churn. His clan"s home was no place for such filth. He could barely tolerate the presence of Rael"s pet human. To have another thrust upon them would be unacceptable.

Carrying out his alpha"s wishes was Taryn"s duty. Now, though, he wished it wasn"t.

The bounty on humans on Vasz was dead or alive, and one of those was infinitely more appealing.

Taryn"s free hand clenched into a fist, his sharp nails biting into his palm. He had to make Rael see reason. Keeping the human would be a violation of everything they stood for as Borraq. Taryn would not allow his leader"s inexplicable softness to enable the infestation of their lands.

His gaze drifted over the lush forests, the craggy mountains, the vast endless skies. This was their world, their heritage. Not a place for humans to run rampant, fouling it with their greed and disrespect. Vasz deserved to be fiercely protected, its sanctity preserved at all costs by their duties.

Duties that now included babysitting a human. Ugh.

The young warriors moved with a fluid grace, their powerful frames easily traversing the rugged terrain. They were at home in the wilds, their senses attuned to every sight and sound.

"Keep your eyes peeled," Jorah reminded Krye. "We don"t want any nasty surprises from those vile humans."

Krye scoffed loudly. "As if a puny human could best a Borraq warrior. I"d like to see them try."

"Big talk for someone whose horns are barely grown in," Worrack chimed in with a sly grin.

Krye"s shoulders squared, his chin lifting defiantly. "I"ve trained harder than any of you! Don"t doubt my skills."

"Skills?" Soren snickered. "You mean swinging that toothpick you call a blade? Real warriors fight with their fists!"

"Oh? Is that why you"re always getting reprimanded for breaking formations?" Krye arched an amused brow. "Can"t seem to control that brute strength of yours."

Soren puffed out his massive chest. "Let"s go toe-to-toe and see who has true control, then!"

"True control is keeping an eye on the goal," Jorah dryly reminded them. "Let"s keep looking."

The barbed words continued to fly as the group trudged onward, the warriors" banter filling the air with a familiar cadence. Despite the harsh tones, there was no true malice in their exchanges — only the posturing and teasing bonding rituals of youth.

Taryn allowed the back-and-forth to wash over him, his gaze roving their surroundings with a critical eye as he led them deeper into the wilderness. While the young ones bantered and bragged, he remained vigilant, every sense alert for potential threats.

Let the pups have their fun for now. When they found those humans, the true test of their skills would come soon enough.

A low growl rumbled in Taryn"s throat as his gaze fell once again on the human trudging along in their midst. Rhys was struggling. He stumbled over rocks, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Sweat dripped down his grimy face, and he wiped it against his shoulder with frustration. Despite the chill in the air, his face was flushed with exertion.

Taryn"s lip curled. Humans were so fragile. They were creatures of comfort. It was a miracle that they"d conquered as much of the system as they had.

But… compared to the human homeworlders, with their weak climates and luxurious cities, Rhys"s display of endurance was notable, really. For all his weaknesses, the little human was stubborn. He refused to plead for a break, his jaw set in determination as he forced his worn body to keep pace.

The sight triggered a familiar ache in Taryn"s chest.

That damn ache was the reason he was in this predicament to begin with.

Humans were the sworn enemies of the Borraq. When Taryn had captured Rhys, it was completely within Taryn"s rights to take his blade and dispatch his enemy.

But Rhys had looked up at him with those eyes full of pain and fury, and had told Taryn to end him…

He reminded Taryn of Airen.

It had been on a ridge much like this one where Taryn had first taught his younger brother the art of tracking prey. He could almost see the eager light in Airen"s eyes as Taryn had knelt beside him, pointing out the subtle signs and disturbances that betrayed the passage of their quarry.

Taryn"s chest tightened at the memory. His brother had been a fast learner, his senses keen and his mind sharp. In those moments, watching the spark of understanding bloom across the younger Borraq"s features, Taryn had felt an immense surge of pride.

That same pride had only grown over the years as Taryn had guided his brother through the wilds, imparting every lesson of survival, combat, and honor that their elders had instilled in him. Airen had grit his teeth and faced every challenge with perseverance and courage.

Until the humans had shot him down.

Rhys was panting heavily, his steps faltering as he fought to keep pace. Sweat gleamed on his brow, and his shoulders sagged with exhaustion.

For a fleeting moment, Taryn was transported back to those days of training with his brother. The urge to reach out, to guide and support the weaker form beside him, was startlingly visceral.

He quashed the instinct, jaw clenching. This was no bright-eyed youth eager to learn the ways of Vasz. This was a human, one of the very vermin responsible for robbing Taryn of the bond he"d cherished—

Rhys stumbled, his knees buckling. Before Taryn could process his own actions, he was there, gripping the human"s arm to steady him.

Rhys lifted his gaze, eyes widening with a mixture of surprise and wariness. Taryn found himself caught in that startlingly green stare. Up close, he could make out the finer details of the human"s features: the sharp angles of his jaw, the dusting of freckles across his nose, the sheen of perspiration along his brow. "Thanks," Rhys said, his voice tentative and questioning.

Heat that had nothing to do with exertion flooded Taryn"s veins. He jerked back, releasing Rhys as if burned.

Disgust welled up within Taryn. He was letting himself become distracted, entangled by instincts that had no place in his life any longer.

Without sparing Rhys a second glance, Taryn turned and continued onwards, the rope leash held firmly in his grip. He could not — would not — allow himself to be distracted again, no matter what inexplicable impulses the human stirred from within him.

It was a lapse, nothing more.

One he would not allow to happen again.

A low whistle from one of the boys up ahead shattered the weighted silence. Taryn"s head snapped towards the sound, his body tensing.

"I see tracks," Jorah called out in a hushed tone, his eyes glinting with the thrill of the hunt. "Look, there at the edge of the grass! Small and bipedal, heading northeast into the ravine."

Taryn"s lips peeled back in a feral grin, baring his sharp fangs. "We move swiftly and silently," he commanded in a low rumble, already starting forward with purposeful strides. "Do not let them sense our approach. We will surround them and strike as one."

The warriors fell into formation without hesitation, the result of years of training and discipline. Even the most boisterous among them had shed their youthful bravado, their focus now entirely on the hunt.

"And as for you…" Taryn said, turning to Rhys. It was the work of a moment to gag Rhys, to slide a cloth between his parted lips. Knowing it was futile, Rhys didn"t struggle, though his bright green eyes held Taryn"s gaze the whole time, burning with fury.

"There," Taryn said. "I dare not leave you behind, but I will not let you warn them. Try to signal the others, and I will remove your tongue myself."

Rhys flinched at the threat, anger and fear warring across his features. For a moment, Taryn was certain the foolish human intended to protest further.

But then Rhys simply gave a tight nod, holding Taryn"s hardened stare.

The brief confrontation left an odd feeling churning in Taryn"s gut — a strange blend of satisfaction at the human"s capitulation and an inexplicable sense of… regret? As if a part of him had hoped for more defiance, for a fiercer show of the resilience he couldn"t help but grudgingly respect.

Taryn shook off the discordant sensations, refocusing on the matter at hand. There would be time to unravel the knot of conflicting emotions later. For now, he had a duty to uphold — a duty to his clan, his people, and the world they had sworn to protect at all costs.

Gripping the rope tightly, Taryn gave it a firm yank. Rhys stumbled forward, falling into step beside the warrior as they continued their silent advance.

The hunt was nearly over.

Taryn"s heart thundered in his chest as he and his warriors closed in on the place where the humans were hiding: a cave, one of many that riddled the formations of the land. There were footprints in the dust of the entrance, heels sunk deep into the soft ground. They"d carried something heavy with them — equipment? Taryn wasn"t sure.

A quick hand signal brought his team to a halt. They fanned out in perfect formation, muscles coiled and blades at the ready. Taryn could sense the eager anticipation thrumming through them, the thrill of the imminent clash.

Taryn tied Rhys to a tree. "Stay," he rumbled.

If the human had any sense of survival, he wouldn"t. The smartest thing to do would be to try to flee while Taryn and his boys were busy. Rhys just looked up at Taryn with baleful eyes.

Good enough. Taryn turned from him, his gaze meeting that of each of his warriors in turn, allowing a fleeting moment of shared purpose to pass between them. Then, with a final sharp nod, he gave the signal to attack.

They surged forward as one. Taryn led the charge, his blade gripped in both hands as he slipped into the cave with lethal intent.

Only… there was no cry of alarm. No frantic scrambling as the humans roused themselves to offer token resistance. The cave remained eerily silent and still, devoid of any sign of life.

Taryn came to a halt, his brow furrowing in confusion as he took in the scene. A cursory glance revealed the truth — the humans had been here, for sure. The cave was riddled with many small signs showing that the humans had slept here.

But they"d already fled. Taryn and his boys were too late.

"Spread out," he commanded, his tone clipped with displeasure. "Search for any signs of where they went."

The warriors obeyed without question, fanning out to scour the area. Taryn watched them work, his sharp gaze sweeping over every potential clue as his mind raced.

His gut told him their departure had been a hasty one. Why had they abandoned their hiding place so abruptly? Why weren"t they going back to their ship?

What was their plan?

"Taryn." Jorah"s urgent call drew the warrior"s attention. "Over here. I"ve found something."

Taryn strode over to where the young Borraq crouched, his expression pinched with distaste. The humans had left a container behind, presumably needing to ditch the weight as they left in a hurry. Taryn recognized it; the same containers had been at the mine site. As he neared, a sharp, acrid scent assaulted his senses — one that even he, with his vast experience of Vasz"s wilds, didn"t recognize.

"What is it?" Soren asked, peering down at the scattered containers. "It reeks."

Taryn didn"t know what that scent was, but he knew someone who would.

It was the work of a moment to collect Rhys. The human had been trying to escape, busy furiously working on his bonds. Taryn gave the cord a vicious yank, pulling Rhys off-balance, and led him into the cave.

"What is this?" Taryn demanded, gesturing towards the abandoned container as the human regained his footing. "This scent. What filth have you and your kind been leaving on our world?"

To his surprise, Rhys didn"t cower or attempt to deny involvement. The human simply cocked his head. "It"s the stuff we were mining."

Taryn"s lip curled. "And what was that?" he demanded through gritted teeth. "What bounty of Vasz"s was so precious that it justified such violation?"

Rhys didn"t look happy, but he didn"t hold out. "Do I look like a geologist? I don"t know, just some shiny green mineral. They were going to pay me big bucks to help them mine it. I figured it must be really damn valuable if they were willing to risk coming here."

Shiny and green. A sliver of cold dread lanced through Taryn"s gut. Surely the human couldn"t be referring to...?

"This mineral," he pressed, struggling to keep his tone even. "Did it have a name?"

"Again: not a geologist, big guy. I don"t know… Z-something?"

The word struck Taryn like a blow to the chest. His warriors went still, the sudden tension in the air thick enough to choke on.

Zin-kor. The volatile, high-energy mineral. Extremely rare, and highly unstable — especially when combined with any sort of explosive catalyst.

Which meant those foolish, reckless humans had essentially been stockpiling the components for...

The realization hit Taryn like a force of nature, a sickening wave of horror crashing over him. His mind raced, putting together the pieces with sinking dread.

The humans" hasty departure. The way that they"d shown greater skill in bushcraft than Taryn had expected, navigating boldly and covering their tracks.

This had been no simple mining operation, and the runaway humans were no simple miners.

They were out for violence, and they"d come to Vasz with a plan in mind.

Why try to sneak bombs through Vasz"s unstable atmosphere, when you could build your own when you got there?

"No," he breathed as the full, terrible picture came into focus. "How much did you mine?"

"A dozen pounds?" Rhys was watching him, now wary. But Taryn had no time to explain, no patience for the human"s ignorance.

With a few curt hand gestures, he signalled for his warriors to fall into position. "We give chase immediately," Taryn growled, his words edged with grim determination. "The humans have been mining explosives. And if my suspicions are correct... they"re headed towards the nearest city."

His gaze bored into Rhys, emerald eyes blazing with a combination of fury and dread.

"They intended to lay waste to thousands of lives."