Chapter 2

CHAPTER

TWO

ARKAN

My rage is nearly blinding.

At the foul Kryger who managed to capture me twice now, yes, but also at myself, for being captured at all; for being so weakened by the torture in their damnable prison ship that all I can do is tug the female's tiny body closer to mine.

I can't protect her.

I can't even protect myself.

She did a better job, using that unsophisticated weapon to blow a hole in the first Kryger warden. Quick, brave, and fast.

She's strange-looking, yes, too delicate for a Zerinian female, but... there's something compelling about her, in addition to her bravery.

My instincts want to protect her.

My jaw clenches as the second Kryger appears, the poison gun in his hand. The dart he hit the female with has already taken effect, her fragile body not able to withstand the poison as long as a Zerinian.

I've only been on this backwater planet for the span of half a day, but the small taste of freedom is enough to cling to as long as the Kryger have me in their ship's hold. True freedom was too much to hope for, especially with my half-cocked plan.

The Kryger takes another shot at me, hardly bothering to aim as he kicks his dead partner. My lip curls with disgust as he cuts open his fellow warden's forearm, pulling the credit sensor from beneath the dead beast's skin and dropping into his own pocket.

But it's when he digs into the body cavity of his brethren and pulls out the still beating triple heart, taking a bite of it, that turns my stomach completely.

I tug the petite female closer to me, the second dose of poison beginning to work through me, making my lids heavy. Straining, I try to fight against it, even though I know there's no use.

The little female makes a small whimper, her limbs twitching and pale eyelids flickering. My heart aches for the defenseless creature.

My hands tighten on her body even as my grip on consciousness begins to dissipate.

The last things I feel are another dart hitting me in the chest, the blood leaking from my thigh, and the tender, soft body of the female against mine.

It sparks something in me, the small creature comfort of touch—and as I lose myself to the drugs, I realize it's something I thought I'd truly lost.

Hope.