Anzil (Gladiators of Krix #2) - Miranda Martin Page 0,8

I grab the rough wall, scraping my chest and belly as I pull myself over the top.

Staying flat on my stomach, I check their positions. Neither of them have reached the end of the wall yet and are still facing away. I rise up to a crouch and race across the wall. Looking down the far side, it’s a decent drop. I check the guards one more time before lowering myself over the side.

Getting back in will be an issue, but I’ll figure that out later. I lower myself until I’m dangling by my fingertips then drop. Bending my knees with the impact, I stay crouched next to the wall where it’s darkest, listening for any signs of discovery.

Nothing. Perfect.

I haven’t been behind the compound before, so I pull my map out of my bra and sketch in what I see. Like most of what I’ve seen, it’s a wide-open area, but in the distance there is a dark blob that looks like a copse of trees. That will be my target for tonight.

Tilting my head to one side, I listen to the approaching footsteps of the guards as they come closer. I close my eyes and wait. An ability to stay calm in high-pressure situations is one of those things you can train for all you want, but at end of the day, you either have it or you don’t. Fortunately I do.

“Anything?” one of them says as they stop right above me.

“Nah,” the other says. “You really think you got a chance with one of those fresh meats?”

“I’ll bet you a week’s pay.”

My heart rate speeds up. Fresh meat is how they refer to my girls. These assholes are taking bets on my girls.

“You get caught the Dominus will have your dick cut off.”

“Ah, she won’t talk once she’s had it. It will be the last dick she ever wants; she’ll be begging me for it.”

I grit my teeth as they both laugh. Sweat trickles down my spine as I ball my hands into fists. If he so much as touches one of my girls, I’ll rip his balls off and make him eat them.

Their footsteps recede. Focus. The mission is first. Once they’re far enough away, I make my dash across the open space, staying crouched as if that’s actually going to make a difference. If they look out here, I’ll be spotted.

The hair on my neck and arms stands on end as I run, heart pounding. What looks like an old creek bed is ahead a few more feet. I stand up and run faster, sure I’m running out of time before they turn around and see me.

I drop over the edge and rest my back against the dirt wall. Heaving in fresh air, I wait for my heart to slow back down while listening for any signs of alarm. Once my breathing is normal, I roll over and peek over the edge. No alarms at all. Good.

I pull out my map and tiny piece of charcoal I snuck out of a fire. Carefully I add the landmarks I’ve seen so far. Something slides behind me, and I drop my map and roll over, kicking towards the sound. Anzil catches my foot and lifts, pulling me towards him.

“What are you doing?” he asks, a broad smile on his face.

“You son of a bitch,” I hiss, kicking with my free leg.

He tries to dodge, but I graze his jaw. His jaw slams shut so hard I hear it click. He curses and jerks my leg that he’s holding. I roll with it to keep it from being dislocated. Pulling my free leg back, I kick for his knee, forcing him to let me go to avoid getting hit. He takes a step back and throws his hands up.

“Enough,” he yells.

I lie still, watching him warily, waiting to see what his next move is while the adrenaline settles out of my system.

“What are you doing out here?” I ask.

“What do you think I am doing out here?” he asks, shaking his head. “I told you I was to watch you. Do you not listen to anything but the fool ideas in your head?”

I climb to my feet and dust myself off. There’s obviously no need for subterfuge any longer.

“I listen,” I say, not missing the way his eyes follow my hands as I wipe the dirt off my clothes. Especially the way they linger on my breasts.

“I do not think that means the same in your language as