Stolen and Seduced - Christine Pope Page 0,394

don't be dead."

Again, he heard her sniffle. He'd seen other aliens cry. It was a distasteful act. He couldn't bear for Lena to put herself through it.

It was one reason she intrigued him. After the Skarn had brought her aboard and she woke to discover she'd been abducted, she didn't become a sobbing mess. She didn't rant or pray or beg for freedom. Instead, she'd begun planning her escape. Searching for a way out. He'd never met a prisoner who had behaved in such a confident, resilient way.

Even after his first feeding from her, when she woke knowing there was a Rhan aboard and what the Skarn had planned for her, she didn't give up hope of escape. Somewhat subdued, but not defeated.

She had a strength of spirit that he admired.

Now, hearing the hope fade in her voice, pained him more than the vicious kicks of the Skarn.

"Human," he said, his voice grating to his ears. Yes, they'd damaged his throat.

"Oh, thank God!" He heard her gasp. She moved again and more of the crack crumbled. "I can only see your feet. I couldn't even tell if you were breathing."

"I yet draw breath, human." His voice croaked. He lifted a hand to his throat, rubbing the tenderness there. He swallowed hard but stopped when pain flared.

"How badly are you hurt? They did quite a number on you."

"I know not the number of injuries done. I have not counted." Although he'd learned English long ago, she still baffled him with some of her human words and expressions. He attempted to sit, but his cracked ribs protested. He returned to rest on the floor. It was as good a place as any. The metal bench that served as his sleeping mat wasn't much better. Especially now that he'd given Lena his jackar skin, the only material he had that served to cushion his body as he slept.

"You don't sound so good."

He grunted in response. It didn't hurt as much as speaking.

"I need your help, Rex." Lena continued. More of the wall crumbled as her fingers dug. "Do you think you're able to stand? Walk? I might have a way for us to get out of here."

"And what way would that be?"

"During the fight, when they were..." She paused with difficulty. "When they were distracted with you, I grabbed a device from one of the Skarn's belts. I saw them use it to open the door to your room before they took me to see my father. I thought it might be a key. You know? Maybe it would open our doors. But I don't know how to work it."

He knew the device she spoke of. It was used to lock and unlock the prisoner's cells.

Rex took a deep breath, gathering his courage to face the pain of movement. It had to be done. If Lena had gotten the device to unlock their cell doors, he could get them off this ship. He knew the way to the shuttles.

He stifled a moan as he struggled to sit, his ribs protesting mightily. A burning sensation flared along his left side. He stopped moving to lean against the wall near the crack, closing his eyes as the pain blazed along his leg.

He hadn't even been able to get to his feet.

This did not bode well for escape.

"Rex?" Lena's voice wasn't muffled. He glanced at the crack to see her worried eyes peering at him. She'd widened the crack considerably. Enough to see him unimpeded. How long had he been unconscious?

"More damage has been done than I first surmised."

He breathed heavily, withstanding the pain. Since his capture, he'd learned quickly the Skarn enjoyed hearing the screams of their prisoners. He removed that pleasure by training himself not to vocalize his agony.

"How bad?"

"Significant enough that I fear you must take this journey alone."

"No." Her voice rose.

"I will teach you what you need to know to escape." Rex continued, ignoring her response. "It will not be difficult to get to the bay where the shuttles are housed. From there, you will be able to navigate from the ship easily enough. You must move with great speed. Once the Skarn are aware of your departure, they will give chase."

"I can't fly a shuttle." Lena's protest stopped him. "I don't know how."

This was a complication he did not foresee. "No matter. I will instruct you. These ships are simple shuttles. The most rudimentary species could operate one."

"I'm not going without you." Lena's forehead pressed against the wall, her green eyes