Alien Conquest (Fated Mates of Xaensskar #2) - Jude Gray Page 0,5

of it.

I jerked around in the guard’s grip to face Dexx Tavin. “It was not the boy’s fault,” I snarled. “The bitch set him up. Can’t you see that?”

“Do not address me,” he said, quietly, coldly, but I thought I saw a flare of something strange deep in his icy eyes. He frowned and took a step back.

“He will learn respect,” the guard said, and dealt me such a blow that I knew I would sport a swollen face and a black eye for days to come. Despite myself, I cried out as I fell to the ground, my head swimming and darkness covering my vision.

Still, I struggled to my knees and stared up at Tavin with contempt. “You are a fool and a cold-hearted bastard.”

His smile was as cold as his eyes. “And you,” he said, “are less than nothing.” Then he turned and walked away.

Dexx Tavin was a son of a bitch. In that moment, I hated him. He, of course, didn’t care what I thought of him. To him I really was nothing. Most likely, he would forget about me as soon as I was out of his sight.

Too bad I couldn’t say the same.

Chapter Three

KREIA

The guards dragged us around back to a courtyard that was apparently used for prisoners and maybe as punishment for workers who did things to make Dexx Tavin angry. There were small trees from which chains snaked, and there were iron rings placed all over the ground. I saw other things, as well, some unrecognizable, some familiar and often used, like the pair of clemae in the corner. Those were ancient devices used to hold fast a person’s hands and feet and force him—or her—to remain bent over, exposed, and helpless.

High rock walls surrounded the courtyard, and the area was mostly in shadows, dark except for the dim moonlight that painted the area an eerie yellow and the glow of lights that shone through the windows at the back of the tall, stone building that Dexx called home. Vihn and I were chained facing each other, our backs against our respective trees, our asses on the cold ground. I knew there were better ways to restrain a thief, but something about being chained to a tree in the open was so primitive that it was more frightening than if we been thrown into a jail cell.

I guessed jail would come tomorrow. Who knew what would happen after that. Ilen wouldn’t come to save us. When one of his street kids were caught, it was usually the end for them. He couldn’t afford to bail us out, not that the courts would’ve allowed such a thing anyway. Getting released was only for the wealthy and important.

No, we were done for. We’d exist in a cold dank prison, forced to do hard labor until either we died, or they needed the space and set us free. I frowned and silently berated myself for my negativity. There was always hope. Something good could happen.

When we were finally alone, we both sat in horrified silence, and I distracted myself by thinking about Tavin’s magnificent home. The rich sure did live in fancy ways. Though I had little to compare it to, I thought I might like the simple life myself.

“Kreia, I’m sorry,” Vihn said. “I should’ve known better. I’m sorry.”

I shook my head. “It’s not your fault, sweetie. It’s not your fault you were born to a horrible person.”

He said nothing, and his silence was heartbreaking.

“Vihn, it’s not your fault. And I will get us out of this. Somehow.” I swallowed, then lifted my chin, determination in my heart. I would not let him die in prison. “I promise.”

Finally, he peered at me with a tentative hope in his eyes. “You promise?”

I nodded. “I do.” Everyone knew that Kreia Blu never made a promise she couldn’t keep. All the Stone Haven street kids knew that. I never lied to them.

“But how?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” I made sure my voice was strong. “I don’t know how, but I will save you.”

He smiled. “You promise.” And just that quickly, he lost his fear. His lip was busted and bleeding, one of his eyes was swollen almost shut, and he was so thin he looked like he was starving. He wasn’t—the street kids of Stone Haven were well fed. Well, maybe not well fed, but we were fed enough. His thinness, his round face, his big eyes flinching with pain, and his young age…he just broke my heart.