In Enemy Territory - Shannon West Page 0,80
he was here with him, at least, instead of having to be separated and wonder where he was and what was happening to him.
They were taken to a plain-looking, bare room inside the house, and left there, the lock clicking in the door behind them. Kylon turned to him immediately, clutching his arms. “Are you all right? Did they hurt you?”
He shook his head, and Kylon kissed him, a brief, hard kiss that still made him sag a little and clutch Kylon’s shirt. Kylon held him tightly against him for a moment and then pushed him gently away. “I have to check on Larz. Hold that thought.” He smiled at him, a sad smile that hurt Rasc more than it comforted him, as he turned away to check on the prince, who was still unconscious. He’d been carried to the room by the guards and dumped unceremoniously to the floor. Kylon knelt beside him, feeling for his pulse, but Larz stirred when he touched him and began to blink his eyes.
“W-where are we? What’s happening?”
“Larz, thank the gods. I thought you were seriously injured. We’re at the commandant’s home on the island, I think. But what happened inside the cabin? Did he speak to you or just suddenly attack?”
“He just had some of his people jump on me and hold me down while he injected me with something. Whatever it was knocked me out right away. The next thing I knew was just now.”
“He told us that he knew why we were here, and he knew what we wanted, but he had different plans.”
Larz shook his head as if to clear it and gazed around the room. “Where are my men? And what kind of plan? Do you think he knows who I am?”
“Some of your men were on the beach being rounded up and taken to the prison here on the island. I don’t know what happened to the rest, but I can imagine. The commandant sounds mentally disturbed to me. He separated Rasc from the other men and said he hoped he was my mate because that would be…”
“Interesting,” Rasc said softly, coming over to stand beside them. “What did he mean by that? He really is insane, isn’t he?”
“We don’t know for sure what he is,” Kylon said. “Or what his plan is.”
The door slammed open again and a man was pushed into the room. Larz and Bonnett both gasped as they recognized Ryan. Ryan was Major Donnelly, the only son of the Alliance’s former leader, Chief Consul Donnelly, and his face had been all over their communicators when he’d actually mated the Tyger Prince. This was the first time Rasc had seen him in person, though. He was every bit as handsome as he’d imagined.
“Ryan, thank the gods.” Larz said, struggling to get to his feet. Ryan rushed across the room to throw his arms around his neck, and Larz returned the fierce hug.
“I’ve been so worried. It’s good to see you, though I wish it wasn’t under these circumstances.”
“Is Mikos with you?”
“Yes…but not exactly, no,” Ryan replied, his voice muffled as he buried his face in Larz’s chest. “Oh Larz, this guy is crazy. He attacked us as soon as we left the ship. Mikos was hurt, and I was injected with something.”
“I know. Your crew told us what happened. Father is on his way with the starcruiser. He’ll be here soon.”
“Not soon enough, I’m afraid. I think he’s going to try to kill us tonight.”
Larz hugged him again and gave Kylon a significant look over his head. Rasc shifted uneasily. “What’s happening, Ryan? What does the commandant want? What’s he going to do?”
Before Kylon could answer, the door was flung open again and the man himself stood framed in the doorway, flanked by his guards. “Ah, I see you’ve gotten reacquainted. It’s like a reunion, of sorts, wouldn’t you say so, Consort Ryan? You and your mate’s brother together again?”
“You know who I am?” Larz said, his tone imperious and harsh.
“Of course I do. The family resemblance is quite remarkable.”
Larz flushed and raised his chin. “Then you know who my father is. You’ve made a serious tactical error in detaining me and my family and friends. If you release us immediately, I’ll try to help you explain how you thought taking King Davos’s family members and one of his officers in custody, manhandling us, and abusing us wouldn’t cause him to destroy you and this entire planet. I’ll try to explain it to him,