turn to blood before the male collapsed.
The other males stared at him in shock. Even Chotgor seemed stunned at the rapid demise before he turned to the Pardorian with a snarl.
“What happened to him?”
“He must have eaten something that disagreed with him.”
“He had the same thing we did.”
“It wouldn’t take much—if the wrong kind of leaf or berry fell in his food, it could easily be fatal.” The Pardorian stared at Chotgor, his face impassive. “I warned you that the jungle was dangerous.”
“And I warned you that if you wanted your female to live, you would provide safe passage.”
“Three of you are still alive. You are faring much better than most offworlders who enter the jungle.”
“You’d better pray that the odds remain in our favor.”
Chotgor turned his back on the Pardorian and rejoined his two remaining followers. The three of them huddled by the fire, their low-voiced conversation too quiet for Aidon to hear. When he looked back at the Pardorian, the male moved his hand, sending another hunting signal: Now.
Praying that he was doing the right thing by putting his trust in this unknown male, he groaned and raised his head.
Chotgor immediately strode over to him.
“I know who you are,” he snarled. “And you’re going to pay.”
Aidon briefly considered playing innocent, but there was no point. Even if Chotgor believed him, he would simply kill him more quickly.
“If you are still alive, then I must be losing my touch. But I’m flattered that you thought me worth the chase.” He deliberately let his gaze travel to the body crumpled by the fire. “You seem to have lost one of your followers.”
“I don’t care as long as I have you begging for mercy.”
Behind Chotgor’s back, Aidon could see his two remaining males exchange glances. The Pardorian stood to one side, and Aidon caught a slight movement as he flicked something at the nearest male. The scent of surat berries reached him, and he almost smiled. The male was about to discover just how attractive surat berries were to certain small but vicious flying insects.
“You don’t believe me?” Chotgor loomed over him and raised a knife. “Will you believe me when I’m stripping the skin from your body an inch at a time?”
“I don’t believe you’re going to get the chance.”
The male who had received the berry juice suddenly yelled and slapped his arm. Chotgor looked over his shoulder, and Aidon took advantage of his distraction. He changed his form to that of a Thurdal—a tall, slender race with remarkably agile bodies—and slipped free of his bonds. Chotgor was still staring at his follower, now frantically trying to reach his back. He dropped to the ground, trying to grind himself against the dirt, but Aidon knew that would only make the insects more vicious.
Aidon stepped to one side and transformed again, this time to his true form, and melted back into the jungle. The Pardorian mirrored his actions and joined him. Together they watched as Chotgor ignored his injured male and turned back to the tree. He roared in outrage when he saw the empty ropes.
“Find him!” he bellowed.
His one remaining follower was crouched next to the now unmoving body of the first male. He stared up at Chotgor.
“How? Everyone is dead except for us. We don’t even have your guide anymore.”
“Are you going to let the jungle take care of them?” the Pardorian asked softly.
“No. This ends here.” Aidon darted a look at the other male. Something about him still seemed familiar. “Do we know each other?”
A smile twisted the Pardorian’s lips. “I’m Naiz.”
The memory snapped into place. They had been friends when he was a child, but Naiz and his family had left the village before Aidon had hit his troubled teens.
An outraged bellow drew their attention back to the clearing. Chotgor and his remaining companion were fighting. The knife flashed in Chotgor’s hand, and then he was alone on the beach as the other man crumpled to the ground.
“Your grandfather used to say that rage was the enemy of reason,” Naiz said.
“He always did have a way with words,” Aidon admitted.
“I’m going to find you!” Chotgor roared. The knife in his hand dripped blood as he gazed into the jungle.
“Do you need assistance?” Naiz asked.
“I think you provided enough of that. Why did you? I know they have your female.”
Naiz’s face turned grim. “They took her while I was at the market. Chotgor told me that they wanted to hunt an arslan even though it’s forbidden. I didn’t