to the lounge where my warriors are, but it’s a way out.
I tap my device, waiting for Alrok’s face to emerge. Nothing but static noise greets me, which has never happened before. Something is blocking our transmission, but what? My ship’s technology is far superior to that of a brothel.
“What’s wrong?” Jade’s whisper drags me from my dark musings.
“I am unable to contact my ship. We appear to be experiencing a malfunction.” I take her hand, delighting in her sharp intake of breath. “Stay with me at all times, damsel.”
“Only if you stop calling me that,” she mumbles, her chest rising unevenly—from adrenaline or fear, I have yet to decipher. “That route is clear. We should go that way.”
I shake my head when she points in the opposite direction to the exit. That would take us toward the main entrance. While I am not against killing more people to protect my mate, I would rather avoid the bloodshed when so little weapons are equipped on my person.
Tightening my grip on the knife, I step outside and guide Jade down the hallway. I hurry beyond the voyeurism rooms, not wanting Jade to discover that customers can pay to watch what goes on behind all these closed doors. It’s how I was able to find out which room she was in and it’s also where I left behind a pile of bodies. I wanted to kill every single creature who so much as looked at her in the auction but settled for those who enjoyed watching her be almost violated.
I stop at the sounds of voices around the corner. When I’m certain they have gone the other way, I continue into the stairwell and check it’s empty before descending the steep stairs. Jade pads behind me, her footsteps not as soundless or light as my own. That will change once we are mated and she gains a fraction of my power. The moment cannot come sooner.
The thought of this hardens my cock, and I grind my teeth, willing myself to stay focused. I achieve this when a dry cough echoes around the stairwell, halting my movements. I grab Jade on instinct and strain my senses to locate the source.
Single male by the exit on the next floor down.
Nodding at the female and silently motioning her to follow me, I descend the last flight of stairs and tiptoe my way forward.
The figure slouched in the exit coughs again, this time expelling saliva into the street. Not only is the creature disgusting, but he’s also a fool. My knife sinks into his jugular before he can reach for his holstered ray gun.
“Wow…” Jade’s impressed whisper causes me to smirk.
“I am not just a pretty face,” I say, opening the door wider for her.
However, I stop when an incoming call is received on my device. I accept it, and my first officer’s voice carries to my ears.
“You took your time, Alrok.”
“You…a-alive…sir?”
I frown at my device, tapping the screen to inspect the signal. “You’re breaking up here, soldier. I need you to lock in on my location and—”
“—transmission console…down. Government…preventing…leaving district. All security checkpoints…shut down. Find somewhere…blend in—”
“Fuck!” I would chastise my use of foul human language, but the moment calls for it. “We must hide among the Lixans,” I tell the female, and once more I take her hand. “Stay with me at all times. Keep your head down and do what I do.”
She nods, and we depart silently into the shadows of the market. Holographic advertisements light up the streets as swarms of pedestrians filter through the stalls selling items of an indelicate nature. The sun nestled in the now auburn sky beams harshly upon each of them, including the tinted visors of uniformed males. At the sight of the Enforcers, I slip under the awning of a nearby stall and feign interest in the closest item. To my amusement and delight, it is a naughty little bodysuit.
I hold up the red lace to Jade, smirking at the blush that claims her cheeks. “This looks to be your size. And we do need something else for you to wear.”
The merchant leans over the table, its forked tongue hanging out. “Everything is on ssssssale. Buy it for the pretty one.”
In my peripheral, the Enforcers stand idly by, scanning the market. I’m not sure if they are looking for us, but it’s better if we remain hidden while working our way through the market toward the main street. From there, I’ll be able to find somewhere