Prideful Savage (A Warrior's Redemption #1) - Miranda Bridges Page 0,36

it, but I don’t need him to ridicule me for it. I take a preparatory breath, steeling my spine for whatever may come. Seeing as how he probably despises me right now, I’m expecting the worst.

The jailer and I stop just in front of the cell, and Bravik slowly raises his head, bringing his gaze to mine. The darkness within is void of any emotion, whether extreme or mild, and now I almost wish it burned with anger so that I’d know what he’s feeling. Then there wouldn’t be any doubt as to what he thinks of me.

I don’t take my eyes from Bravik. “Open it.”

Forrest swings to face me with an incredulous expression. “You can’t be serious? I thought you just wanted to question him right here.”

“Do it,” I say, my voice stern.

“But he’ll kill you. He’s a monster.”

My thoughts drift back to Bravik’s transformation. It was frightening and unexpected, but he did it to protect me, so all the negative emotions that rose up quickly dispersed. Although, I will admit that the beast inside him does explain a lot concerning his primal behavior, but I knew that after seeing Kalach shift back on Vorexia. I just hope I’ll be able to calm the beast within Bravik and earn his trust again, without him tearing me to shreds.

I turn to the jailer with my gaze narrowed. “So be it.” Fury snakes its way through my chest, so I clench my teeth to keep from lashing out. I’m certain Bravik won’t kill me, but he may not forgive me either. That is almost worse than death for me.

Maybe my feelings go deeper than even I realize…

Forrest mutters under his breath while entering the security code, keeping his hand on the weapon tucked into his belt. I don’t blame him, but I couldn’t care less as long as he doesn’t hurt Bravik.

“Be sure to hit the comm button when you are through,” the soldier says.

I give him a curt nod. Although the force field is still present, it’s now one-way and will prevent Bravik from escaping yet allow me to enter. So I do.

My strides may look confident, but I am not.

Immediately once the barrier falls into place, the sounds from outside the enclosure disappear, leaving me and Bravik in complete silence. I don’t have to hear the guard’s footsteps retreating to know he’s gone. Bravik’s jaw muscles relax, but that’s the only change.

The atmosphere is heavy with all the things I wish to say but can’t. This whole time, he hasn’t looked away from me, and now I find it hard to have his gaze on me. Even so, I prop myself against the wall perpendicular to where he sits on the cot, folding my arms to keep from fidgeting.

I clear my throat. “What happened to you wasn’t supposed to. It was never my intention to see you harmed or taken prisoner, and I’m doing everything within my power to secure your freedom. It’s the least I can do after all you’ve done with Emji and piloting the ship to get me here.”

I want to thank him for protecting me when the rebels arrived, but I can’t. It’s still a painful thing for me to think about because every time I do, I envision the look on Bravik’s face when he realized I was affiliated with the men. His gaze held nothing except pure disbelief, followed by a betrayal that brought sparks to the golden flecks in his eyes.

Now? There’s nothing except darkness.

Does he view me as beyond redemption?

“General Markel wants to speak with you to ascertain whether I’ve been compromised in my duty, but I wanted to be the one to tell you,” I say. “I have no doubt you’ll give him the truth, and I’m hopeful that will be enough. If it’s not, then I’ll be the one rescuing you this time.”

Bravik is so still he seems frozen, and if it weren’t for the subtle rise and fall of his chest, I’d think he was. His continued silence causes my skin to prickle with apprehension, and I’m not able to stop myself from gnawing on my bottom lip while I wait for him to respond. After a while, I start to think he never will.

I let my head drop in defeat, no longer able to meet his stony gaze. “I’m sorry, Bravik.” My tone is that of a whisper but not just because of guilt. It’s due to the pain of his rejection. “I was wrong to use