Trapped (The Condemned Series #1) - Alison Aimes Page 0,28

a look. They both knew it wasn’t. Usually, the tracking device was on the ship. Emergency training drills stressed the need for survivors to stay near the ship specifically so the rescue team could find them near the crash-site. Of course, Winthrop’s family was very high up among the Council elite so perhaps that had triggered the change in policy.

“What does it matter?” Winthrop looked almost uncomfortable. “I have one. They found us. And you’re not in charge, Convict. I am. Council protocol remains in effect even on this hellhole.” His lip curled upward. “Bella, come out now or you could both get hurt.”

Indecision whispered through her. She didn’t want Convict hurt. “Maybe I should go?”

“Stay right where you are,” he demanded.

The quiet click of Pogue’s gun cocking echoed like a shout. “We’re done waiting.” We? Wasn’t it Winthrop’s decision to make? Suddenly, a lot more than Convict’s fate seemed to be unraveling.

Acting on impulse, she pushed Convict aside—or tried to. The man refused to budge, grabbing her elbow and hauling her back behind him. At the same time, a figure stepped in front of Pogue’s gun.

“Ava, no. Get back.” Bella’s voice was shrill and tight.

“No.” Ava stood unsteadily on her one good leg, her gaze locked on Pogue. “You don’t get to decide what happens next.” Her gaze shifted to Winthrop. “Nor, forgive me for saying this, should you, no matter what Council protocol dictates. Dragath25 is not Earth. She might not be a Council-descendant, but Bella has earned the right to be heard, her judgments respected.” For once, a haughty, Council tone infused Ava’s voice. “She’s done more to keep us alive than anyone else. She’s the real hero here.”

Touched and awed, and a lot embarrassed, by her colleague’s words, Bella sent her a shaky smile. Somehow, some way, Ava had become a friend—and found her strength.

But one side-glance at the malice in Pogue’s gaze as he stared at Ava and Bella’s smile faded. It was clear Ava had also gained an enemy for life.

Before Bella could try to lessen the tension, a dark, long shadow skimmed over the ground, blotting out the sun.

“Holy shit.” Three of Pogue’s soldiers swung their guns to point at the sky.

She looked up, her breath leaving in a rush. Like something out of the prehistoric Earth stories of old, a giant, orange bird-like creature with wings nearly the width of their shuttle soared above, its hooked, sharp beak opening as it let out a shrill shriek. One that sounded strangely familiar.

“Oh, God.” She stood frozen in horror as it dove closer and closer.

All around her chaos erupted as everyone started yelling, some calling to run, some to shoot. All except for Convict.

Calm as ever, he pulled her from behind him, his arm going around her waist as he walked them both slowly backward the way they’d come. “It’s a saybak. It came when it heard the mating call from Winthrop’s whistle.” His tone was shockingly nonchalant. Like he had all day to explain. Like they were not about to be eaten by a living, breathing dinosaur. “I designed it purposely to give me an added advantage. Saybak’s can’t resist the sound and they have great hearing.”

“Uh-huh.” She nodded, barely listening, her gaze locked in terror on the approaching creature.

“Though they look menacing, they’re actually harmless—”

“Fire,” shouted Pogue.

A stream of red lasers sliced the air.

“—Until you do that,” finished Convict.

The creature shrieked in fury, its orange feathers shifting to bright red. With a hiss, it unleashed a line of flames from its mouth. One soldier screamed, managing by inches to dodge the line of fire.

“Go! Go, now.” Convict pushed her back up the cliff. “They’re distracted.”

“But they’re going to be killed. We can’t leave them.”

In the next instant, she was upside down, slung over his shoulder.

“I knew you were going to be a pain in the ass about this,” he mumbled, breaking into a run.

“Let me go.” She wouldn’t hurt him, but she could try and twist herself off. Squirming wildly, she leveraged herself up, her eyes locking with Ava’s as her colleague found cover under a rocky ledge.

A sharp sting landed across her ass, freezing her in place.

“Stop fighting and listen. Saybaks can’t keep attacking like that. It takes time to recharge. It will turn and flee in less than twenty seconds. Your colleagues are going to be okay.”

She took a second to absorb his words, jostling upside down all the while. “Ava?”

“With us gone, there’ll be less reason for your friend