ram them. He tightened his grip on the steering rod and spun to the right. The back of the cycle careened around the tight turn.
Impact was unavoidable. The opposing hover-cycle slammed into them. Pain splintered up his lower leg. Garik gritted his teeth against the agony and fought to control their hover-cycle. Metal whined against metal and Saedra’s scream ripped through the air.
The other rider lost control and skidded into the wall of someone’s store. The following crash and boom drew more attention. Fire rolled up and the cycle and rider ignited in a blaze of flames. Garik fought for control as he and Saedra swirled around, he did his best to direct them toward a soft landing and clear area but the market was too crowded. He shifted, using Saedra’s arms about his waist to pull her to the front. He tucked her close and kicked off at the last minute when the cycle flew from under him.
With his arms locked about her, Garik tucked his chin over Saedra’s head and did his best to protect her from the brunt of the crash. They rolled over and over on the ground, his back screaming before coming to a stop.
***
Saedra screamed as the whole world flashed in a blur around her. One of her father’s guards had crashed into them. Shock gave way to fear then confusion as Garik ripped her from his back and curled about her. She barely had time to suck in a breath before they were flung off the hover-cycle.
Air whistled beneath them but all she felt was the heat of Garik’s body around her. Then they slammed to a stop. She panted in the sudden stillness. Garik was curled over her his chest rising and falling in time to the panted breaths above her.
“Garik?”
She tried to move but his arms squeezed down until she froze. Saedra blinked and tried to orient herself but Garik’s large frame had her pinned to the ground. Her ears were still ringing and the scent of smoke and fire burning filled her nose.
“Are you hurt?” Garik rasped against her hair.
“No.”
He rolled to the side on one knee then launched to his feet and pulled Saedra up beside him. “You sure?”
His gaze covered her from head to toe, lingering on her leg. Saedra glanced over her shoulder and cringed at the wreckage behind them. “I-I’m fine. Really.”
It was the truth. Now that her shock was wearing off, she realized she didn’t hurt. She looked Garik over and her stomach twisted. Blood dripped from a slash across his cheek. His shirt was torn at the shoulder and there were scrapes visible on his forearms.
His battered state was the reason she wasn’t hurt. She touched the side of his face. He’d suffered to protect her. “Garikkkk.”
“Don’t worry.” He gripped her wrist and squeezed.
Shouts poured from the other guards who spotted them. Heart pounding and mouth dry, Saedra didn’t know what to do. Garik pulled them into a brisk jog as he dodged and navigated the walking paths. Customers and shop owners stared but no one intervened. The hold Maurin had over Quantoon was iron clad. No one wanted to risk his wrath. Saedra hoped Garik had a plan or knew some way to hide in the marketplace.
Two guards raced toward them from the front. Garik jerked her to a halt and turned. Another guard popped up from a side street. Garik’s grip shifted from her wrist to her forearm as he moved backward, tugging her along.
“Give it up, assassin,” one of the guards growled as he edged toward them.
“This won’t go well for you,” Garik returned in the low deadly voice.
Goosebumps pebbled Saedra’s flesh up and down her arm. Sweat dampened her palms and her pulse thumped madly. She hadn’t heard him use that tone since the night she’d freed him from his cell.
The guard, who’d spoken, grinned. “It will go very well when we take you both back to Maurin.”
Terror shrieked through Saedra’s spine. Her father would come up with an unimaginable punishment for this. Going back was looking more and more like a death sentence. Her fingers tightened around Garik’s hand.
“He will never touch you again, Saedra,” Garik murmured so only she could hear.
Calm descended over her. It was as if he read her mind. Though the odds were against them, his relentless stare toward her father’s guards gave her strength.
A man with darkish blond hair stepped into the small side street where they all stood. The newcomer wore a long,