Even once Amber managed to get through to Ven, Trainor refused to let her in the cage for over a half hour. Taunting the Species for his loss of control even as Trainor tried to provoke the Species at every turn. These people weren't fair, they weren't rational, and as Amber was beginning to realize, they weren't really human at all, but monsters in human form.

"Okay," Trainor sighed as his last round of insults brought him nothing but a blank stare, "be a good puppy and I'll give you back your chew toy. You remember the drill, hands behind your back and through the bars."

Ven backed into the far cage wall, waiting as Trainor took his time, shaking out two pairs of oddly thick handcuffs from his belt as he started around the enclosure.

The guard saw Amber's frown and smiled. "Reinforced ankle cuffs. These animals think they're so tough, but I know all their little tricks, don't I, 161?"

"Stop calling him that." Amber scowled as Trainor wrenched Ven's arms back and crossed them, deliberately cruel as he laughed at her.

"This here's a lab rat, nothing more, nothing less." He cuffed Vengeance's wrists, twisting first one arm to the farthest bar he could reach, then the other. The position had to be painful, but Ven didn't make a sound. His face was blank, his eyes cold. He seemed to have gone deep inside himself since the incident earlier.

Finally done, Trainor walked back to the door where Amber waited. She resisted the urge to sidle away as he deliberately crowed her. Trainor was a perfectly normal-looking man, handsome even. Just another American ex-jock, ten years or so out of high school, still a bit arrogant maybe, the popular boy gone slightly to seed. There were half a dozen like him in every small town.

Amber shivered. Or so one might think, until those pale eyes rested on you.

A switch seemed to flip on a DNA level as her eyes met his. Every nerve screamed out, begging her to run away, but there was nowhere to go. He gave her a knowing smile right before her eyes dropped.

Amber forced herself to wait quietly. To be still and not look at him, just his hands, purposely taking ages to unlock that cage door. When it swung open, she couldn't help herself from rushing forward, her body both desperate to get closer to Ven….and far from Trainor.

The guard caught her gleefully around the waist before she'd taken two steps, yanking her back against him.

"Whoa there, darling. Such an eager little beaver you got here, 161!"

Trainor nuzzled her ear and gorge rose in Amber's throat. She kept her gaze on Ven, chained on the other side of the cage. Only a couple arm's lengths away, but so far. She strained forward as Trainor yanked her back again. The Species didn't move, though his eyes were as black as pitch. Amber knew he was fighting to control himself, but there was death in that stare.

Trainor pulled her braid back ruthlessly, and started rubbing his hips against Amber's ass, letting her feel him getting hard. Gritting her teeth against the disgust that welled, she lifted her chin, taking Ven's hint, refusing to react, to make a sound.

"Ah, c'mon, don't you two want to party?" Trainor laughed. Amber felt him shift against her and watched out of the corner of her eye as he pulled his knife up, thumbing it open with one hand, bringing the tip to the flimsy cloth between Amber's breasts. "Maybe if I strip you naked, that'll get you in the mood. What do you think, 161?"

Every muscle in Ven's massive body rippled once and then went rigid, as if he'd been carved right there out of bronzed stone. The force of his exertion was quiet, but tangible. Energy crackled in the air. His stomach tightened until Amber could see every sharply defined ridge and his deep chest bunched as he pulled. Trainor chuckled softly.

Then metal started to whine. Behind her, the evil guard went still.

"You'll dislocate both your shoulders before you can break those chains." Trainor's voice was trying for cruel amusement, but she'd heard his sudden intake of breath and the way he'd backed up ever so slightly.

Ven didn't speak, didn't blink. Just set his feet and pulled harder, the loose fitting pants straining now as his heavy thigh muscles bulged. Trainor swallowed, but refused to let Amber go. The contest of wills between the two was like a storm charging the air. The sudden loud burst of static made her jump.

"Get out of there, Trainor." The tinny voice sounded from somewhere above, speakers hidden in the walls. "Give the woman to 161 and get out of there. Now."

With a curse, Trainor threw Amber forward. She fell painfully to her knees, her hands going out to catch herself as she fell face down, gasping at Ven's feet. The door slammed shut just as there was a long, grinding ping. Something metallic sparked across the concrete floor and skittered out of the cage. Amber's eyes followed it. It was the link of one of the cuffs; bent, twisted and broken. It bounced into Trainor's boot, he stared at it for a long moment and then kicked it across the room.

A heavy weight came down on Amber's head. Ven's hand. Freed. Stroking her hair, his rough fingers cupping her face. One arm was still twisted cruelly behind his back. How he had ever broken free in that position…. The pain it most have cost him….

She stumbled to her feet, clinging to his hand, keeping it pressed against her face as she curled into him, pulling his arm around her. For a moment just being skin to skin with him again was nearly enough to make her collapse.

The scuffle of boots walking away made her lift her head. Trainor was leaving. Furious, she whirled. "You come back here and unlock that other cuff, right now!"

Trainor laughed spitefully and kept walking. "He managed to get loose from one, let him take care of the other. Or he can stand there all night. I really don't give a shit." The guard started whistling and put his hands in his pockets. Amber stepped forward, but Ven pulled her back.

"It's fine," he whispered in her ear. He pushed her gently a pace back and set his shoulder against one bar. Vengeance bowed his head and planted his feet again. In less than a minute there was another ping. Before she could think about it, Amber snatched at the link that burst free this time. It was surprisingly hot, stinging her fingers, smelling of sulfur, but she gripped it anyway and flung it at the guard's retreating back.

Her aim was true, she nailed him right in the base of his skull. Trainor froze, whirling to look at Amber in disbelieving fury, but she only sneered.

"You're pathetic, even chained and in a cage, Ven's more a man than you could ever be. And you know it. That's why you hate him, you lousy piece of shit!"

Vengeance growled softly at the look on Trainor's face, but Amber laughed, hysterical as she flipped the guard off. Then two huge hard arms circled her from behind.

Trainor took a step forward as he rubbed his head, cursing as his fingers came away red. Staring at his own blood in apparent shock. "You'll pay for that, you stupid bitch. I'll make you pay until you'll do anything to make it stop. Anything…"

Another guard raced into the room, boots pounding. "Trainor, get your ass up to Dr. Maeng. Now." This one didn't look happy at relaying his orders. He eyed Trainor warily, his pale face sweaty and his eyes darting every which way. After a long minute, Trainor turned away from Amber, his fists clenched.

"Soon," he whispered before backing away and turning for the doorway.

"Your keys, man. The doctor said…"

With a curse, Trainor threw the keys at the cringing guard, making him scramble across the floor for them before he vanished out the door.

The relief at having that foul man gone, even though she knew it was only temporary made Amber go limp in Ven's arms. She felt the broken chains still swinging from his wrists, and the warmth of his blood slowly dripping from the torn flesh around the metal.

"Please," she called out to the new guard, her voice soft. "Give me the keys so I can take these off of him. And if your precious doctor doesn't want him to get an infection she should…"

"Oh shut it, you stupid cunt." The guard twisted the handcuff keys off Trainor's ring and stomped across the room, grabbing a first aid kit from a shelf lined with them. He tossed both at her. "I don't give a shit if gangrene takes both this asshole's arms, but the doctor wants you to clean him up. You're to hand those cuffs out to me, nice and slow. No tagging me like you did Trainor." He waved a Tazer. "Or your pet gets a taste of this."

Time passed, the lights went off eventually. It felt like hours later, but Vengeance couldn't be sure about the time anymore. Fluorescents flickered in the hallway, but in the cage it must be near pitch black because Amber was staring at him, her gaze slightly off as if she couldn't make out exactly where his eyes were. His own night vision allowed him to see her perfectly. Too perfectly. Her face was white and strained.

Earlier, she'd cleaned his wounds so tenderly it made him ache, but what really got to him was watching her hands shake as she bit her lips to try and get ahold of herself. She was absolutely terrified. Trying so hard to be brave, like that stunt with Trainor that had nearly stopped his heart. He couldn't help but be proud of her, but he was also angry. He didn't want her to draw anymore of the guard's attention. She had far too much of it as it was.

"You shouldn't have mocked Trainor. He'll try and hurt you more for that."

She stared at him. "If we don't get out of here, he'll hurt me anyway. But he won't break me, Vengeance. I won't give into him—"

"No, you won't break. But yes, you will give into him. You must." Ven glared at her, grabbing her chin in his fingers. "If that what it takes to keep you alive, you'll do whatever he says. Whatever he wants of you." She shook in his grip, trying to shake her head, her expression horrified, pleading.

"No! I can't do that…Ven…I can't." A tear escaped and clung to her lashes. Something seemed to rip apart deep inside him, but she had to understand. Survival was everything. No matter what happened….Amber had to survive.

"You can. You can do anything, Amber."

"But I…you…." She blinked, tears falling freely now, her distress apparent.

He growled, his lip curling as he read her fear. "You think if he took you, it would make me not want you? Nothing could do that, Amber. Ever. Do you understand me? The only thing that can separate us is death. You're not allowed to die."

She swallowed, her eyes narrowing. "And you know he'll kill me though. Once he's had his fun, he'll kill me, Vengeance."

"Every second that you still breathe, there is hope. Promise you will give me every one of those seconds to save you."

She dropped her head into his chest, crying softly. "How can you ask that of me?"

Her tears were hot on his skin, her despair burning him. But he wouldn't quit. His fingers tightened and he forced her head up again.

"Because I love you. And I can't live without you. Promise me, Amber?"

Her eyes closed and her voice was so soft even his keen ears barely caught her broken words. "I promise."

"No matter wh—" Amber put her fingers over his lips. They trembled as she shook her head.

"Stop. Please. No more. I just….I can't, Ven. Take me away from here, please."

His heart threatened to shatter in his chest, icy shards ripping him from the inside out, if only he could do as she asked, but….

Her mouth sought his as she went to her toes, digging her fingers into his arms, as she spoke the words against his lips. "I need you, Ven. Now. Take me away, please."

He swallowed, finally recognizing the desperate intent in her face. "They're still watching," he leaned down, letting his mouth brush her ear. Her smell was coming back to him, faint yet, but enough to make his balls tighten and his cock go hard.

"I don't care." She clung to him. "I need you."

He could feel her trembling, and it hit him how close she was to breaking. For a moment, he couldn't move. Then her hands trailed down his ribs, tracing the one side of the deep V low down on his stomach. An area she had found to made his knees buckle, every time. Then her touch moved lower, under the waistband of his pants. When her palm cupped his swollen tip and stroked down his length, it took everything Ven had not to throw her against the bars and just bury himself inside her. She wasn't the only one desperate here. He was dangerous to both of them right now, and he knew it.

But Amber needed to escape this place. He could do that for her—in the only way available to them both. He couldn't tear his eyes away as she continued to caress him, harder now, her soft lips parting as she coaxed his pants down. Her thumb found the tip of him, dipping into the glistening pre-cum leaking there, sending shockwaves into his spine even before she lifted her hand and sucked her thumb into her mouth.

It was too fucking much, his control slipped and vanished. "Amber."

He grabbed her hips, lifting and flipping her in one movement, forcing her facedown over the small cot in the corner of the cage. Yanking her hips to the very edge, he ripped the ugly scrubs over her head, then pushed her forward to tear the bottoms from her legs. Her bare skin seemed to glow in the darkness; the satin curve of her spine, the lushness of her ass spread below him, the soft pink opening of her sex.

"Mine," he breathed, barely recognizing the deep rasp of his own voice.

With a knee, he shoved her legs apart. Ven heard her gasp, saw her fingers instinctively claw for purchase in the thin mattress, but he couldn't stop. It was too late for that now.

When he pressed against her, finding her as slick and hot as if he'd used his mouth on her over and over, a low snarl of relief and primal satisfaction escaped his lips.

At the first touch of him, she arched back, moaning his name, sinking his cock a few inches into heaven. He nearly howled from the overwhelming flood of pleasure that ran from his cock straight to the base of his brain. There was no way in hell he could've stopped his hips from surging forward, burying himself balls deep inside her.

So tight. So hot. So fucking perfect.

Amber pressed her fist against her lips, biting down into her own flesh, but he heard the breathless whine that escaped her. Somehow Vengeance managed to freeze, even though every nerve ending in his body growled for him to take her hard, to mark her as his, instinct and need warred with his control…until Amber's whimpered words shattered both.

"No, don't stop. Don't. Stop!" Her head thrashed on the cot, her hand reaching back to claw at his hip. "Please. More. All of you, Ven. All."

He let himself go, completely. Over and over he took her, harder than he'd ever dared before. His hips smacking into her ass, lifting her body and throwing it forward with each stroke. Her skin turned rosy and warm as sweat slicked her spine, beading down her neck, tempting him further….

Bending forward, he sank his teeth into that sweet flesh. Instantly and violently, Amber came. Crying out as her lithe body twisted under him, her pussy locking down, squeezing until his cock exploded inside her. The force of his orgasm rocked Ven forward, his shoulders bowing over his mate, covering her shaking body as they rode the stars together.

He licked the shallow wound he had made as they came down. Unable to stop the low feral groan of pleasure at the taste of her blood, her hot skin as his dick emptied one last time inside her, locking them tightly together.

"Mine," Vengeance said again, his voice soft with love and fierce with possession. Unmindful of the cage he was in, or the walls around him. No matter what their fate, Amber, in this moment, had set him free.

Forever.

NOTE! Readers, lurkers and commenters, thank you all so much for reading and following along and your wonderful reviews! They keep me at it, and I am so glad you're enjoying Ven and Amber's story. LD has created such a wonderful world with the NS.

I know that I, for one, never want to leave, so thanks for joining me there. We're closing in on the end now. Hold on tight and grab some Kleenex and a bottle of wine. You just might need it.