He should have never engaged with her. It was a mistake that was costing him dearly.
After leaving to take care of his armor outside, Tomak quickly found that his mind was consumed with thoughts of Rae. As he cleaned, he couldn't stop thinking about her reactions, the expressions she made, and the way her body responded to his touch.
It was too much.
The muscles in his arms and back twitched as he hunched, leaning heavily against a thick wooden beam for support. His breathing was ragged as he fought against giving in to his carnal desires.
He could feel it. It didn't matter how hard he tried or how much he resisted, his control was slipping.
There was nothing that could be done. Every mating season there came a point that drove every unmated hunter with the undeniable need to stake their claim on a willing female. It was to ensure the continuation of their species. Hundreds died every year, and with their numbers continually decreasing there came a need to keep the birth rates high, to bring forth new hunters that would one day prove their worth to the clans.
Those that could were encouraged to participate every season to add these valuable new members to the clan. The majority did not quarrel with it, most were pleased to extend their bloodlines. But there were the minority that chose not to participate and Tomak was one of them.
It was something his bearer had passed down to him. From youth, he had always been interested in females, finding them to be very attractive, but looks were not everything to him. He was selective about what he wanted, and with his sire and bearer being lifemates he was more interested in taking someone more permanent to be his mate. A temporary mate could relieve certain needs, but the gratification was momentary, fleeting. He didn't want that.
This wasn't his only reason for not participating. In truth, he realized he wasn't interested in pairing with a female that only showed interest in him because of his strength or rank. In his eyes, status meant nothing when it came to mating.
His sire had the choice of hundreds of females, some were daughters of elders, a few were even elites. But instead he had chosen his bearer, a young huntress that could have been easily overlooked. She had no prestigious bloodline, she wasn't the fiercest in a group hunt, nor the most muscular. But she was still beautiful and eccentric in her own way. However, she had been stubborn, unwilling to accept his sire's offer at first. She had been self-sufficient and well liked amongst the females of the clan, keeping mostly to herself. What had driven his sire mad with need though, was when he had first witnessed her unique fighting skills in one-on-one combat. If ever challenged, she never lost a fight. From his recollection of the stories told, many males had tried to woo her with no success. It took much time and patience before his sire finally convinced her to be his and they had been a match.
Seeing it in his youth, Tomak grew to desire that for himself; a closeness to a female that would accept him for things other than his appearance or his rank.
Now with Rae, it was different. She was not yautja, but that didn't matter. She was not interested in rank, and despite the curiosity she showed to him being an Elite, that hadn't seemed to change her view of him. She was not afraid to speak her mind if he had dishonored her in some way, and she had an interesting sense of humor, something he felt yautja females needed more of. There was always this teasing fire lit within her dark eyes when she challenged him, and it tested his control.
In a way, she treated him as she would a friend, but even then it was different. And up until recently he never understood why. There had been these subtle hints of her attraction to him, subtle but still there and he had purposefully overlooked them. Now though with his mating instincts upon him, it was near impossible to ignore.
He had never wanted a female more. He was certain of that now. And Rae had been willing to take it further. He had sensed it.
Paya, why does she make things so difficult? She had always seemed to be comfortable with his proximity, but when he finally made the move to take her, she became afraid. He couldn't understand it. Did she not realize the restraint he had to use to not rake his claws down those small coverings and bare her fully for him to see? He wanted to see how beautiful she would look naked beneath him.
His eyes dilated thinking of how she begged him when he had subdued her, how her scent sweetened when he touched her soft flesh. He could only imagine the reactions and expressions he could get her to make if he had actually rutted with her.
And he had been so close!
It had been cruel torture stopping himself at that point. What made her stop him? It hardly made sense if it was just merely his size that made her apprehensive, unless she was inexperienced. That was a thought. Could it really be that she was unmated and untouched?
That thinking made him blind with need. If it was indeed true that she was inexperienced, his pride would inflate knowing he would be the first to give her such pleasures.
That motive alone made his entire frame quiver and part of him wondered if he could keep this up for much longer. He wanted to feel her soft and warm flesh again. Hear her beg beneath him. See her on her knees as he– No!
He forced himself to stand upright, his muscles rigid in anger. He would not give in. He was an Elite. He would not sate his perverse desires all because he lacked control.
If he was ever to mate with Rae, he needed to have control of d'lex, he wouldn't risk harming her, not when she meant so much to him. He remembered the way she trembled against him, the look of fear in her eyes as she looked down his body. She was not ready and at the moment, neither was he. He simply was not in the right state of mind to perform in such a delicate matter.
Damn the mating season!
Going inside with his armor, he silently entered the bedroom, determined not to look at the sleeping temptation as he walked through. Placing each piece in the corner of the room on the carpeted floor, he went to leave when something happened. He heard a sound and stilled.
Slowly, he looked back towards the bed from over his shoulder. Watching from the darkness of the room, he took note of the change in her breathing.
Stepping closer to the bed, he heard the sound again, a sort of pained whine as she turned onto her back in her sleep. Concerned, he watched as her breaths became heavier, a deep frown contorted her facial features.
She tossed her head to the side, "No," she breathed. Her hands balling into fists, one beginning to glow. That was not good.
Tomak quickly came to her side, unsure of what to do to calm her without scaring her awake.
"No please," she begged some unknown enemy, her fists tightening.
Just when he thought he would have to shake her awake, a soft little sound came from the bedroom entrance. He turned his head in time to witness the small little feline leisurely walk into the room, its long lithe tail high as it strutted toward them.
"Mraa!" Chase purred. Leaping up onto the bed, he went straight for Rae, not even a little apprehensive of the power being emitted from her hands.
Tomak watched in utter amazement as the little feline walked over his owner's chest only to drape himself around her neck, curled up like a scarf. As it began to purr, Rae seemed to still in her night terrors, and after a while her hands returned to normal. He couldn't believe it, the cat disrupted her nightmares.
Instinctively, Tomak growled. An unintelligent feline was able to discern exactly what Rae needed, better than him. He should be the one providing her comfort, not the little pest.
Reaching for the tiny thing, Tomak's mandibles flared when it dared to bat his hand away with its claws out.
Unhindered by this, he leaned over, grabbing the cat by the scruff of its neck and dragged it away from his female, ignoring it hiss as he placed it on the floor.
He met the green eyes of the tiny male as he then proceeded to crawl over Rae protectively. Holding himself above her, he issued a soft snarl at the defiant little pest, reminding the puny thing of its place all while giving it a clear and unmistakable message. Mine.
The gray cat yowled in annoyance, meeting his burning gaze with an angry flick of its tail. Wisely though, it conceded, turning towards its fluffy bed instead. Stepping into it, the feline puffed up the cushion with its front paws for several long seconds before finally curling up to sleep.
With a dismissive chuff, Tomak returned his attention back to his main concern. Looking down at the sleeping beauty beneath him, he carefully tucked a strand of her hair that was strewn over her face, behind her ear.
By the gods her scent was driving him mad. Ignoring the voice in his head that told him to take an ice cold shower and sleep in the other room, he slowly rolled onto his side, careful not to jar her awake with his added weight. Draping his arm over her waist, he began to purr for her.
Similar to what Chase was able to do, his purring made her complacent, putting her into a peaceful sleep once again. But as the night carried on, he soon learned that it wouldn't last.
Tomak's eyes snapped open, feeling movement against him. Sitting up, he looked down at the distressed female that had tears streaming down her cheeks once more, her movements jerky as she fought off something in her mind.
This was the third time tonight.
Left with no choice, he scooped her up into his arms, cradling her head between his hand and chest. She stilled in this new position, her face nuzzling him unknowingly in her sleep. It made his heart race, a feeling that was foreign to him. He was not accustomed to affection like this. Perhaps in his youth with his Bearer, but that was a long time ago, and he was no longer a pup requiring such attention.
As far as he was aware, affection was shown strictly between mates who were bonded for life and it was rarely shown even then. This was mostly because of their upbringing and culture. A hunter was to be fierce, unrelenting, and self reliant. To require reassurance, affection, love, it was not the yautja way.
But feeling the soft curve of Rae's cheek press against his bare flesh, finding comfort in his presence unlocked something within him. A need he never knew he had. This, as foreign as it was, felt right.
Due to his selective reputation in regards to mating, it had made him even more desirable to the females of his clan. Some went out of their way to flirt with him, attempting to break his self-control just so they could have the satisfaction of knowing he had fallen for them.
It was around this time that he found himself avoiding the clanship during the mating season. At one point he even believed that keeping company with his hunt brothers and the most fearsome beasts to be found was enough to satisfy him.
The only female yautja to make him cave was a desirable huntress known for her brutality in battle. She was everything a hunter could have wanted in a mate. Any right-minded hunter would have killed to sire pups with her, taking any opportunity to receive her undivided attention. And if she ever did grace someone with her presence, no one could resist.
How true that had been. What a fool he was to have been tempted by her. As exhilarating and pleasurable as those moments had been, nothing could cover over what she had done to him. The shame he carried after was unforgettable.
From that point forward he believed finding a life mate was impossible. He had even convinced himself that no female could ever be to him what his bearer was to his sire. It could not be done.
At least, that's what he had thought.
Recently, however, his views regarding that began to change. With the time he spent with Rae, he realized that he could have never been more wrong. She showed him that having a close companion was the most enjoyable part of life, aside from the hunt.
He hadn't realized how much he starved himself from showing and receiving affection like this until he opened himself up to her. Even without mating, she opened his eyes to how a lifemate should behave. The mutual trust, the expressive emotions, the supportive conversations, the physical affection. It went far beyond what he thought a mate was.
She never forced him to have to prove his worth. She never made demands. In fact, she was the first female to ever go out of her way to attend to his needs, to make him feel comfortable. Up to this point, he had always been taught that a male was only to do this for the female, never the other way around. Rae changed that.
Holding her in his arms he began to feel differently about everything he had been taught.
She was supposed to be his enemy, she was supposed to be this all-powerful and merciless being that wouldn't hesitate to end him, but she wasn't. She was gentle and forgiving. She shouldn't have enticed him, but she was more beautiful than anything he had ever seen. She was precious to him and he knew without a doubt that he would never leave her side.
Keeping her tucked against his front, Tomak carefully moved to lay back down, letting her rest on top of him. Staring at her from this position, he smiled. She looked so defenseless and with her mouth slightly parted, a soft snore ever so present, he didn't think he had seen her look more adorable.
Sprawling out like this with her, he hoped that his purrs would better penetrate her muscles and keep her relaxed enough that she wouldn't be able to conjure up any more nightmares. She needed her rest and so did he. Only time would tell if he would be successful.
With the grace of a dancer, the morning light from the sun danced across the ripples of the ocean water. Sparkling and beautiful, the blues and greens coalesced into one body that moved both majestically and powerfully. And like the steady movement of a conductor's hand, the waves made its continuous journey from water to land. Back and forth it moved.
It was this soothing rhythm that first caught Rae's awareness, but it was the brilliance of the sun's rays slowly cascading into the bedroom that finally stirred her awake. Opening her eyes slowly, she drowsily saw the light filtering past what the window shades could not conceal.
Unlike the countless mornings before, she woke up pleasantly warm, feeling like jelly spread out on a warm piece of bread. It felt amazing and part of her didn't want to get up. She wanted to stay cocooned in bed, with this feeling of security and peace forever. It was exquisite.
But she knew she had to rise, if she didn't she knew Chase would be more than happy to force her out of bed. He could be insufferable when he didn't get his breakfast on time.
Breathing sharply through her nose she shifted. When she stretched her legs however, her toes brushed against something warm and tough. Instantly her mind crossed off the idea of it being the bed sheets or the mattress. Without even looking, the momentary fog in her brain was dispersed when her bed beneath her breathed.
She froze, every sinew of muscle going as stiff as a rod. Desperately she tried to dispel the bombardment of thoughts regarding the matter, but as much as she tried to refute it, she could not deny the truth. I'm spooned out on top of Tomak.
At first she was mortified, and scared to even lay her head against his chest in this intimate position, but then she became too afraid to look up. She wasn't ready for those eyes of his to look upon her in such a vulnerable state. Sooner or later though, she knew she had to do something, she couldn't be in limbo the whole time, and she was certain her neck couldn't hold this strained position any longer either.
Giving in and confirming her fears, she turned her head up, her chin now resting on the massive plains of his chest as she peered up at the sleeping giant. At least she hoped he was asleep, closed eyelids meant absolutely nothing. Tomak had told her that yautja were light sleepers, prone to wake up at the sound or sensation of anything so they could respond fluidly if in a dangerous situation. But if the deep even breathing patterns from his rising and falling chest told her anything she could only assume he was still fast asleep, but for how long she had no idea.
This didn't help ease her anxiety much.
After last night, she didn't know what to expect from the large yautja. He had promised that he would never force himself on her, but what if she had accidentally initiated something in her sleep that he concluded to be an invitation? As much as she dreaded it, she had to know.
Remaining as still as a statue, she slowly moved her right arm, reaching for the edge of the blanket covering them. Upon grasping it, she gently lifted it and peeked underneath.
They were both dressed.
She mentally sighed in relief. Well there went most of her anxiety, but there was still another concern. How on earth did she get on top of him in the first place? Her cheeks reddened at the thought of her climbing on him in her sleep or him placing her there without her knowledge.
Looking off to the side, on the empty side of the bed, she did the math in her head, curious if she could just roll off him. He was big though, so it would certainly bounce the bed and wake him if she did attempt it. Besides, she would have to figure out how to remove his arms from around her waist, another finding that made her heart patter nervously within her ribcage.
Exhaling in defeat, she carefully rested her cheek against him once again. Maybe it was best if she didn't do anything at all. Despite the pounds of muscle she was lying on top of, it wasn't like she was uncomfortable. He was very warm and the sensation of his large muscular arms surrounding her made her feel protected, something she hadn't felt since she was held captive in Price's lab. Even in his sleep, Tomak was offering her something she only dreamed of enjoying.
Looking down at his green scaled chest, she felt something warm bloom within her. It really meant a lot that he stayed with her the entire night. The least she could do was let him sleep a little while longer. He showed the same courtesy to her, it was only fair she did the same.
As she laid there, feeling his chest rise and fall like a buoy in the ocean, she thought back to the previous night. He had made it clear that they were more than just friends in his eyes, and Rae seriously considered if that was so bad.
She admitted that over the course of time she had secretly wished that they could be more, but never in her wildest dreams did she think it could be a reality. He had no idea how much she valued his mere presence in her life, let alone his attention. With all the trauma and hardships she's endured, Tomak was like an anchor, keeping her steady. He deserved to know that.
Emboldened by this thought, Rae did something she thought she would never have the courage to do. She placed her lips against his warm chest, giving him a soft kiss before closing her eyes and laying her head back down with a content smile.
Truthfully, she wanted him more than she had ever wanted somebody, but she was still afraid of the unknowns. There was still so much she needed to know.
Tomak, who had awake when she first roused, finally opened his eyes.
Alerting her to his awareness, he stroked her back a few times. This had her heart bounding like a rabbit in her chest. And when they met eyes, time itself seemed to stop.
They stayed that way for a little bit, just holding each other's gaze, neither rushing to say anything, just a calm silence.
Rae couldn't stop from biting her lip though, suddenly feeling extremely shy under his gaze. Still, she wasn't able to hold back a smile. That butterfly feeling in her stomach made itself known the longer this continued.
When he purred, she couldn't help a small giggle from slipping out, breaking the silence. "Goodmorning." She went quiet, feeling a little self conscious about her voice this early morning.
Tomak hummed pleasantly in response, not taking his eyes off her.
"Were… were you really here all night?" she began carefully, her heart was fluttering at the notion. Maybe she could get some answers to how they got in this position in the first place. Not that she didn't like being pressed up against him, but she knew she was a bit of a bed hog, having never really been accustomed to sharing one before.
"Yes," his voice sounded deeper, unused. She liked it.
"Did I keep you up?" she asked next, cringing as she awaited his answer.
He was thoughtful for a moment, considering his response, "No."
She smirked, sensing his hesitation, "Now I know you're lying." She watched in amusement as his mandibles flared in reaction, the hands around her hips tightening a fraction.
"Yes, I'm questioning your honor," she replied teasingly, "because I know how I am when I sleep and from what you've told me, yautja wake up at even the slightest disturbance. So you must have been up all night," she thoroughly concluded.
"Not all night," he chuffed in dismissal, "yes, you moved. I would have thought you were dead if you ceased."
Rae had to laugh at this, not expecting his humor so early in the day. She wondered if he was a morning person. That would take some adjusting to. "Well thank you for keeping me company."
He purred in answer, one of his hands moving to sweep up and down her back. She smiled shyly, enjoying his attention.
"Were you comfortable?" His question surprised her.
Rae blinked up at him. "Um…" she shrugged against him, "y-yeah."
His eyes narrowed, "You hesitated."
"I mean–" she looked away, his gaze always so penetrating.
She felt his chest pulse with a growl, a large finger pressing against her cheek, forcing her to meet his unforgiving eyes. "You are about to lie to me," he growled, his hand moved to hold her chin, keeping her head in place.
She tensed at the accusation. "I wasn–"
"You look away when you are about to lie," he gave her a look as if daring her to refute this fact.
Rae went silent, blinking up at him with wide eyes. Was she that bad of a liar? Did she really look away when she lied? She had never picked up on it.
He lifted her chin, a smile of sorts playing over his face, "I have learned much about you, gorgeous." His clawed thumb brushed appreciatively over her lips, the action making her cheeks burn. "Now I will ask again," he purred. "Were you comfortable?"
She swallowed, subtly sensing the tightening of his hand as her eyes began to stray again. It was so hard expressing herself when she was being watched like a hawk. Unsure of herself, she moved her hand to tentatively touch the large fingers wrapped around her jaw, her gentle touch softening his hold even more so.
She took a deep breath, admitting, "I slept well." She should have left it at that, but then confessed, "If I'm being honest, it feels nice being on top of you– I mean," she felt his body begin to shake with his laugh and immediately she wilted under his gaze, hiding her face against his chest. She couldn't believe she said that. "That came out wrong, I didn't mean for it to sound like that."
And before she could say anything more to fix her blunder, she felt Tomak begin to stretch beneath her. She tried not to flinch at the sound of the meaty clicks that occurred after a long powerful stretch, but when he concluded it with a massive shudder, she rolled off him, bouncing onto the mattress.
Then without warning, Tomak switched places with her, taking up the space above her and pinning her beneath his mass. His long arms were fixed on either side of her, preventing his weight from crushing her.
With a gasp, her hands came up, "Tomak, what are you–!"
He chuckled, "I can say the same, gorgeous."
Rae was not one to blush, she was lucky it wasn't in her genetics for it to be visible at least, but she sure felt the heat. "I said I didn't mean it like that!"
"No?" he cocked his head, his eyes roaming over her face. "Are you so sure, gorgeous?"
"I'm so embarrassed," she muttered to herself, trying to turn her face away, but it wasn't that easy, Tomak just lowered his face to hover over hers.
"Embarrassed or aroused?" his eyes flashed in dark mischief.
Her eyes widened, before she scowled. "You're one to talk. I bet if I wasn't here you'd be flirting with yourself in the mirror!"
Surprise didn't even begin to describe the way he stared at her, and when his eyes narrowed, she wanted to disappear into thin air.
A clicking sound trickled from deep within his throat as he lowered himself over her, "Do not think you can get away with such an accusation and think I will not respond to it," he growled.
Crap. He was using his final notice voice. And she had a sneaking suspicion as to what that meant for her. The evil intentions that were glimmering within his glowing eyes made a chill run down the length of her spine.
"Perhaps I will show you… mercy," he grinned using her words from yesterday, "if you admit that I arouse you."
Her mouth dropped open, her eyes blinking wide. "I– I will do no such thing!" she sputtered.
"It is adorable that you think you have a choice," he spoke with a growling chuckle that made her weak. Why did he have to have such an attractive voice?
"You are such a troublemaker!"
His eyes flashed then as he grinned. "I am only what you make me to be, gorgeous. Now I would start confessing or it may not bode well for you," one of his hands closed around her waist, serving as a good warning.
She could feel her heart skip in unbound excitement, knowing she never picked the easy route. "And what would happen if I didn't cooperate?" she tested, watching nervously as his eyes began to dilate.
He leaned over her further and brushed his fingers lightly over her flank, giving her a very good idea of what he would gladly do if she resisted.
Taking a nervous breath she met his unforgiving gaze. "But how do I know you'd release me even if I did admit anything?"
The mischievous glimmer in his eyes was her answer. There was no guarantee.
She let out a deep breath. "Dammit Tomak."
"Gorgeous," he purred.
"Stop that!" she gasped in open embarrassment, a grin beginning to form. "Why must you be so perfect?"
His pride grew and he flexed above her. "Is that a confession?"
"No!"
"I do not believe you, gorgeous," he chuckled, his eyes blinking slowly. "But in time, I know you will accept defeat."
Before Rae could even come up with some sort of backlash, his hand moved to cup the side of her face, silencing the raging fire within her. Knowing this, he purred, his thumb tracing the curve of her cheek fondly.
Her eyes fluttered closed. Enjoying his warmth, she turned her face toward his hand, once again amazed by how gentle he could be when he chose to show it.
"Gorgeous," he hummed above her, his thumb stroking her face a little more, "you still have yet to confess." His statement ended with a rumbly purr. The sound alone made goosebumps form over her skin.
Still so caught up in his warm affection, she pretended to be falling asleep, a soft snore escaping past her lips. She hoped it would buy herself some more time though it was a stretch and they both knew she wasn't very good at acting.
She heard him chuckle then, confirming her very thoughts. "You are terrible at pretending gorgeous, your snoring is not nearly as pronounced as it should be for it to be real."
Her lips twitched at his comment, the corners of her mouth curling even as she painfully tried to resist the movement. This only fueled Tomak's remarks. "And you do not smile when you sleep, unless it is related to what infants do when they smile."
She got the meaning of his words immediately and her eyes shot open. The son-of-a-gun. She didn't hesitate to smack him, his growling chuckle only urging her own laugh. "As if you would know, you talk like you watch me sleep every night!"
Something passed over his face, something vulnerable and hidden in his quick glance and when she realized the truth of it, it grounded her. "Oh my god, do you really?" She tilted her head, "You've watched me sleep every night?"
He was silent at first, not willing to admit anything, but eventually he grunted an affirmative.
His admission warmed her heart, but she was curious as to his reason for doing so. "Why?"
Tomak adjusted himself above her as if the topic made him uncomfortable. "In the beginning, it was on account of my mistrust, but watching you sleep I saw how non threatening you were. After a time, it became a habit."
"To make sure I was safe?"
She felt his arms brace on either side of her. "To make sure you were still real."
Rae felt breathless. She was staring into eyes that were almost black, his pupils having blown wide, but within the depths of his predatory gaze, there were hidden emotions, concern, longing, desire, maybe even love. It blew her away.
Unexpectedly, she had an urge to do something she had always been too shy to do with him. But feeling a little more confident now with his confession, she slowly raised her hand to his face. Other than when she healed his mandible, she couldn't remember ever touching and exploring his face before.
Just out of reach of his cheek, she paused, looking into his eyes for permission.
Her heart stuttered in her chest when he closed his eyes and pressed his face into her awaiting hand. His skin was nothing like hers, it was textured, not nearly as rough like an alligator but it had that smooth scaly feel, when she ran her fingers over the concave flesh of his cheek marveled at how it almost softened. Carefully, she began to use the tips of her blunt nails to caress and swirl over the bony ridge of his upper mandible, a steady purr initiating in his chest.
Slowly she followed the curve of his mandible to the tip of his tusk, the affected mandible twitching at the ticklish sensation. It made her smile. Following the curve back up to his temple, she traced the patterns and designs in his forest green hide, enjoying how smooth his large crown was.
With the return trip down to his forehead, she swiped her thumb over the scars there, first the triangular scar, and then the half sun. She didn't stop. Going over the deep line of his naturally fierce frown line that split his prominent brow into two, she felt along his brow, playing with the small quills that were found there. As different as he was, he was beautiful.
Not nearly satisfied using just one hand, she began to feel the other side of his face with her other one, his purr pausing a moment before continuing. Moving on, she turned her attention to his unique locs next, both hands singling out a strand to hold. Dragging her fingers down the length of the long, warm, spine, her heart jumped in pleasure at hearing Tomak's breathing hitch, his purr stuttering, before ramping up in depth.
He liked this, she realized. And as she stroked them, she curiously wondered what sort of sensation she was pulling out of him, since humans certainly couldn't feel much from their hair.
Emboldened by his subtle reaction, she buried her hands further into the jungle of dreads and gripped a handful of them, a grin forming over her lips as he dropped his head lower, a deep groan, escaping him. She released him then, much to his disappointment, deciding to rest her hands on the bulk of his shoulders instead.
Now looking up at him with allured eyes, she bit her lip wondering if she should do it. A part of her was scared to push the boundaries between them since she had yet to truly know what this was to him, but then another side was impassioned with the prospect of showing Tomak a form of affection she knew he had never experienced before.
Without giving it a second thought, she raised her head off the pillow and with more guts than she credited herself with, she pressed her lips against him.
To her anxious surprise, when Tomak felt her mouth against the side of his mandibles, he jerked back. It was a knee-jerk response, an instinct to protect his face.
Immediately she bit her lip, worried she had gone too far.
Tomak saved her from that though, his actions speaking louder than any words could as he lowered his face to her, returning her affection. He traced his tusks down the side of her neck and nuzzled her there, his senses becoming overfilled with her. His carnal desire to satisfy himself physically was running dangerously to the forefront, but impatient for more, he ignored this, prompting her to do whatever she had pleasurably done, again.
Understanding his demand, she turned her face into him and laid small pecks along the side of his cheek, whispering soft words of endearment as she went. She smiled, feeling his muscles quiver in response to her words. Striking up the courage, she used her lips to follow his strong jawline down the side of his neck.
Instantly she felt him still, his chest rising in heavy breaths against her. But she paid no mind to it, more astounded by how soft his flesh was here, like velvety soft, almost as soft as a baby's. It felt amazing and despite what the stiffening of the muscles above her told her, she took the risk and planted a lingering kiss on his pulse point.
That had been her mistake.
Tomak went as stiff as a board above her. And then just like that, his body, his heat, his scent, all of it was gone. He acted as if he were burnt by a flame by how fast he moved, staggering from the bed to the window.
"Tomak?" Rae quickly sat up, unsettled by his behavior. "Are you okay?"
"You must leave," he spoke tensely, his growling sounding not unlike an engine. His back was hunched, all the muscles bulging and tight. He was holding himself back, his hands resting on the wall as he took deep ragged breaths.
Rae sat in silent shock, "I-I'm sorry I—"
"Leave Rae or…" he growled, "I might do something unforgivable."
His words were registering, but she couldn't move, her heart was pounding too fast.
"Rae…" he was begging now, his voice strained, his muscles quivering as he held himself at bay. "I do not want to hurt you."
Rae's eyes filled with tears. She was too afraid to move, too afraid to do anything.
Then suddenly his restraint snapped, "Rae!"
She flinched.
"Listen to me!"
She sprang from the bed and darted out of the room, not daring to look back. Snatching her coat from the hook she fumbled with the door handle. Swinging it wide open and slamming it shut behind her, she bolted down the wooden steps and onto the sandy shoreline. Fear still had a choking grip on her as she continued to run parallel to the ocean. Sprinting past the beachhouse, she didn't stop until she reached her car. Having left the keys inside, she started the engine and slammed the gears into reverse and pulled away from the house.
Backing onto the main road, her eyes continued to fill with tears as she thought back to what she had done. She had crossed a line, she had pushed Tomak too far.
By the time she caught her breath, she was miles away from him. Rae breathlessly looked in the rearview mirror back in the direction she came, a choked sob tearing through her throat.
She slammed on the brakes, pulling over to the side of the road and laid her head against the steering wheel, crying continuously into her arm.
"I'm sorry, Tomak. I'm so sorry."
The way he pulled away from her, the tone of his voice, the look in his eyes. She made him do that. She pushed him to that extreme. It scared her.
She wanted to go back and apologize, beg for his forgiveness if she had to, but she was frozen in place. He clearly stated how much he wanted her to be gone, so there was no chance of her returning so soon.
Which meant there was only one other place to go.
"Rae?" Naomi cracked the door open with a surprised expression, there was still sleep in her eyes, her hair obviously put up in haste at her intrusion.
Knowing she probably looked like a kicked puppy, she met her friend's eyes, determined not to burst into tears on the spot. "Can I come in?" Her voice was evidence enough that she had been crying.
Concern laced her friend's eyes, and being the generous person she was, Naomi didn't hesitate. "Yeah, of course." Opening the door fully, she ushered her inside. "Excuse the mess," she waved her arm at the state of the hallway, clothes scattered here and there. "I was in the process of doing laundry. What's going on? Are you okay?" she turned the conversation on her.
"No," she sniffled. "I messed up so bad, Naomi."
Bringing her to the dining table, she sat her down and immediately started fixing them both with some tea. As she worked, she continued to ask questions wondering how she could help.
Rae took a tissue from the box her friend had so kindly placed beside her and gave her a watery smile as she dabbed at the tears in her eyes. Carefully looking around, she noticed that the house was pretty quiet other than the soft churning of the dishwasher in the background. The setting was warm and comfortable just like it had always been when she visited. "Is uh… is your mom here?" she asked, unsure about how much she should share if there was another set of ears listening.
Naomi smiled, sitting down beside her. "No," she reassured. "She won't be back until tonight."
Nodding slowly, Rae blew her nose and leaned her head against her closed fist, her energy completely zapped.
Naomi was slow to speak, not wishing to rush her friend into explaining herself, but she was concerned, having never seen her look so depressed other than when Jake had cut her out of his life. It made her want to go out there and beat the living crap out of whoever did this to her. So after a time she asked, "What's going on, Rae?"
She fidgeted in her seat for a couple seconds before stirring up the courage to speak. "You remember the mystery guy?" she looked at Naomi.
Her friend smiled softly. "The one that doesn't exist?" she teased lightly.
"Oh he exists." Rae caught the small spark of excitement in her friend's eyes.
"Name?" she requested in a rather conspiring way.
Even with tears streaming down her face, Naomi could still make her laugh. "Tomak," she supplied.
"Oooh Tomak. A foreign name," she grinned like an idiot.
She was desperate for more and slowly Rae gave it to her, pausing only when Naomi was forced to return to the kettle, bringing back two steaming cups of chamomile tea.
She told her everything. From how they met at the ski lodge, how he moved in as a roommate, and much to her reluctance, how he drove her crazy. She then included his reaction to Damon and the difficulties she endured trying to solve that problem. Who would be the better choice, which one made more sense. And by the end of it she concluded with the morning's events, with them sharing the bed together. The only information she didn't disclose was that the guy, she was head-over-heels for, was in fact an alien.
Grabbing two more tissues she wiped away the continuous tears that wouldn't quit. And more than anything she hated how raw and pathetic sounding her voice was as she bared her fears. "I messed it all up Naomi," she tearfully admitted. "I always mess it up."
"Rae," she chided gently, "you didn't mess it up. From the sounds of it, Tomak was trying to respect your boundaries, that's why he asked you to leave."
"But he sounded in pain, angry even, like I hurt him!"
Naomi smirked, "Well duh, of course he's angry and in pain. You put the man in the mood and he's obviously too nice to cross the boundaries you put up in the first place!"
"He wanted sex?" she spoke out loud, her gaze questioning.
"Bingo," Naomi took a sip of her tea.
"But," her face contorted, "all I did was kiss him."
She smirked at that. "If that was all it took then he has got it bad for you, my friend."
Guilt washed over her then. She wondered if Tomak thought of her as an indecisive nutjob that was trying to mess with him. Had she known he was going to respond as he did, she would have never kissed him like that. She wasn't trying to be difficult or hard to get, and she certainly wasn't trying to give him mixed signals. But did he understand that? Would he believe her if she told him? "Do you think he'll forgive me?" she heard herself ask, wringing her hands nervously.
The innocent question had Naomi smiling wryly. "Well that all depends on how long he had to soak in an ice bath for," she chuckled seeing her friend cover her face shyly. "It could have been worse," she tried to alleviate her worries, but Rae hid her face in her arm.
"I'm such an idiot."
"No you're not."
"I am!" she insisted. "I'm can't seem to ever–"
Her phone began to ring in her coat pocket, cutting her off from continuing. She frowned, fishing it out wondering who it could possibly be. When she saw Damon's name light up the screen her face fell, her gut churning uncomfortably. She looked at Naomi then with a frail expression.
Naomi frowned, shaking her head in confusion until Rae showed her the screen and understanding behan to dawn in her eyes. She shrugged, "Just tell him it's a bad time."
She nodded, doing just that. She answered it. "Hi Damon, look you called at a bad time I–"
"Hi Rae," a foreign male voice cut her off.
Her blood froze as her internal alarms began going off. The voice was of an older man.
"Damon wanted me to contact you about something urgent."
She clutched the phone tighter to her ear. "Who–who is this?" she frowned.
"Wrong question."
Rae grit her teeth listening to his tone. "Where is he?" her eyes blazed as she punctuated each word carefully, the last hour of guilt being washed away and replaced with anger.
"Safe with me," the man assured, "and he will remain that way as long as you cooperate."
Rae swallowed, peering over to Naomi who was giving her a demanding look, wanting to know what was going on. "What do you want?" though she had a pretty good idea.
The man chuckled on the other line. "Someone's been looking for you for a long time now."
She squeezed her eyes shut, confirming her nightmare.
"But playtime's over. So I'm going to give you a choice. You meet me at these coordinates and trade yourself in for your boyfriend's freedom or he and Miss Harrigan die."
He knows about Naomi?!
Her silence must have spoken volumes as to her reaction because chuckled, "Yes, we know you're staying with Miss Harrigan."
Immediately her eyes began wandering around the room, as she listened to him continue, wondering if there was a camera or if they could hear them.
"Oh and if you think you can share our little secret with her, I would be careful. We wouldn't want something happening to such a sweet face."
Rae had to hold herself back from crunching the phone in her death grip. Her anger having never been so strong.
"So let's make it easy on everyone, shall we? Come quietly and alone and no one gets hurt. Simple." He ended the call.
Pulling the phone from her ear, she stared down at it for several seconds, wanting to believe it had just been her imagination.
"Rae?" Naomi shook her shoulder, trying to snap her out of it. "Are you okay?"
She shakily looked at her then back down to her phone when it lit up with a text, an address to be precise. But what most disturbed her was that this man, whoever he was, knew where they were. More alarmingly, he knew where Naomi lived. And if he knew where she lived then that meant–
"Rae?" Naomi spoke a little more urgently seeing the blood drain from her friend's face, "what did he say? What's–?"
Rae quickly waved her hands in front of her and pressed a single finger to her lips, which struck Naomi, never having been told to be quiet so abruptly. She then quickly began to sign for her.
They had both taken advanced sign language classes as their language of choice in high school, and it had carried on long after when they used it to talk to each other behind Jake's back. She hoped it would serve them well now.
Naomi frowned, signing back, "Bugs. I don't understand."
Rae shook her head and began spelling it out for her. "Your. House. Is. Bugged."
Understanding lit in her eyes for all but a moment, when she frowned. "What do you mean?" she signed back.
Rae bit her lip as she tried to think of how to word it.
"What's going on?" she pressed in sign.
Rae tried to think of the right words when she saw a piece of paper on the counter. She raised her first finger to Naomi, telling her to hold on before she stood. Taking the paper, she turned it over to a blank side before writing something crucial down, something she needed Tomak to know just in case this all went south.
She turned back to her friend who was hot on her heels, then began to speak out loud. "Naomi, trust me there is nothing going on. I have to go do something quickly, but I'll be back."
"I speak?" she signed in question.
Rae nodded.
Playing along, Naomi answered softly, "Alright, take care of yourself. Text me later, okay?"
"Promise." Raising her eyebrows she signed, "Follow me," urging her towards the backdoor.
Naomi nodded and followed her outside.
Rae took her a little ways into the woods behind her house and quickly looked around before taking out the piece of paper she had written on. "Naomi, I need you to listen to me very carefully."
"Uh-uh," she straightened up, her arms crossed and her hip jutting out as she gave her most serious look. "First, you're gonna to tell me what the hell that was back there! Starting with that weird ass phone call, why you think someone bugged my house, and then end it with a damn good explanation on who the hell would dare to do that!"
Rae raised both of hands in a sort of calming gesture, "Okay okay, fine." She took a breath, both unsure and afraid of how her friend would react. Just rip it off like a band-aid, that was always a good strategy. "Someone kidnapped Damon to get to me."
"Damon's– what?" she stared at her incredulously. Maybe that wasn't the best way to approach it.
"This is serious Naomi," she grit out, turning her phone to show her the text she received. An address with a threat added to it.
"Oh my god," she covered her mouth, staring with a horrified expression at the inclusion of her name tied to the threat. "So," she paused, trying to think of what to do, "shouldn't we call the police?!"
"No," Rae shook her head. "If the cops get involved, Damon is dead. They want me."
She frowned again, shaking her head as she tried to understand. "But who are these people? Why would they want you?"
She knew keeping all these secrets would come back to bite her, she just didn't think her past would find her, not as fast as it did. "I don't have much time to explain everything, but I wasn't entirely truthful about my background, Naomi."
Her friend stared at her then thrust her hands out in an 'Alright, give it to me,' look.
Nodding, Rae gave in. "Remember the story I told you, how I was a victim of abuse by a law enforcer?"
She continued to stare in an almost demanding way, "Yeah?"
"Well that's only partially true, it wasn't a law enforcer, but it was someone that works for the government."
"Okay?" she seemed to settle a bit, accepting it. "And what, they're coming to keep you quiet?"
Rae swallowed, dropping her eyes to the ground. As much as she hated the idea, she knew she had to tell her the whole truth. "No, they're not."
Naomi's eyes suddenly got big, her thoughts were almost on display, "They're not here to kill you, are they?!"
"No! No," she tried to ease her, unsure of how to phrase it all. "Look, I don't have much time. All I ask is that you listen to me, okay? They know where you live, so I need you to go somewhere, a place that I know you'll be safe."
"What the hell," she began smoothing her hands over her face, not liking this at all.
Naomi was clearly stressed, but Rae knew these instructions could very well save her life, so as hard as it was to get her to listen, she did her best. "Do you remember where that old ice cream joint is, the one on the northern part of the beach?"
"You want me to hide in an ice cream parlor?"
"No, that's your landmark. From there you're going to walk along the beach, even when it turns into woodland, you walk along the coast. You're going to come across a rockwall eventually, okay? Walk through it." Her friend began to laugh bitterly.
"Do you have any idea how insane you sound right now?! Like are you high or somethin'?!"
She clenched her teeth, having grown tired of this. "Come on, Naomi. You know me."
"Do I?!" she shot back, "Cuz' you're makin' it sound like I never knew you!"
"Naomi, please trust me."
"How can I believe anything you're saying right now? How do I know this isn't some screwed up joke?"
Rae frowned before looking away with a heavy sigh.
Naomi glared right back at her, expecting a prompt answer. But her fierce opposition was shut down abruptly when she looked down to her friend's hands, her eyes widening immensely at the shocking sight.
She watched in stunned silence at the vision of her friend's hands beginning to glow an unnaturally orange color. Then to add to her dismay, Rae touched a small sapling tree and her fingers burnt right through it, like it was butter.
Naomi wanted to jump, scream, run, do something, but she was steeled in place by her shock. "The hell?! How," her voice shook, her eyes still frozen on her hands, "how– how did you do that?!"
"I'm a lab experiment Naomi. An abused experiment that escaped its cage years ago, and now," she looked down at her hands, letting them relax the energy pooling back to her center, "now they want me back. I know you're confused, you're scared, you have no idea what's going on, but please trust me. Trust that I have your best interest at heart."
She nodded, all but shakily. Her eyes kept lingering on her hands, and it was making her feel self-conscious.
Rae knew it was hard to accept. She was a freak, her abilities dangerous and foreign. She might as well be an alien. If everyone knew what she could do they would be afraid of her, even her best friend was eyeing her hands with distrust.
Hearing Naomi take a breath, Rae tensed, waiting for a comment or remark of some sort.
Frowning softly her friend asked, "Did that hurt you?"
Of all the questions Rae expected, that hadn't been one of them. She flexed her fingers absentmindedly, considering it. "Sometimes it can, if I hold it too long. But most of the time, I don't feel anything."
Naomi appeared calmer, which was strange, she had thought her friend would have viewed her differently. For the past four years she had lied to her about everything, and she didn't even bat an eye at it. Had it been the other way around, she probably wouldn't have been as docile about it.
"Listen, I don't want us leaving at the same time, because it could cause suspicion. Wait twenty minutes, then go. Take this with you and find Tomak," she put the piece of crumpled up paper she had written on before in her hand. She made her hold it tight, "If I don't call you in the next hour, I need you to give this to him."
Naomi frowned, shaking her head, "Why are you making it sound like I'm never going to see you again?"
Rae smiled softly, but otherwise didn't answer that. Pivoting to leave, she suddenly stopped, "Oh and Naomi?" She looked at her. "Tomak isn't exactly normal either, but he won't hurt you."
"Oh great," she scoffed, "and that makes me feel so much better. Does he have magic hands like you?"
Rae laughed, "Better."
Moving to leave, she heard her name. Just as she turned back around Naomi surprised her with a firm hug. "Be safe," she whispered against her, causing Rae to smile.
"You too."
Giving her one last final glance, Rae took off running.
Opening the message on her phone, she pulled up a map on one of her apps and put the unfamiliar address in. As expected it was somewhere further out, away from town and any unwanted eyes. Zooming in on the site, she realized that it was a logging facility. And according to google it was closed over the weekend.
Just what she needed.
Getting in her car she closed her eyes and said a quick prayer. If she was going to be successful then she needed to be in control. If she panicked at all, then both her and Damon's life would be jeopardized.
Breathe, she urged herself, her grip on the steering wheel loosening a touch.
Her mindful meditation exercises almost always did the trick, but this was a different kind of anxiety that was filling her chest, not something that would occur daily. This was overpowering.
Even though Tomak believed she had greater control on her abilities than she admitted, she still had doubts. There was so much she didn't know. And the unknown was probably the most dangerous threat of all.
Come on Rae, she tried to sike herself up. Come on.
Rae, she felt her heart squeeze thinking of her father's voice, his last words to her.
Rae, you are stronger than you realize. You may not understand it right now, but you are very special.
A warmth spread through her, as if he were really here telling her this in person.
It's who you are.
Her eyes opened. There was truth to what he said, this new ability she had was who she was now. She was the only person that could get Damon out. She was his only hope. Utilizing these powers was his only hope.
Maybe acceptance was the piece missing in her control. Accepting that this was part of her now. A determination began to settle within her eyes and carefully she turned the key in the ignition.
"It's not powers or abilities," she breathed deeply in reminder, "it's me." And that was enough.
Exiting the building, McKenna made his way down the stairs towards his lieutenant, popping a toothpick in his mouth as he went.
The dark-haired man eyeballed him before jerking his head over his shoulder. Following him and a second soldier behind the dark van, he shook his head, "There a problem?"
"Somethin's not sitting right," his lieutenant spoke tersely. "It's been over an hour, she should be here by now."
"Maybe she already is," McKenna stared at the main road in the distance, squinting through the bright sun.
"We would have heard her," another man, Jeb, disagreed.
"Not if she parked further out and walked," he folded his arms, watching for any movement.
"What's your call, sir?"
McKenna moved the toothpick to the other side of his mouth, biting down on it distractedly. "Have the boys round up and check their ammo. She's to be kept alive," he looked pointedly at one of his men, aware that there were some who were a little too happy to pull the trigger.
"Yes sir." His lieutenant left to do his bidding, rounding the guys up in preparation.
Jeb, his tech guy, stayed behind. "Do you really think she's already here?" he was skeptical.
"One way to find out. Call her phone."
Nodding, he moved to comply. Several seconds later they were rewarded with the sound of a musical ringtone.
"There you go," he raised his rifle, taking his toothpick out and flicking it off to the side. His finger poised on the trigger as he started toward the noise. "Move in boys," he directed quietly into his com.
Like good soldiers they obeyed, moving silently as a unit. The sound was on the other side of the property, likely where she thought she would be safe enough to hide and think. If she was smart, she would have kept her phone muted.
Forming a tight circle, they surrounded the area, closing in on a smaller structure, an old shed to be exact. Coming up on it, McKenna immediately eyed the broken lock and signaled for his troops to surround it. Inhaling slowly, he met eyes with one of his soldiers and nodded for him to grab the slender handle. Gripping his rifle and setting it more firmly in his shoulder, he prepared himself, a drop of sweat dripping from his brow.
The second the door was opened, McKenna charged in, rifle raised, "Freeze!"
Seeing nothing at first, he kept his eyes on a swivel as he checked his blindspots. It was then that he found the phone. It was still ringing, and strangely left behind.
He stiffened upon the realization of it. They had been played. "Fall back!" Speaking into his comms he spoke urgently, "Remmy, target is headed your way! Repeat, target is headed your–" he was cut short by the sound of a gun and cursed.
They had to move.
—
Rae was on the ground, her legs wrapped around the last of the guards as she choked him out. When he went limp under her hold, she released him and double checked the other unconscious soldier, having already dispatched him. Turning her attention to Damon, she met his confused blue eyes.
He looked like he had seen better days. They had him tied to a chair, duck tape placed tightly around his mouth. And his clothes were filthy, dirt all over them which must have been when they apprehended him. Clearly he hadn't gone down without a fight.
Stepping towards him she pressed one finger to her lips in a silent gesture and he nodded. Carefully she took off the tape and then focused on his bonds. Metal chains with a lock. She shook her head disapprovingly, coming to stand behind him. She gripped the overlapping chains in between both of her hands and focused intently on their structure.
In no time at all the chains fell apart as if they had been cut, each end was red hot from intense heat.
Damon quickly shrugged his bonds off and turned to her, only for his eyes to lower to the chains with a frown. He looked at her in question next.
"Later," she stood from her crouch. "I don't have time to explain, we have to move," she whispered, urging him to the back door.
Opening it, she was suddenly face to face with the barrel of a gun. She grit her teeth. Perhaps she hadn't been as stealthy as she hoped. Backing up slowly, she heard Damon suck in a sharp breath in surprise. Unafraid, she stared directly into the covered eyes of the soldier as she slowly lifted her hands.
His only warning had been the slight flare of her nostrils, before her hands came up with blinding speed, knocking the barrel to the side. Instantly it misfired and before the soldier could recover, Rae was on top of him. Knocking him out, she pulled the unconscious body inside and grabbed Damon, practically dragging him out the door and down the stairs.
That was when they saw two shadows on the roof.
"Get down!" she shoved him under the large deck, just as two rounds of tranq darts hit the dirt behind them.
"Move, I'll cover you," she ordered Damon, urging him to run towards one of the logging trucks. Doing as she asked, Rae sprung out from her hiding place and held her right hand up toward the figures on the roof.
Don't kill them, was the last thought she had before she aimed toward the roof itself and released the pent up energy burning within her arm. The fiery blast struck true, caving the roof's structure from right under their feet. Four down, likely several more to go. And now there was no questioning her presence.
Rae ran towards the truck where Damon was last sighted. When he wasn't still there, her heart froze. She kept going, carefully peeking beyond the other side of the large vehicle. Her blood ran cold as she looked across the lot.
A man with silver hair was standing with four other soldiers and in his arms he held none other than Damon, a gun was pressed against him in warning.
Having seen her, he began to speak. "That little trick with the phone was impressive, but you didn't really think this would be easy did you?"
Hiding behind the large truck, she closed her eyes, controlling her breathing. Think Rae. Think.
As the man, the leader, she could only assume, was talking, she heard something else, something more subtle. Her eyes opened. Footsteps and a lot more than a pair of feet.
She discreetly eyed the heavy load on the logging truck and an idea took root.
There were about half a dozen chopped trees strapped on the bed and four straps were holding them down. One was not far from her. Reaching it, she held the thick material tightly letting it snap under her burning fingers.
Her eyes flicked up to the trees. No movement.
Running swiftly to the other side, she grabbed hold of another cord, undoing the second and third. Already she could see the trees were leaning, threatening to snap the last remaining strap with their weight. Eyeing it carefully, she stood at the center of the truck when company arrived.
Three men in tactical gear cautiously approached with their guns raised. With every step they took, the heavier her heart pounded. The tips of her fingers tingled, sweat trickling down her temple. Her anxiety was on the cusp of what she could take and time seemed to slow to a crawl.
When all three were within range, she didn't hesitate. With the quick blur of her hand she reached the final strap. Then everything happened at once.
The snapping of the taught cord, the sounds of guns firing. She barely had time to skid under the truck before the trees toppled and rolled, hitting the ground behind her with a deafening thud.
Rae was forced to squeeze her eyes shut at the sound of the mens' screams, her cheek pressed painfully against the tar.
When everything went silent, she ignored the burning sensation in her knee, having probably scraped it in her haste. Pushing herself to keep going, she crawled on her belly. Getting clear of the bed, she managed to shakily stand, her focus once again on the leader. Even with the glare of the sun in her eyes, she could see how still he was, how his jaw ticked tight in uneasiness.
Stepping closer, she did a quick assessment of Damon. He was terrified as much as he tried to hide it. But she wasn't sure if that fear was partly due to her as well. Whatever the case, it didn't matter, she was more concerned with getting that gun pointed away from him.
"Uh-uh-uh," the leader warned her, pressing the barrel of his gun harder against Damon's carotid. "That's close enough."
"I'm sorry Rae," Damon choked out, looking at her helplessly.
"Everything's going to be okay," she assured him, her eyes never leaving his captor.
"You got spirit kid, but that's where it ends."
Just out of her peripheral, she saw a fourth solider, one she had missed, standing a healthy distance away. His gun was pointed directly at her. But something told her there were more, she just couldn't see them.
Gritting her teeth, she turned her attention back to the leader, staring hard at him before looking back down at Damon. There was no possible scenario in which they would both get out of this. One of them was going down. It just couldn't be Damon.
Very slowly, she lifted both her hands in surrender. "I'm what Price wants," she tried to reason with the man, "not him. Release him and I'll go with you."
"No, don't do it Rae," Damon resisted, his struggle ending with a hiss of pain as the solider jammed the barrel harder under his jaw.
"You will huh?" he grinned knowingly at her. "Just so you can jump ship on our way down? Nah, I don't think so. Lover boy here is coming with us. All I ask of you is to close your eyes and enjoy the ride."
Before Damon could warn her she was tagged with a tranquilizer dart.
She turned swiftly, ripping the thing out of her arm and spun around determined to fight off anyone nearby. But her sudden movement made her lurch, the solution already taking effect. Her vision was blurring.
"Rae!" she heard a voice call for her as she dropped to her knees. It sounded like Damon's voice.
Trying to pinpoint where the voice had come from, a force hit her side, rolling her onto her back. Her world was darkening, tall dark figures were standing around her as she laid numb and limp.
"Alright, load 'em up," was the last thing she heard before all went black.
Author's Note
Thanks again for the encouragement! It pushed me to complete another very long chapter and a good chunk of the next one too. ;)
We've all been kind of waiting for this moment so what theories do you have about where this will go?
