Arak's Love: A World Beyond Book 2 Read Online Free PDF Page B

nipples perked but she only had a moment to chastise herself. The man stiffened and growled low and long. Joni squeaked, jerked back and let him go. Sylvie hung on with grim determination. Blue eyes snapped open, spitting fire in her direction.
    “Run,” he snarled.
    “Not without you,” she returned, defiance giving her the strength to resist in the face of sharp fangs.
    He planted a hand on the floor. Under his breath, she thought he muttered, “Earth females.”
    Sylvie tightened her hold and pushed with her legs at the same time he leaped to his feet with animal grace. He wobbled for a second and regained his balance instantly. “Come on, foolish woman.”
    Leaning on her shoulder, he directed Sylvie and Joni back into their former prison. Sylvie shivered as soon as she crossed the threshold of the dreaded room and turned away from the Marenian guard they’d killed.
    “Kyele, report.”
    Sylvie glanced up, wondering who he spoke with and noticed the black disc inserted in his ear and the small wire looped around the lobe of the pointed tip. Pointed? Right, alien. Sylvie shook her head as they made their way to a shattered window. The low hum of an engine revving came from outside and a shaft of white light flared. A silver shuttle hovered in the night sky.
    Sylvie tried to jerk back but the man tightened his arm over her shoulder. “Easy. It’s my team leader.”
    Joni stayed in one corner of the room, back to the wall. She had her stolen knives in her hands once more. “How do we know we can trust him, Sylvie?”
    She spared Joni a glance. “Uh…because he’s trying to get out of here, too.”
    Joni’s mouth flapped as if she couldn’t find the words then gave a sharp nod. “Right.”
    The muscles of the man she held up flexed. Sylvie looked closer at his face and noted the strain he tried to hide. “Are you okay?”
    He smiled down at her and this time the sight of his sharp fangs didn’t frighten her. A bubble of warmth fluttered in her belly and Sylvie fought the ridiculous urge to smile back.
    “Fine. Sylvie .” When he said her name in his accented voice, she wanted to slide to the floor like melted butter.
    The door behind them slammed open and hit the wall with a loud bang. A large man flew into the room on a current of cold air. Wind whipped around them rustling anything not nailed down. Pebbles dotted her flesh and Sylvie inched slightly in front of the weakened man in her arms.
    As soon as the newcomer came to a halt in the center of the room, a knife whizzed by the side of his head and drilled into the wall. He shifted with a slight tilt of his chin and green eyes blazed toward the person who posed the threat. A nasty scar curved from his left cheek, down to his collarbone. Danger pulsed on the currents around him. A whistling breeze picked up in the room and drummed at her ears. Another knife hurled through the air.
    Sylvie turned. “Joni!”
    Joni stood legs spread, arms up and fists at the ready.
    The man kept his gaze on her friend and raised a single hand, fingers spread. The hilts of the knives imbedded in the wall quivered then flew backward and smacked into his palm, blades up. “I like knives,” he drawled.
    “Oh, shit,” Joni cursed, inching back along the wall.
    “Kyele, stop. We don’t have time for games,” the man in her arms snapped.
    Games? Insane laughter threatened to escape but Sylvie refused to give in for fear she wouldn’t stop.
    “Jaron, we have extra cargo. Two females from Earth.”
    The light outside beamed brighter and flashed twice.
    “Communications are partly down, Arak,” the one named Kyele said. “They can hear us but we can’t hear them. Marenians are blocking the signal in some way. Couldn’t get you either to let you know I was heading back.”
    Arak. Sylvie studied the bold features of the man next to her. It fit. Short and to the point. Muscles tensed as he limped toward the window and dragged her with him. A long cable dangled from the