Page 63 of Primal Bond

The human let out a bark of bitter laughter, and got to his feet. "Lead the way."

Finn got them back to the hiding place, and then he darted out again. Finn moved as fast as he could, slipping through the mass of bodies, taking humans by the hand and leading them silently away from their masters, slipping them away in the darkness.

But there were still so many. The path to the exit was clogged with panicking Borraq, all shoving each other, throwing around club furniture in the process. The humans in the mix were being bounced around, lost in the crush of much bigger bodies.

Finn's heart pounded as he moved. There were so many…

Suddenly, a figure appeared beside him, silently guiding another human by the hand. Finn's breath caught as he recognized Asher's blank face.

Joy surged through Finn, even as his heart ached at Asher's vacant expression. His old friend was still in there somewhere, fighting to help despite everything.

Together, they worked swiftly and silently, gathering more slaves and leading them to safety. Finn's spirits lifted with each person they rescued, but he knew they couldn't save everyone.

Finn's throat tightened with emotion. "Thank you," he whispered, squeezing Asher's shoulder.

Asher didn't respond, but it was enough. They'd done what they could. Now, they just had to wait and hope Zanik's plan would work.

Finn's heart raced as he caught snippets of the fierce battle between Zanik and Rivek amidst the chaos of the darkened club. Grunts, snarls, and the clashing of weapons echoed through the space, a violent symphony that both terrified and exhilarated him.

Despite the danger, a flicker of hope ignited in Finn's chest. Zanik was gaining the upper hand, his prowess and determination shining through even in the pitch-black surroundings.

But that hope was short-lived. Rivek's furious growl cut through the din, his words dripping with venom. "You won't win this, Zanik! You can't steal my slave from me. I know that human inside and out..."

Finn's blood ran cold. He watched in horror as Rivek sniffed the air, his nostrils flaring like a predator catching the scent of its prey. Even in the darkness, Rivek's eyes locked onto Asher's location with unnerving precision.

The scent of a human. Even in a mess like this, human pheromones stood out to a Borraq, entrancing and unique.

And Rivek wasveryfamiliar with Asher's.

Time seemed to slow as Rivek, ever the predator, lunged forward through the darkness. His movements were a blur of deadly speed and purpose, storming his way through the mess of toppled tables and chairs.

Finn's heart leaped into his throat. He grabbed Asher's arm, yanking him away from the impending danger. "Run, Asher!" Finn yelled, his voice cracking with desperation. "Move, now!"

But Rivek was too fast. He closed the gap between them with alarming swiftness, his eyes glinting with a feral hunger.

Chapter twenty-nine

The air shifted as Rivek turned and bolted away from their fight. Zanik growled, frustration and rage boiling over. He couldn't see in the pitch darkness, but he heard Finn's desperate call, sharp and panicked, "Zanik!"

Everything within Zanik roared to life. He'd sworn to protect Finn, to never let harm come to him again. The primal love he felt surged, almost painful in its intensity. No way he was letting Rivek take this from him.

He lunged forward, relying on his instincts, the way he hadn't done since his days as a clan warrior. His muscles coiled and released, each stride filled with purpose. The chaos around him, the sounds of the military raid, faded into a dull roar. All that mattered was Finn and Asher.

His mind raced as he followed Finn's scent in the dark. He couldn't fail here. He wouldn't lose everything he wanted to protect. "Finn!" he called out, his voice cutting through the darkness like a blade.

"Zanik!"

The sound ignited something primal within him. He didn't think; he reacted. He lunged forward, his clan blade gripped tightly in his hand, trusting his instincts as he dove into the darkness. He couldn’t see Rivek, but he could feel him — a malevolent force, lurking just ahead.

The blade sliced through the air with a hiss, the world narrowing down to that single moment. Zanik’s muscles coiled, every fiber of his being focused on one goal.

He felt the blade meet flesh, a sickening impact followed by Rivek’s choked gasp. The impact reverberated through Zanik’s arm, and he thrust the weapon deeper, feeling the heat of blood splatter against his skin.

Rivek let out a roar of shock and rage. He lurched as he staggered back, clutching at the wound. Zanik’s heart raced, a wild mix of triumph and anger flooding through him.

“You thought you were untouchable,” Zanik growled, his voice low and fierce. “You’re done.”

With a rasping, gasping breath, Rivek collapsed to the ground.