Page 65 of Primal Bond
And in exchange, he'd made one request. One strange, unheard of request…
Terek had shown up — but with Zanik on his knees, without anything further to bargain with, there was no guarantee that Terek would honor his side of the bargain. If he wanted to add one extra bounty to the mix… Well, Zanik had the highest one there.
Zanik knelt in the dim light, his heart pounding as he met General Terek's steely gaze. The general's presence filled the room, his authority undeniable. Zanik felt the weight of the moment press down on him, the air thick with tension.
Had he read the general's character correctly? Was this the right Borraq to trust, or was Zanik about to be betrayed — and lose everything, right as he'd secured it?
The general’s lips curled into a knowing smile as he surveyed the humans around him, a glint of something almost amused dancing behind his cold demeanor.
“Looks like the club’s empty,” Terek declared, his voice steady. He turned to his men, his tone commanding. “Report into base: all criminals were caught as they tried to flee. No one was left behind on the station.”
Zanik’s breath hitched in his throat.
“General,” a woman with sharp features and a crisp uniform marched in beside him, her eyes bright with excitement. “We’ve detained some truly high-profile criminals as they attempted to leave the station. The bounties will be incredible!”
Terek crossed his arms, a satisfied grin breaking through his stern façade. “Good work. Let's round them up and take them in.”
“Understood, sir.” The lieutenant nodded. She didn't so much as look at Zanik and the humans, a pleased flicker of ambition lighting her gaze. She knew the game.
As the general turned to leave, he leaned in slightly to Zanik, his voice low and conspiratorial. “I expect a hefty discount on my regular order for this little assist.”
As if he hadn't already made hand over fist with the bounties. Still, that was business — no matter how much profit someone made, they always wanted more.
Zanik met the general’s gaze with an unwavering intensity. “Kelara will make sure you’re treated well,” he replied, his voice steady. “She’s the one taking over my role from this point on.”
Finn’s eyes widened, confusion etching his features. “Wait, what?” he murmured, glancing between Zanik and the general, his mind racing to catch up with the sudden shift.
Terek chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that filled the space as he walked away. “Wherever you're going, keep your nose clean,pup. Don’t make me have to haul you in one day.” With a curt wave of dismissal, he left the chaos of the club.
"You're going?" There was a hunt of panic in Finn's voice. "Where are you going?"
Zanik turned back to Finn, his heart thudding in his chest. He reached for Finn’s hand, their fingers intertwining naturally. The warmth of Finn’s skin against his own grounded him, bringing a rush of clarity amidst the whirlwind of emotions swirling in his mind.
"Wherever you are."
For a moment, Finn simply gazed at him, something too strong to define burning in his eyes. Then he squeezed Zanik’s hand, a silent vow.
Zanik glanced over at the group of humans, their faces a mass of confusion and alarm. Some stood frozen, wide-eyed and uncertain, while others shifted nervously, glancing around as if expecting the chaos to erupt anew. The scent of fear hung heavy in the air, mingling with the lingering musk of sweat and adrenaline.
“Everyone, get up,” Zanik instructed, his voice firm but gentle. “We have a journey to make.”
Chapter thirty
Rael stood at the edge of the village, his eyes fixed on the horizon. The spacecraft was due to appear any moment. Pride swelled in his chest at the thought of Kyral returning successful from his mission, but concern gnawed at the edges of his mind.
What if something had gone wrong? What if Kyral and Jasper hadn't found who they were looking for?
A low hum filled the air, growing louder with each passing second. Rael's muscles tensed as the sleek vessel came into view, descending gracefully into the clearing. Dust swirled around it as it touched down, the engines powering down with a soft whine.
The hatch opened with a hiss, and Rael relaxed slightly as Kyral emerged, followed closely by Jasper. Both unharmed, thank the spirits.
Then his eyes widened. A pair of humans followed them out, blinking in the bright Vasz sunlight. Rael's gaze darted from face to face.
Well. The village was going to need more dwellings.
But that wasn't all that Kyral and Jasper had brought back. Finally, another figure appeared in the hatchway.
Tall, broad-shouldered, unmistakably Borraq.