Page 49 of Adored By the Alien Warlord
She lunged at me, her hands outstretched. I dove to the side, rolling across the floor. I came up behind her, the shard still clutched in my hand. With a cry, I launched myself at her back, wrapping my arm around her neck. I pressed the shard against her throat, my heart pounding wildly.
“Yield,” I hissed in her ear. “Let me walk out that door.”
She struggled, her body thrashing beneath me. But I held tight, pressing the shard deeper into her scaly skin. A thin line of blood trickled down her neck.
“Give up,” I snarled again, my voice steady despite the fear coursing through my veins like fire.
She stilled, her body tense, before she raised her hands. “Go.”
I slid off her back, keeping the shard in my hand to slash out again.
Hatred burned in her eyes, but she didn't attack.
I dashed for the door, wrenching it open. I turned back to see Oolah still standing in place, her eyes locked on me.
“I’ll count to ten,” she said with a sly smile. “Then I’ll track you down and kill you.”
As I slipped into the hall, her cackle rang out.
“Run, human. Run!”
Chapter 26
Davon
We slammed into another guard, and Krekk and Torinar pinned him down while Valdar silenced his cries for help. The palace halls were a blur of stone and dim lights, and our footsteps echoed around us as we ran. We rounded a corner, and stairs leading up to the first level came into view.
Valdar held up a hand, signaling for us to slow down. We approached the stairs cautiously, listening for any sign of guards. But it looked clear for now.
We ascended quickly, our backs to the wall, our eyes scanning every direction. On the first level, Valdar turned to me, his breath coming in quick pants. “Leave the city, Davon. Things will get bad here fast.”
“We have supplies,” I told him, thinking of the packs I'd hidden in my room. “Enough to take us some distance into the desert.”
Valdar's eyes gleamed. “Again, thank you, friend. For everything. I wish you and your mate well.”
“And I hope things go well for you.” I clapped him on the shoulder.
A sly grin spread across his snout. “Oh, they will. I'm about to get the revenge I've been seeking since my uncle murdered my father.”
The other two Veerenads grunted, their eyes flashing with anticipation.
“May the winds of the desert guide your path,” I said. “And may we meet again when this is over.”
The three Veerenads took off down the hall, their forms melting into the shadows. I turned and sprinted towards my room, my heart a beast in my chest. I burst inside, scanning the dim interior. The packs remained where I'd left them, hidden behind a chest, and I slung them over my shoulder and rushed back out, adrenaline charging through my veins.
As I approached Maggie's room, I found her peering around the corner of the intersection in the hall, her eyes wide with fear. She spotted me and started to speak, but her words were drowned out by a roar echoing down the hall from behind her.
Oolah snarled, rushing this way.
I thrust the packs into Maggie's arms. “Remember the plan.”
She set the packs down by the wall. “I'm not leaving you, Davon.”
My heart swelled with pride and love, but terror gripped me as well. I had to protect her at all costs.
Oolah charged, her eyes locked on us. With a bellow, I rushed toward her, my body tensing for impact. Wecrashed together, her claws raking against my side. I grunted, pain shooting through me, but I didn't slow down.
The world narrowed to just the two of us, our grunts and snarls echoing through the hall. Her foul breath filled my senses, and the heat of her body burned against mine. Her tail whipped around, trying to trip me, but I leapt over it, my fist connecting with her snout.