Page 91 of 80% Beef 20%
“I’m a definite threat,” JayJay roared. “It’s you who’s at fault. You kidnapped my mate and trapped her against her will.”
No matter how hard I studied Tuga, I couldn’t be sure whose side he was on.
Devile’s lips twisted. “Against her will. I don’t think so, Inmate 141,” he barked, fondling his coil. “Ginger, tell Inmate 141 how much you wish to see my home.” He spoke to me, but his eyes leered at JayJay.
Despite racking my brain, I couldn’t figure out why Devile was still taunting JayJay. The gig was up.
“Oh, how the special club members will love to watch me take my fragile mate again and again until the bond takes.”
JayJay lunged for Devile, and my mate’s loud rattle thundered through the narrow slot within the larger cavern.
“Not so fast.” Devile’s hand darted around his back, and he pulled out a gun. Silver glinted, and fear choked me like a noose as the muzzle met JayJay’s temple. The click of the safety release stopped JayJay dead in his tracks. “I always have a backup plan.”
I whimpered. No. We’re so close. This can’t be happening.
“You didn’t even suspect it, did you?” Devile sneered at JayJay.
“What? That your inflated boulder-brain has turned to sand?”
“He didn’t mean that.” I backpedaled. JayJay’s ability to mediate seemed to have flown out the window.
Devile’s finger caressed the trigger, the gun still aimed at JayJay, paying me no mind. “That the Supreme Council had selected their candidates for the next representative at my term’s end.”
All Devile’s mysterious ramblings were beginning to come together. A conclusion was forming in my head.
“Get to the point. My female needs medical attention.” JayJay shuffled back and forth, and I could feel the tightrope line he was grappling with, resisting coming to my aid.
Then it suddenly clicked. “JayJay! The Supreme Council selected you as a candidate.”
“Ah, pretty, and a clever little thing, too. She’ll be just the guarantee I need to make the representative position mine for good. No more terms.”
“Did LenLen also happen to be a candidate?” Tuga barked.
Time seemed to stop, and the humid air grew so thick that my lungs felt like they were filling with liquid concrete. A fiber-optic tail flickered for a second, then went dark near Devile’s ankles.
JayJay’s jaw clenched, and he jerked his head from side to side. He was a ticking time bomb.
Blood dripped from my shredded wrists as I slowly rose to my knees, then stood. Laser-focused, I braced for whatever opportunity Nebula might present.
“You had a blanting female killed to dishonor me so you could keep a title?”
Devile kicked out, shouting. His gun went flying as he swatted at an invisible Nebula and clutched his ankle.
I bolted for the gun. It spiraled through the chamber, slamming into the wall and discharging a shot into the domed ceiling. A stalactite broke off and fell like a bolt of black lightning toward Tuga, who jumped out of its way without a moment to spare.
At that exact moment, JayJay wound his arm back and seemed to funnel every ounce of his pent-up hate straight into Devile’s jaw. Devile’s head snapped around 180 degrees, and a trail of saliva flew out in a slow arc around him.
Tuga moved to my side as I scrambled to grab the gun. His eyes never left JayJay as he landed another hit to Devile’s solar plexus.
Hunched over, back heaving, Devile called out, “Tuga, my bodyguard, my friend…” He panted, reaching toward Tuga with one hand. “The lead elite guard position could be yours…”
Nebula stood in all her Technicolor glory at my feet, her tail rigid. Seconds later, a sable-colored dorat dropped a pair of wrist enclosures on Tuga’s boots.
When Tuga didn’t respond, Devile tried again. “Tuga, retrieve the wrist-locks in my bag.”
Tuga rocked beside me like a tiger in a cage. Though I knew his loyalty was to JayJay, I also knew that Rock Dwellers took worthiness to the next level. Would Tuga turning his back on Devile, his charge, make him question his actions?
JayJay’s fist coiled backward and hurtled upward, straight into Devile’s chin. “Your time for talking is over.” As Devile's head snapped back JayJay hooked his foot behind the only Rock Dweller he truly hated and swept his legs from beneath him.
