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Splayed over shattered volcanic rock, Devile moaned and curled on his side, pleading, “Inmate… JayJay, please…”
“JayJay,” I called, and his stormy gaze snapped toward me. “I’ve got it from here.” I motioned him to my side with my chin and lifted the gun with both hands.
JayJay shook his head as if in a daze and rushed to my side.
The buzz of a weapon engaging filled the cramped space. At the sound, Devile’s swollen lids cracked open. “I surrender. Please, just…”
“Tuga, the enclosures.” I nudged Tuga in the elbow while still holding the gun steady on Devile.
A stiff Tuga picked them up and approached Devile.
As Tuga bent to bind Devile’s wrist, Devile jerked forward, grabbed a glass-sharp splinter and plunged it into Tuga’s thigh.Devile’s eyes flashed like a madman’s as he raved about betrayal while Tuga clutched his bleeding leg. “Tuga, consider Tern your new home. You will never return to Yagras.”
My arms trembled as I held the gun steady, and when Tuga rolled free, I pulled back the trigger.
Held my breath.
Closed my eyes.
And let go.
Only nothing happened. The firing mechanism must have jammed when the gun hit the ground.
I stood frozen long enough for Devile to hurl an ebony shard. It flew true like a spear, straight toward JayJay. Only JayJay was frowning at the gun, still hanging useless in my grip.
“JayJay, watch out!” I shouted, shoving his hip. As he twisted out of the way, the blade sheathed at his thigh flashed as if calling my name, and I grabbed it.
Guided by an instinct new to me, I charged toward Devile, the knife edge flashing a deep orange in the low light. I lunged, trapping his neck with the heel of my boot where he writhed on the ground, and sank the knife between his legs.
Devile squealed like a stuck pig.
“You’ll never test another female for a mating bond again,” I spat, twisting the hilt as his legs jerked beneath me.
JayJay grabbed the enclosures, bound Devile’s wrists, then looked at Tuga and me. “Should we throw him in the river?”
“I heard a shot.” Sisip’s ears flickered as she peered into the narrow slot, Hill’s freckled nose appearing around her. “Bring him here, Tuga. Nobody’s throwing anyone into the river.”
JayJay lifted me into his arms from where I straddled Devile and withdrew the knife from Devile’s groin. I took in a shaky breath and collapsed against his side.
“My beautiful, fierce jungle cat,” he praised as he ran his palm down my hair.
When he looked at the obsidian blade and then me, pride tingled in my core. JayJay wiped the blade off on Devile’s shirt before passing it back to Sisip. “Courageous Heartstruck true.”
“She does like a female’s touch.” Sisip nodded to me. “I should’ve known.”
Devile wriggled on the ground. “Sisip, under your authority,” he gasped, clutching his groin, “I d-demand to be freed and have JayJay and Tuga—” He stopped to catch his breath. “Arrested.”
“Overbearing, misogynistic prick”—I ground my teeth—“if I have any say, I’m all for throwing that bastard in the magma river.”
Sisip’s stoic expression cracked, and one corner of her split-lipped mouth twisted up, whiskers bobbing. “Devile, as lead enforcer of Tern, I will decline that suggestion.”
Hill joined her and unrolled a slip of paper. “We’re here to notify you that you’re to remain in custody as a person of interest in the case of Yula Rackver’s death and for the possible wrongful arrest of JayJay Atlason. Under the Intergalactic Federation’s Ruling Body, you’ll be required to stand trial on an impartial planet. A shuttle is en route.”
Tuga grinned. “The Supreme Council must’ve finally looked at the evidence we’ve collected.”
“These claims are…outrageous,” the lowlife panted, twisting in Tuga’s arms. “Inmate 141 committed a horrific crime and is serving his time.” Forehead bathed in sweat, his blustering voice grew thready. “The Intergalactic Federation will rule in my favor.”
Sisip carried on, ignoring Devile’s bluster. “Bonic has agreed to act as a character witness for JayJay. The elite protector to the high hold of Lorne intends to clear JayJay’s name with recent evidence the Yagras guard has collected and bring to light your role in sabotaging this mission to rid Tern of hellsna.”
