Page 22 of Hope Forged
She blinked at him, not truly understanding him. “I—” She gripped her hips and glared at him. “I’m not going with you anywhere.”
He chuckled and pocketed the box. “Very well,” he said.
“Illan, I am finding something faint below your feet. My scans cannot penetrate the rock.” The male cleared his throat. “Northeast of you is a stronger signal.”
Joy warred with doubt, and she lunged, tugging Illan’s arm to within an inch of her mouth. “My mother?” she asked the voice.
“The gender I cannot determine, milady. Illan, we will retrieve the kuta and investigate.”
Her thoughts swirled, tears flowed without hindrance, and hope tangled her tongue. She gazed at Illan, happiness an explosion of emotions she didn’t know how to contain. With her head thrown back, she laughed, even as she bounced on her toes. “Mudya’s alive.” She dropped to the ground and yelled into the crevice, “Padya, she’s alive.”
“My thanks, Brac.” Illan’s calm voice snapped her attention to him.
She couldn’t wipe away her smile. Scrambling to her feet, she grasped his upper arm. “Do you think they’ll find her? Bring her home?”
His smile was kind as he caught her chin and held her still; his gaze roved her face. “Let us hope it is your mother, but Ziamee, it could be a large creature.”
She pinched her lips. It was wise of him to warn her. “How long?” she asked.
He ran his thumb over her cheeks, brushing aside her tears. “That I cannot say to the exact hour. We will know this day.”
Her mind screamed at her to move out of his reach, but her body wouldn’t budge. “Mudya went to investigate the forest. She never returned.” She sniffed. “Padya tried to find her.” She leaned into Illan’s touch. “I never gave up hope over these past twelve years.” Breaking his magnetic allure, she flung her gaze away from his jawline, those high cheekbones, and his long-lashed eyes that saw too much.
“We need rope, and you need boots. Ready to visit my ship now?” He arched a brow.
She scoffed. “Without your littlekuta?” Shaking herself out of a daze, she marched toward theHaile. “I’m going nowhere with you. At this point, all you’ve done is speak to a faceless voice.”
“What about your father?”
She jerked to a halt and spun, almost making him stumble. He caught her elbow, using her to find his balance.
She shook his hand away. “I’ll have to make more rope. I was hoping you’d have a better plan than kidnapping me.”
“Ziamee—”
She hiked off. “How silly of me to think you’d help,” she muttered, glancing east.
The vines she used to make rope were from the edges of the dense forest. She avoided the great cobwebs stretching between trees deeper in the ominous shadows. What she could use was that dagger of his. It had taken her ages to cut through the thin vines she’d later woven together. His dagger had sliced through her five-vined rope with ease.
She snuck a peek at him, doubting he’d let her borrow such a sharp weapon.
Then she’d steal it. She clenched her jaw, letting determination strengthen her resolve.
“Please, you’re welcome to keep me company while we wait for your people to find my mother.” She flashed a smile, then glanced ahead before he realized it was fake.
Familiar tread had her looking right just as Seba appeared out of the bushes. With a roar rivaling their ucdeas encounter, he pounced on Illan, taking the male to the ground.
Chapter Seven
Awhitebluranda shadow preceded a hard smack to the ground. Illan’s mind reeled, unable to explain the pain burning along his shoulder and crushing his chest. Four luminescent pink eyes glaring at him didn’t help. Its serrated teeth were exposed, its breath hot and fish-tainted. Four ears twitched, but it did nothing but pin him, its weight crushing him.
Time slowed. He couldn’t breathe. Not that he dared to. Every instinct warned him that this creature wanted an excuse to strike. Two tails flicked in his peripherals. His hands were trapped to his body. His wrists throbbed at their unnatural angle. Reaching for a blaster wasn’t possible, nor could he comm theCeleerifor aid.
He was at this creature’s mercy. So close to its muzzle, he perceived intelligence in the depths of its narrowed eyes.
Ziamee limped nearer, her footfall louder as she approached.
“Stay back,” he whispered, keeping his tone calm and friendly. When she didn’t listen to him but dropped beside him, her beautiful face coming into focus, he growled, “What did I say?”
