Page 12 of Urzra

Bria hadn’t known she could run so fast until she’d been given the incentive to try.She wasn’t sure she could keep up that sort of pace for two hours.“Tell me more about your commander and his men,” she requested.The more she knew about them, the better she would be able to avoid them.Bria had no intention of staying with Urzra.He’d ruined her life with his unexpected arrival and now she had to start all over again.Food would be scarce everywhere in the country now.How the hell was she going to survive through winter with only a few paltry provisions?

“Like I said, Amaros is our commander,” Urzra said with clear pride and affection in his tone.He loved his brothers like they were his blood.He told her about them and relayed information about some of their former wars.She filed the information away as they steadily headed towards land.They sounded like they were all good men, but she didn’t want to get dragged into their war.Amaros would use her skills for his own benefit and then she would be left behind once they won and returned to the Void.She was just one lone cambion and she couldn’t see what difference she could possibly make.They’d fought their enemies for billions of years without her help.They could fight this war without her assistance as well.

They were both damp from the sea spray by the time they spied land.“Use the binoculars and see if you can spot anyone,” Urzra requested.He’d found them in a compartment near the wheel.

Bria unsteadily made her way to him and took the binoculars out.Lifting them to her eyes, it was hard to focus with the boat constantly moving up and down.She scanned the shore for any signs of movement.“I can’t see anyone,” she reported, bracing herself with one hand on the side of the boat.

“Let me know if you see or sense anyone,” the knight said, aiming for a dock in the distance.

Keeping her focus on the shoreline, Bria scanned from left to right and back again as they drew closer to land.“It looks clear,” she said as he slowed down.She hung the binoculars around her neck, opting to keep them, since they could come in handy.

Urzra deftly spun the wheel so they gently bumped against the dock and she quickly tied the vessel to a wooden post.“We made it,” he said with a grin.Her heart picked up speed at how handsome he was with his windswept hair and square jaw.He reached out to touch her bloodied bicep.“I’m glad you healed, female,” he said.

“It was just a scratch,” Bria mumbled, turning away to retrieve her belongings.She was starting to feel guilty about the plan she’d come up with, but it was for the best.It would be stupid to rely on an alien when his only agenda was to find his boss.He would drag her with him all over the country until he found Amaros if he had to.All she wanted was to find somewhere safe to stay where she wouldn’t be bothered by any other living beings.Was that really too much to ask?

Bria pulled her duffle bags and Urzra’s backpack out of the compartment.She handed his backpack to him, avoiding his eyes.The warrior leaped up onto the dock and offered her his hand.She took it and a flush of warmth suffused her at the contact.He easily lifted her off the boat and deposited her onto the dock.“My lady,” he joked with a courtly bow, then kissed the back of her hand.

Now she felt even worse about her decision, but it had to be done.She sensed his attraction to her had grown stronger.It would only increase if they remained together.“Thank you, Urzra,” she said, then hit him with her magic again.“We’re not compatible like you think we are,” she said.“You don’t want me and I don’t want you.Finding Amaros is your goal, not keeping me safe.We’re better off without each other.”

Urzra’s emotions changed from strong attraction and admiration to complete indifference.His face went blank, then he turned and woodenly strode away.Bria ignored the stab of longing that appeared in her chest as she took off running.She’d been doing fine without the knight and she would continue to be fine without him.

Sprinting until her strength ran out, she was breathing heavily when she slowed down.It wasn’t even lunchtime yet, but she felt like days had passed since she’d woken up.Her map didn’t cover this area and she had no idea where she was.“I need to head to a rural area,” she said.“I’ll find an abandoned farm that’s isolated and begin a new life where hopefully no one will find me this time.”

Bria hated how empty she felt as she continued to walk away from the place she’d called her home for the past six years.

Chapter Nine

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DEUMOS MARCHED AWAYfrom the empty house, profoundly disappointed with his failure.He’d been so sure his offspring was there, but clearly he’d been wrong.Rahab was going to be furious when he found out about how their mission had ended.He was glad his commander was out of range and he couldn’t report in using his walky-talky yet.He could put off being reprimanded until they returned to Long Island.

His four guards followed him through the trees, using the same path they’d taken to reach the property.None of them spoke and were wallowing in their misery.Reaching the beach, they worked together to shove the boat back into the water.

“It’s a pity we didn’t find anyone on the island,” one of the guards said after climbing on board.

“Rahab will be furious that we failed him,” another said.