Authors: Jordan Summers
He heard cursing, then Lex began to pound on the door. Hawk looked around, but there weren’t any obvious ways to open it. Would Zeth kill Opal now that he knew they were here?
Hawk had no choice but to continue on. He eventually found a transport cylinder and stepped inside. “Bridge,” Hawk said.
At first, the transport didn’t move, then suddenly it began to rise. Hawk braced himself, knowing there’d be a fight ahead.
The transport door slid open. Hawk stepped out and immediately froze, unable to believe what he was seeing. Opal sat at Zeth’s feet in her cat form. The fire-breather was stroking her head while she purred beneath his touch. Bile rose in Hawk’s throat as he watched her.
“What’s the matter, Hawk?” Zeth asked. “Have you never seen a man stroking his cat?”
Hawk launched himself at Zeth.
Opal growled and swiped at Hawk with her claws before he could reach him.
“I don’t think she likes you very much,” Zeth said.
Hawk jumped back and glared at Opal. Betrayal burned his throat, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth before searing his gut. He’d risked his ship. He’d risked his crew. He’d risked everything to get here to save her. And for what? For her to turn her back on him? To turn her back on what they had?
He shook his head in disgust. He was a fool. Hawk had known when Hades, the Dark King, had given her to him that she had betrayed him. He’d convinced himself that he could change her, that there was more to her than being a traitor, that there was actually something between them. He was wrong.
Zeth threw his head back and laughed. “I think she prefers my touch to yours,” he said. “Doesn’t say much for your sexual prowess.” He pushed Opal onto her back and rubbed his foot over her belly.
Hawk’s lip curled and he snarled at the sight before him.
* * * * *
Seeing Hawk again made Opal’s hearts hurt. Even though he was covered in blood from head to toe, she’d never seen a more beautiful sight. Her gaze raked him, then their eyes met once more.
The look of betrayal on his handsome face slayed her, but Opal couldn’t do anything about it. Not yet.
Hawk lunged at them.
Opal growled and swiped at him, keeping him away from the hidden trap built into the floor.
He jumped back. This time when Hawk looked at her, he didn’t bother to hide his pain or his anger.
Her mind raced as she tried to think of a way to get him out of there. Opal didn’t want him harmed. She continued to growl and hiss at him as she sought out Zeth’s touch.
“Would you like a piece of him, pet?” Zeth asked, stroking her head. “I’m sure that can be arranged. Bind him!”
Crewmen poured out of hidden compartments on the bridge and surrounded Hawk. There were too many to fight, though it looked like he was considering doing just that.
Opal held her breath.
Don’t do it
, she thought.
He clenched his jaw and straightened.
One of the crewmen stepped forward with hide strips and quickly bound his wrists behind his back. Hawk pulled on them, but the leather held.
“Take him into the pit,” Zeth said. “Come, pet.” He grabbed Opal by the collar. “You’re going to want to see this.”
Hawk was led to the transport cylinder and shoved inside. Opal and Zeth squeezed in beside him. Hawk didn’t look at her, didn’t acknowledge her presence in any way. As far as he was concerned, she’d made her choice.
If only things were that simple
, Opal thought.
A small pit no more than twenty feet across was located at the front of the cargo bay. The men shoved Hawk into it and stepped back.
“He’s all yours, pet,” Zeth said. “Just make sure you leave me something to roast.” His smile chilled her to her marrow.
Opal brushed up against Zeth’s leg, then jumped down into the pit. Hawk watched her, taking care to keep her in his line of sight at all times. Opal would’ve laughed, if the situation weren’t so dire.
Where was his crew? She thought for sure they would’ve broken through the walls by now.
She continued to stalk him, then threw her head back and embraced the change. In a flash, Opal’s cat was gone and she was standing in front of Hawk, naked.
His gaze sharpened. Despite his anger, Opal noticed he did look.
“I’m glad my new master is giving me this opportunity,” she said.
Hawk’s lips thinned and he glared at her.
“I want to pay you back for humiliating me.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “Only one of us has been played for a fool and it certainly isn’t you.”
Opal struck, scratching him across his chest. Her claws tore through his thick armor. She made sure the cuts were deep enough to draw blood. Opal had to convince Zeth that she was serious.
Crimson welled on the surface of his skin. “You’ll pay for that,” Hawk snarled.
“What’s the matter, lover?” Opal asked. “Can’t take a little pain? You sure liked dishing it out.”
“I never hurt you,” he snapped. “You liked every minute of it.”
Opal moved closer. “I was faking it.”
Zeth’s men jeered in response to her dig.
“Then you’re one talented whore,” Hawk said.
Opal smacked him across his face. “I’m no whore,” she whispered.
Hawk’s golden eyes turned molten, then his head jerked up to look at Zeth. “Are you going to let a woman fight for you?”
Zeth glared at him. “Say your goodbyes, pet. It’s time for Captain Hawk to die.”
Opal trembled as she approached Hawk. She framed his handsome face with her hands and leaned forward to press a kiss to his lips.
Hawk jerked his head back. His expression promised retribution.
Opal snarled and scratched him once more. This time her claws raked his back, before slicing through the ties binding his wrists. Hawk’s eyes widened, but he was smart enough to keep his hands together so no one noticed.
His gaze met hers. This time when he looked at her, the heat burning in his eyes wasn’t from hatred.
“Goodbye, Slaver,” Opal said, and turned her back on him.
* * * * *
Hope blossomed in Hawk’s chest. He’d thought for sure that Opal had betrayed him right up until the moment she cut his bindings.
Zeth expected to jump down here and burn him alive, but the drac-shifter was in for a nasty surprise.
“Did you have fun, pet?” Zeth asked, stroking Opal’s bare breast.
“Yes, master,” she said. “Thank you for allowing me to pay him back.”
Zeth nodded. “You can stay in this form until this is over, then I want my cat back,” he said.
Opal tilted her head. “Thank you. I can’t wait to see him burn.”
Zeth chuckled. “So bloodthirsty. You’re the perfect pet for me.”
He glanced at Hawk to ensure he had his full attention, then like a snake, he struck, latching onto Opal’s nipple. Zeth bit down hard, breaking the skin.
She cried out in pain.
He sucked once, then lifted his head. Blood dripped onto his scaly chin. “I see why you took her,” he said to Hawk. “She tastes good.” His long tongue swept out of his mouth, so he didn’t lose a drop.
Hawk stared at him. Despite the anger raging through him, he felt cold and oddly focused. He would take great pleasure in killing this shifter. “Stop wasting time,” he snarled.
Zeth hissed and shoved Opal away, then jumped into the pit, shifting on his way down.
The second his feet hit the ground, chaos erupted around them. Fallon, Reaper, and Lex charged into the room and immediately engaged Zeth’s crew.
Hawk used the distraction to shuck his bindings, then he attacked.
Fire exploded out of Zeth’s mouth, encasing Hawk in a wall of flames. Hawk screamed as they licked at his skin, burning off layers despite his protective armor.
He claws tore at the fire-breather. Zeth latched onto him and rose into the air. Hawk struggled to break free, but he couldn’t. When Zeth reached the top of the ceiling, he dropped Hawk.
Hawk plummeted. He hit the ground hard and bounced off the metal floor before coming to rest at the bottom of the pit. The room spun. He shook his head to clear it, but the motion didn’t stop. Hawk struggled to his feet and tried to focus. It was no use, so he closed his eyes and used his other senses. He inhaled and instantly found Zeth’s position.
He heard a loud breath, then Hawk dove across the cargo bay floor. Fire hit the spot he’d been standing in, then spread out. Hawk screamed as more skin wrinkled and fried. He forced his eyes open and shook his head again. This time Zeth came into view. Hawk didn’t give him a chance to reposition himself. He launched himself into the air and latched onto Zeth’s legs, pulling him to the ground.
Zeth’s reptilian head whipped around, but this time Hawk was ready for him. He punched the side of his jaw, spinning his scaly head around. Zeth bellowed and flames shot out of his snout.
Hawk scrambled up his back, digging his claw in along the way. By the time he reached the fire-breather’s neck, blood was oozing from all the wounds. Hawk wrapped his hands around Zeth’s throat and shoved his claws in deep.
The drac-shifter struggled to escape. Fire spewed from his mouth, raining down upon them both. It scorched Hawk’s lungs and melted his skin, but he refused to release him. He twisted his claws.
The fire suddenly cut off and Zeth’s head slumped. He gurgled once and exhaled, then he was dead.
Hawk couldn’t move. His body was fused to the shifter’s back. It hurt to breathe, hurt to blink. Opal rushed forward and screamed when she saw him. Her hands flew to her mouth and tears welled in her eyes.
“Get back.” Fallon shoved her away, his gaze scanning the damage.
Hawk saw fear in his First’s eyes. It was worse than he had thought. “Don’t just stand there. Get me off this thing.” He coughed, then began to choke.
“Shadow!” Fallon shouted.
Shadow appeared beside him.
“Do something,” Fallon said.
“I-I...”
Fallon grabbed him by the front of his suit and pulled him around to face him. “I said do something,” he snapped.
Shadow swallowed hard and nodded. “This is going to hurt.” He raised his arms and the symbols began to form words faster and faster. Fire shot out of his fingertips, engulfing Hawk.
Hawk screamed in agony.
“Stop it!” Opal pounded on the Sorce’s back. “You’re killing him.”
Fallon grabbed her.
Suddenly, Hawk was free of the shifter. His body floated into the air. He tried to lift his head, but it took too much effort. He caught a glimpse of Opal sobbing, then Hawk saw nothing at all.
* * * * *
They returned to the ship with Hawk’s body in tow. Fallon ushered everyone inside, then ordered Mars to take off.
“Get him into the med unit,” he said.
Shadow moved Hawk’s body into the unit, then shut the lid. The unit did a quick scan of his vitals and came back with a critical warning.
“What does that mean?” Opal asked.
Fallon looked at her. “It means he’s in bad shape.”
“Is he going to live?” she asked.
Fallon glanced at Shadow. Shadow’s gaze dropped to the floor.
No! They had to be wrong.
Opal’s hearts clenched. She stared down at Hawk, his body almost unrecognizable. He couldn’t die. Not now. She pressed her hands to the outside of the container, willing him to live.
“Can’t you do something?” She turned to Shadow.
“Magic can only do so much when one isn’t a Sorce,” he said. “I’ve used the darkest spells I know just to keep him alive, but...”
“But what?” Opal asked.
“The spell won’t hold. He’s badly injured,” Shadow said. “He needs to shift, but he’s too weak to do so.”
Opal bit her lip. There had to be something they could do. They couldn’t just stand by and let him die. It wasn’t right. She glanced around the small space. Other than a couple of cabinets shoved against the wall and the med unit, there wasn’t anything else in the room.
“You need to leave,” Shadow said, then pulled a shirt out of one of the cabinets and handed it to her.
Opal slipped it over her head, then faced him. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said.
“There’s nothing you can do,” Shadow said.
“I said I’m not leaving,” she snarled.
Fallon looked at her as if it were the first time he was seeing her. “She can stay,” he said, then pressed a button on the wall. A chair unfolded beside the med chamber.
Opal nodded to him, then sat down, her attention already returning to Hawk. He couldn’t die. She wouldn’t let him.
“We can’t leave her in here with the captain,” Shadow said. “It’s not safe.”
“He went back for her,” Fallon said.
“We can’t trust her,” he snarled.
“He fought for her. That mark on her neck is from him.” Fallon looked at Opal. “Besides, she knows what will happen if she tries to harm him.”
Opal ignored them as they left the room. Her sole focus remained on Hawk. “Live, damn you,” she murmured.
The med unit continued to pump oxygen and medicine into the air around Hawk. After an hour, she expected him to start breathing better, but if anything, his breathing had gotten worse.
He moaned in his sleep and scratched at his skin, which brought out more cries of pain.
Opal didn’t bother to hold back her tears. They streamed down her cheeks onto her shirt. She felt helpless as death stalked this once beautiful man.
“No!” She shot to her feet and tapped on the outside of the container. “Do you hear me, Hawk? I said no! You are not getting away from me that easily.”
Opal stripped off her shirt, then dropped it onto the floor. She closed her eyes and embraced the shift. Dark fur covered her skin as her jaw broadened. Sharp teeth filled her mouth and her senses came alive.
She could smell Hawk. The smell of death lingered around him, waiting patiently for him to give up. Opal yowled. Her screech echoed in the small space. She stood on her hind legs, resting her paws on the clear cylinder. She stared down at Hawk, but he didn’t move.
Opal roared again, then scent marked the ground next to the med chamber. She made sure that the scent she left was that of a female cat in heat. She jumped back up so she could watch Hawk’s face.