Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
“You worry about everyone and everything,” Jayce said softly, and lifted his hand to brush her hair away. She’d found some vine when she’d been out with the scavengers last night, and had used it to tie her long dark hair up.
“It’s hard not to worry when it is that worry that keeps us alive, alert.”
He smiled softly. His blond hair was on the shaggy side, and his light blue eyes could be seen, even though shadows surrounded them, giving her this hope that everything would be okay. The small fire in the center of the cave gave off a small amount of light and heat, but she had enough hole-ridden blankets and animal hides on her to stay warm, as did everyone. She also had Jayce by her side, and his body heat helped the chill stay away.
But the hunter that was sent out to find food for them hadn’t returned yet, and as the time moved by at a snail’s pace the more she felt her nerves grow.
“You need to relax. Pylix will be back.”
She knew Jayce was right, and wished she could be like everyone else resting, relaxing already. They’d been on the move this time for three days, moving farther away from the Rogue inhabited cities, and further into the wilderness. But they never could settle in one place for long, not when the risk of being found was too great. And they couldn’t try to find a permanent way to hide with no access to technology.
“I wish we would have known each other in a different time, a different world,” Jayce said softly.
She smiled, knowing she would have loved to know all of these people that she considered her family. After her mother and father died when the Rogues first found them, she’d looked up to Jayce and everyone else, not wanting to lose them either. This was all she knew, they were all she knew, and losing them meant she’d lose a part of herself.
Jayce stared into her eyes, and she knew he was going to speak about the color before he opened his mouth and did just that. “I’ve never seen anyone with such beautiful eyes, Greta,” he said softly, then leaned forward, as if to try to kiss her. She placed a hand on his lips, shaking her head softly.
“Jayce, you know how I feel. I think of you as my brother. I love you, just not that way.”
He smiled from under her fingers, and when she removed her hand he took her wrist in a firm, gentle hold. “It’s just us, Greta, and I know one day you’ll see I’ll make a good husband.” He kissed her open palm, set it on the pallet, and turned around. The silence stretched between them, and she rested on her back, staring at the ceiling again. She’d never feel that way about Jayce, but she hated seeing his emotions for her, the rawness of how he felt, and not being able to give him what he wanted.
She closed her eyes, exhausted, but unable to fully sleep. But as she started relaxing, the sound of running came closer and closer.
Everyone instantly became alert, standing, preparing in case the Rogues found them. Cyrus, the young man that was on lookout this evening, was dripping sweat, out of breath, but looking terrified.
“What is it, Cyrus?” Jayce said.
Cyrus looked between them, wiped the sweat from his eyes, and said, “They’re coming. The Rogues are coming for us.”
2
“A small colony of humans has been detected deep in the mountain.”
Tolcan looked at his second in command during this tracking mission, saw the way focus covered Stellan’s features, and looked back at the mountain in the distance. The technology they had allowed them to see within structures, even if those structures were thick rock. The scanners were able to pick up heartbeats, if any, in dwellings.
“Although they are so deep within the mountain that the heartbeats are faint, almost non-discernable.”
“How many?” Tolcan asked again.
“Maybe ten humans within one small cave.”
“How many fertile females?” Tolcan asked, staring at the opening of the cave. They’d have to go in, because even if there was only one fertile human female they couldn’t risk losing her.
“The scanner picks up at least three.”
If they could be bred, then they were fertile to their kind. The Rogues, a species of humanoid aliens that had come here three decades ago, were in need of females to help populate their kind. They had their own Rogue females, but not nearly enough to help colonize this planet. This was their home now, and mating with the humans meant they could build armies and create warriors.
“How many human males that can be used in the labor camps?”
“According to the scanner all but two are of prime age.”
He nodded but continued to focus on the cave. The labor camps were to have healthy, viable males to work. They were used to build equipment, set up camps, and other things the Rogues deemed lesser. The Rogues could have lived with the humans, could have been civilized, but when they were met with hostility and violence, the only way to retaliate, to survive, was to show they were stronger. In Tolcan’s eyes the years that had passed were enough to have everyone reevaluating what was happening, and to try to work together. But it wasn’t his call. He was an Enforcer, a warrior for his kind, and the Royal class were the ones that called the shots.