Jazin’s eyes narrowed and he growled again. “Go!” He snarled turning with Star in his arms still.
“Put me down,” Star begged. “We can move faster if I follow you.”
Jazin shook his head forcibly but Star pushed against him, pleading softly, until he reluctantly let her slide down his long length. Even as her feet touched the ground his fingers locked around her wrist like an iron shackle. She barely had time to scoop up her crossbow before she was pulled through the door and into the dark corridor.
“This way,” Dakar muttered. “There is a hidden set of steps. If we are lucky, Tai Tek won’t be aware of them.”
Chapter 13
Star’s side hurt but she refused to complain or slow down. Not that she had much choice in the matter. Jazin was being a wild man at the moment. The narrow, hidden passage at the opposite end of the corridor had been a surprise. It reminded Star of some of the hidden passages in the English castles her, Jo, and River toured one summer between shows. The architecture was very similar making her wonder if perhaps humans were really the descendants of aliens after all.
She stumbled as they neared the top. Jazin immediately whipped around and wrapped his other arm around her pressing her against the wall. He buried his nose in her neck and licked a drop of sweat as it trailed down along the side of her silky skin. He pressed closer, grinding his pelvis into hers. She choked back the squeak of surprise that threatened to alert everyone in the fortress to their location when she felt his hard erection.
“You have got to be joking me!” She hissed out, wiggling in an effort to get free. “You are horny? Now?”
Madas soft chuckle barely reached her ears but it was enough to let her know that her friend heard her startled exclamation. Star’s face burned with embarrassment. Jazin continued to rub against her, licking and sucking on her neck, shoulder and earlobe like they were a couple of horny teenagers in the back of a matinee.
“Will you stop that!” Star hissed in his ear as his hand reached up under her shirt searching for her breast.
Dakar rolled his eyes before he motioned for Madas to go ahead of him. “I told you the medicine makes him more aggressive.”
“Aggressive I can understand. But horny?” Star muttered as she fought to grab the hand that had found her small breast and was pulling at her nipple. She moaned as she felt her body respond. “Jazin not now, damn it!”
“Someone comes!” Madas hissed out pressing back against the dark opening.
Ten guards came rushing down the corridor. A silent curse burst from Dakar’s lips before he let out a roar of rage and pulled his laser sword. In such close confines, the laser pistol would be too dangerous. The blasts would ricochet off the smooth, polished walls like sunlight on a mirror. He cut three down almost immediately before the others regrouped and fought back. Madas charged into the melee, swirling and slicing with her sharp claws and slamming attackers back with her tail. Three of the guards circled around, spying Jazin. Star’s eyes blazed with pure hatred when she saw one with a long, lighted whip he was unfurling.
“Oh, like hell no!” She snapped out, raising the crossbow over Jazin’s shoulder and releasing an arrow.
The guard dropped the laser whip and grabbed his chest. He looked at Star’s blazing eyes in disbelief before he fell backwards, dead. Star wasn’t finished. She released two additional arrows. One pierce the throat of the other guard while the other hit the third guard in the shoulder, knocking him backwards into Madas who turned and swiped her unsheathed claws across his neck.
Jazin released Star, thrusting her behind him as two more guards came at him. He snarled, charging at them. He rolled at the last minute, snatching up the laser whip and flowed back to his feet behind them. With a flick of his wrist, he wrapped one end of the whip around one of the guard’s neck and pulled it back with an adrenaline filled jerk. The man’s body continued forward even as his severed head fell backwards. Star’s scream echoed in the corridor as she watched in horror. The second guard rushed for Star, determined to use her as a shield. He never made it. Jazin jumped, landing on his back and twisting his neck with a savage jerk.
He looked up into Star’s horrified eyes and snarled. “Mine! Mine to protect.”
He stood up and walked toward where she was pressed against the wall. He stopped in front of her and gazed down into her light blue eyes for what seemed an eternity. For a moment, doubt and reason fought for control of his drug-crazed mind.
“Star,” Jazin muttered in a small, confused voice.
Star could see Jazin fighting for sanity. For just a brief second, she saw his eyes clear and concern and love shine through the medicine coursing through his system. She lifted her hand and gently touched his cheek, a small smile of understanding curved her lips.