Warriors' Providence (Cadi Warriors Book 2)(98)

"No. No. DAGAA" Providence screamed her voice breaking as the doors sealed shut.





13 No Way Out




Dagaa

Dagaa heard Providence's cries as he walked away from their starship. The desperate strident sound tore at his soul. Never in Dagaa's wildest nightmares had he ever thought he'd hear his bonded scream for him in such a heart-rending way. His teeth gritted as he forced himself to put one foot in front of the other, moving forward. The primal part of his psyche demanded he turn around and ease her pain, to rip to shreds the cause of her anguish.

But Providence was the main reason he was doing this.

He would make every effort to reach the Toufik, but he knew his chances were slim to none. More than anything Dagaa hoped like hell he could distract the Jurou Biljana long enough for Madhava to come up with a way to get the hell out of here.

Dagaa's eyes closed as he heard the loading bay doors close, knowing the shield was now fully engaged.

Dagaa surmised the Jurou Biljana saw him as he strode towards the two remaining rota. There was no mistaking he was a Cadi male. Their curiosity was obviously peaked since they hadn't fired on him quite yet.

Several scenarios ran through Dagaa's mind as the brutal wind whipped him. Either the overgrown reptiles would destroy the rota and him along with it, then go after their old ship, or they'd ignore him and still go after the ship. Still Providence was safest in the starship unless the Jurou Biljana opted to take revenge and annihilate the vessel. But he doubted Madhava would allow that. If anyone had a chance against the Jurou Biljana, Madhava did.

"Please let them want the ship more than revenge." Dagaa prayed to the Goddess as he hitched the second rota to the transport he'd be piloting.

Dagaa looked north as he engaged the rota and lifted off the ground. The massive storm threatened to end this foolishness before either side could solve this conflict. As it was, they had been cutting it close. If he wasn't back with the others before the storm got to a critical point... Madhava knew what had to be done.

Dagaa thought about Providence and Madhava as he pushed the rota over the terrain. His heart twisted. Fate was so damn fickle. Yet he couldn't curse fate, it had brought Providence into his life and showered him with a soul deep joy that he'd never believed possible. If all that he treasured was going to be cruelly ripped away, Dagaa couldn't imagine leaving his mate in better hands, Madhava, the brother he'd never expected.

Once upon a time Dagaa's greatest fear was being shut out and left behind. But here on this distant dying planet with the enemy breathing down their necks, facing his greatest fear was the one thing he could do for the brother of his heart and the love of his life. Dagaa's only regret was that he hadn't kissed Providence's sweet lips one more time before going on this fool’s errand.

Dagaa shook his head, he couldn't think that way, he wasn't in his grave quite yet.

Dagaa wasn't surprised at all by the sudden flash and thundering crash in the rear of the vehicle.

"Fuck!" Dagaa growled.

He attempted futilely to control the rota, but it pitched and started tumbling end over end, slamming into the rocky landscape with each flip, before finally coming to rest.

The last thing Dagaa saw before everything dimmed was a pair of emerald eyes haloed by fiery red hair.



Madhava

Madhava held Providence, sobbing and trembling in his arms, as he walked to the control room. He couldn't believe the Agurtzane had abandoned them so quickly, and yet he also couldn't blame them. This wasn't their fight.

"We have to stop him." Providence wailed as they passed dozens of Toufik huddled in the corridor.

As much as Madhava might agree, he knew that Dagaa was giving him the precious extra moments to possibly even the score.

"Let me down!" Providence pounded at his chest. "We have to do something. He's going to get himself killed." She cried.

"Providence, Dagaa knew what he was risking." Madhava stated as he entered the control room.

Providence looked at him with wet, puffy, red eyes. She opened her mouth and gasped, then gasped again, like she was choking or hyperventilating.

"No NO." Providence shook her head wildly. She struck his chest again with her small fist, pounding him in her anguish. "How dare you! How could you let him?" Providence struggled to get free.

"I'm doing exactly what I gave my oath to do." Madhava said as he held her against him while he sat next to Ashtoret at the console.

"Damn your oath! I don't need you protecting me at Dagaa's expense. I'm not somehow more important." Providence insisted as she fought him to release her.

"I didn't just make that oath to you beautiful. Dagaa and I promised each other that should something happen to either of us, you'd be safe. And because I love my brother I will uphold that oath."