“It’s going to be okay,” I assure her. “The other mort-like men we saw didn’t have masks. There has to be a reason why they could survive. This is the least of our concerns.”
She rips her mask off before I can stop her. “If you die, I die.”
I’m annoyed, but then her lips are on mine, kissing me like this is our last solar alive. The Kevin’s blood can be tasted in our kiss, but neither of us cares as we consume the other.
“How did you escape?” I ask, pressing my forehead to hers.
“Julie must have stolen one of the ships. As soon as I saw the ship shooting at the men, I hid in a crevasse to avoid getting shot. Then, I ran past them and out into the opening looking for you. The dust was everywhere. We must have crossed paths and didn’t even realize it.”
“Are they all perished?” I ask, glancing around.
“I fucking hope so.”
Our mouths meet for another desperate kiss. She tastes too good. Mine. When I falter on my feet, she slides down to her feet.
“You need to rest,” she croons. “You’re swaying.”
“I’m fine,” I grumble. “We should get Julie and head back inside.”
A steady hum of an engine pierces the air. I pull Zoe away from the sound and we watch as Julie navigates it toward the cave opening that leads to the prison. It’s too big to fit inside, so she shuts it off once she’s close. Zoe and I hold hands as we walk back. The side door opens with a swoosh and then steps descend.
“Hey, Av? Zoe?” Julie calls out. “Get your asses in here!”
We both take off running. I’m growing weaker by the second, but I don’t stop. The steps are daunting, but Zoe practically drags me up them and into the hull of the ship.
“Found this one hiding,” Julie barks out, shoving a small Kevin toward me.
My sub-bones start popping. The need to protect my mate is overwhelming.
“We’re taking him prisoner?” Zoe asks, unease in her tone.
“No,” I growl. “He’s going to die like the rest of them. I’m going to tear out his throat with my rekking teeth!”
The Kevin starts to cry. I admit the sound scratches at my mind. It’s soft and young. I pause mid-step. Zoe grabs my arm, keeping me in place.
“Julie,” Zoe hisses. “He’s a kid. Why is there a kid on this ship?”
She’s right. He’s not large and menacing like the others I’ve encountered. The thing is tiny and trembles an awful lot. With each movement, he winces as though he’s in pain.
“How old are you?” I ask the Kevin.
“T-Thirteen,” he croaks out.
I lift a brow at him. “Why are you here?”
“M-My master t-takes me on missions.”
I frown at Julie.
Zoe rushes forward. “For what? Why does he take you?”
The human boy looks up with tears in his eyes, shame painting his cheeks red. “F-For p-pleasure.”
Realization that they used the boy in the same way many of the females were used makes me want to rage.
Confusion burrows its way into my gut at my intense reaction. I crave to kill all Kevins. But this one doesn’t count. He’s just a child. One they hurt.
“What’s your name, Kevin?” I demand.
He gapes at me. “You know my name?”
“No, I want to know your name.”
The boy shoots Zoe a questioning look.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Zoe mutters. “Your name is Kevin?”
The child nods, tears streaking down his dirty cheeks.
That’s…interesting.
“Who was your master?” Julie asks, her tone gentler.
“H-His name is Roscoe. Can you h-help me? P-Please don’t l-let him t-take me again,” the boy pleads, choking on his sobs.
A Kevin named Kevin who’s been kept like a prisoner by a Kevin.
Perhaps I’m having a fevered dream and I’ll wake up soon.
I walk over to the boy, gripping his jaw and tilting his nog up so I can assess him for damages. A purple bruise on his tearstained cheek. A split lip that looks fresh. Dark circles beneath his big brown eyes. His features are soft and his lashes are long. Dark hair curls around his face. It makes me think of how fragile my mate is.
“I ripped his throat out with my teeth,” I tell the boy named Kevin, my eyes pinning him. “You’ll be safe now.”
He breaks free of my hold, hugging my middle. Something tightens inside my chest. The feral need to destroy has waned as my instinct to nurture and protect rears to the surface once more.
“Thank you,” he whispers, his tiny body trembling.
I pat his furry nog. “Let’s get you to the Medical Bay and check you over.”
“We could get information from him,” Julie says, her voice hitching with excitement. Kevin tenses in my arms. “Just think about everything we could learn from him. He rode around with that bastard on missions. He’s probably overheard so much. Hell, he could tell us—”