Chapter 45: Chapter 45

Laro

Laro was moving gravel into a heap. His hand throbbed, but it was nothing compared to what Raven must be feeling. He pictured her, scared and alone, praying for someone to come to her rescue.

They were all given work detail as punishment for the brawl at the wall. General Dhol didn’t even try to defend himself when they beat him, not until Arenk suggested that he’d traded Raven for a promotion.

That’s when General Dhol turned the tables, beating them until they were unrecognizable. Arenk ended up with a broken jaw and a fractured spine. Laro’s arms and legs were so badly damaged, they thought he might never recover.

“Just forget about—”

“If you finish that sentence, I’ll be stuck out here for another month,” Laro warned, his grip tightening on the shovel handle.

“Touch me, and you’ll be back in the tank. But not before I fuck you bloody in the dirt,” General Fleu threatened.

Laro ran a hand through his hair. “Is she okay?”

“Yes, I’ve told you. I gave her food and water. I even pretended to interrogate her. She’s fine, and you’re safe. That’s all that matters. She said so herself. No matter the cost.”

That phrase never sat well with him, and this time it made his skin crawl.

“What cost exactly?” he asked, continuing to shovel.

General Fleu broke their eye contact.

“It doesn’t matter. What’s done is done. Move on.”

Laro dropped the shovel, and before he knew it, he was standing toe-to-toe with Fleu.

“Tell me now or never speak to me again.”

General Fleu sighed and clicked his tongue. “I took care of the evidence of your relationship.”

The words hit Laro harder than any blow from General Dhol. His body went cold.

“What type of evidence?”

“Laro—”

“Tell me!”

“A youngling—it was a youngling. I was worried about you all being connected.”

“So you killed my youngling? Even though a youngling and their parents are safe?”

“The air was getting thicker, and he felt a twitch in his eye.

“For us, yes. But for an unknown species, it’s not guaranteed. Especially for one who evaded the king. She understood that and agreed with me.”

“What about what I wanted, what Dhol and Arenk wanted? Why didn’t you wait to see what our decision was?! I know I would’ve taken the risk; hell, Arenk was trying to impregnate her.”

“She insisted, and I only had a split second to make a decision. I thought you all had decided this ahead of time.”

He felt sick to his stomach. Why hadn’t they been more careful? Why hadn’t they talked about this possibility? Why couldn’t they protect her?

~Why didn’t I just set her free?~

Laro went back to his task but missed his mark by miles. He would have to reshovel everything he’d missed.

“It’s best to forget about her. There are plenty of other fe—”

The shovel cracked against General Fleu's skull. He fell to the ground, blood pooling around him. Laro’s skin burned, and his chest ached.

***

Dhol

Dhol’s face and body ached as he typed away at his computer. He was willing to take their anger, but not their false accusations. How dare they assume he would do that.

He loved Raven the most. He was the only one who wanted to make an honest woman out of her. Dhol checked the female register list, and she wasn’t listed.

He was high enough in rank to request her, and if he was first, he could have her indefinitely unofficially. If she came up for auction, he would pay whatever he had to.

A loud knock at his door broke his concentration. Before he could give the command to enter, the door swung open and crashed into the wall. He knew who the rude intruder was.

“Your office is as dull as you,” Oito said, examining Dhol’s frame of medals.

“What do you want?”

“To bring you this”—he tossed a black medal onto the desk—“and to invite you to the graduation. Now that you’re a commander, you have to go.”

Dhol pushed the medal back. “I’ll pass.”

“Why? You aided in her capture, didn’t you?” he asked, kicking his feet onto the desk.

“No, I did nothing.”

“Well, the story I told the king was different. He was quite suspicious that she was there, and yet no one called. I spoke your praises, and here is our reward—unless you want this instead.” Oito dug around his pocket.

Dhol stood from his seat and went to the door. “What happened to no one being safe and all will be punished? Take your medal and get out.”

Oito unraveled a small piece of cloth. The scent was faint, but Dhol recognized it—a lovely garden. On closer inspection, he realized it was underwear, her underwear. He clenched his hands.

“You should thank her. She didn’t crack even after my best efforts. Loyal, strong-willed, but stubborn in the worst way. Do you know what I like the most about her?”

Dhol could barely hear him over his heart. The doorknob groaned in his grip.

“That sweet expression and tremor she does when you hit that spot. The first woman I don’t mind being loud.” Oito chuckled.

Dhol smacked Oito’s boots from the desk. “I don’t want to hear about your escapades. Get out.”

“Not even the part when I asked her if she wanted to be Daddy’s little whore, then she soaked my hand and pants?” He smirked.

Dhol kicked Oito’s chair, and it tipped back. Oito managed to flip out of the chair before it hit the ground. His laughter filled the room.

“You trained her well. Be proud. I expect to see you at the graduation tomorrow night. We have the king from Nadia coming. Your expertise will be needed.”

“Get. Out,” Dhol said.

“Show up, or I will take things a lot further with her.”

“And the king will toss you into Midnight.”

He grinned. “Only if you get caught.”

Dhol was at a loss. He was certain he wouldn’t be able to keep his cool if he went, especially if he saw her or saw anyone else lay a hand on her.

“Does she like it from behind?”

“I wouldn’t know,” Dhol replied, his teeth clenched, “If I say yes, will you go?”

Oito nodded.

“See you tomorrow.”

“I’ll bring the girl; maybe we can relive the good old days,” Oito called out from the hallway.