Kríe Captivity (The Nira Chronicles Book 1) (12 page)

Alec’s team peered warily up at the sky, while Gesh’s pack barely batted a lash. Evidently, the competence of those sentries preceded them.

“How do they ward them off?” Bailey asked, stumbling into Jamis. Someone needed to watch where he was going.

“Wait and see.” Gesh grinned. “I am certain you will like this.”

Not two seconds later, the flyers flew into view, a trio of them, just like before. Guess dragons on Nira liked to travel in threes. Alec tensed, their keening cries sending goosebumps down his spine. But just as they twisted, readying to dive, sleek projectiles nailed them in the side. Shrieking, they jerked, then plummeted out of sight somewhere behind the mountain’s steep horizon.

“Damn,” Chet muttered. “What kind of shots were those?”

Jamis eyed the sky. “Yeah. Didn’t see any blood.”

“Electric-charged darts,” Roni answered, walking over. “Effective and very powerful.”

“Electric?” Alec couldn’t help sounding surprised. These Kríe were more advanced that he’d thought.

“Tah. Harnessed from the province’s windways and waterfalls.”

“Of course,” Alec murmured. “Kinetic energy.”

Roni nodded. “It is useful for many things, including the defense against invaders.”

“Invaders?” Chet asked, back to scanning the sky. Having a military background a lot like Alec, it was no wonder civil conflict piqued his interest.

It definitely piqued Alec’s. Made him wonder what kind of fighting took place there on Nira.

“Tah.” Roni nodded again. “But few get in. All who enter must do so through this passage. Which, as you can see, is quite easy to defend. The rest of the realm is protected by mountains.”

“Manned by sentinels,” Zaden muttered grimly. “Packing some serious firepower.”

“Tah.” Roni grinned.  

“Which means escaping would be just as hard as getting in.”

The Kríe’s smirk faded to a solemn frown, clearing understanding Z’s meaning. “Tah,” he confirmed, glancing briefly at Chet. “Tah. That is correct.”

Conversation pretty much died after that. Probably because everyone was thinking the same thing. The team was about to enter a domain that they might never come back out of. Alec looked at Zaden. Zaden held his worried gaze. Then both men got back to sawing.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

* * *

Unfortunately, those damn rocks fell apart before the ropes did. Stupid things only held up for an hour. To be fair, Alec
had
been working his rather furiously. But damn it, they were running out of time. Already he could see the huge gates approaching, the narrow gorge filling with more travelers. 

Bailey exhaled loudly a few feet ahead. “Well I guess this is it, Jamis. End of the line.”

He looked at his friend. Jamis held his dispirited gaze. But then a smile tugged at Jamis’ lips.

“It was really nice knowing you, Bailey. And for what it’s worth, your dick felt really good in my ass.”

Bailey blinked. Then flushed. Then boyishly grinned. “Yeah, well, your ass felt really good around my dick. And truth be told, you give awesome head.”

Fighting back grins, they playfully bumped shoulders, but just as quickly, sobered back up.

“We’re gonna get through this, Bailey. Our journey doesn’t end here. As long as we manage to stick together, we’ll find a way to survive.” Jamis gave his friend another small smile. “We’re smart like that. Can work the system. Even if things get rough.” His eyes slid back to the nearing gates. “Besides, just think about all the shit we’ll learn. As long as they’re not torturing us or harvesting our parts, this could be an incredible opportunity. To be imbedded so deeply in an alien culture?” He nudged Bailey’s shoulder a second time. “Talk about an explorer’s wet dream.”

Bailey chuckled softly and nodded his head. “Yeah, I know, you big goofy homo. And you’re right. We just need to keep all this shit in perspective.
Positive
perspective, if possible.”

Jamis smiled at his friend, then resumed scanning their surroundings.

The closer they got to that big ominous entrance, the busier the area became. Mostly with Kríe, but Alec noticed other species, too. The majority weren’t as big, though. Closer to human size or smaller. In fact, as far as Alec could tell, Kríe were the biggest species of all. Which pretty much by default gave them a high-ranking presence, as well as an air of superiority. Not just from their size, though, but because this region was unquestionably their domain. Their turf. For every one creature of another sort, there were at least two dozen Kríe.

Alec peered at the massive gates as they readied to pass through them, his heart pounding anxiously in his chest. At ten meters tall, they towered above, stretching across the entire ravine. Easily twenty meters wide, possibly more, and made of what looked like rubbed bronze. Combine all said traits and those big motherfuckers exuded not just majesty, but dominance. That and a shit ton of straight-up testosterone. Raw and unadulterated.

Which made something else occur to Alec. Scanning those around him milling about, his lips parted in baffled realization. There were no females present. Anywhere. At all. As far as the eye could see. And the eye could see pretty damn far, as it were, now that they had entered inside. Almost immediately the narrow walls had cut away, opening to a huge stretch of land. A massive, flat valley that reached for miles around. Alec scanned straight ahead, then left and right. Even glanced back over his shoulder. But he still didn’t spot a single female. Unless they looked exactly like the males. Which was possible, but for some reason he sort of doubted it. Were they not allowed to roam freely? Were they considered inferior? Honestly, who knew how things worked in Kríe culture. For all he knew, they were the ones in charge, controlling things from their hidden pedestals.

Oh, whatever. Alec supposed it didn’t matter. He had way more pressing matters to worry about. Like where his team was headed from there.

He looked to the huge structure looming in the distance that resembled some high-fantasy castle. But not like Cinderella’s. More like Maleficent’s. No, despite being well-kept and majestically adorned, he got the impression that this kind of castle had dungeons. And guillotines.

Every muscle tensing, Alec forced his gaze away. His team may be headed straight for that imposing beast, but they weren’t at its doorstep yet. He’d keep his mind off the ominously imminent for as long as humanly possible.

Fortunately, there was a hell of a lot to distract him. Everywhere he looked there were countless things to see. Nirans of every shape and color in what looked to be some sort of town market. Tittering, chortling, squabbling as they bartered. Or if Kríe, chuffing and bossing others around. Alec studied the different walks of life, fascinated by their very existence. But boy, did they exist, and in huge fricking numbers. A sea of diversity in every direction, teeming with colorful activity.

And God, the aromas, the aromas from the flea fair were just as eclectic as its patrons. The teal-haired male coming up on Alec’s right was selling something that smelled incredible. Kind of reminded him of roasted pork and cranberries. A variant of the fruit he’d had for breakfast? His stomach rumbled. Well, it did for a second. But then he passed a scale-skinned fellow peddling something that reeked of dirty socks.

Alec grimaced and looked away, only to discover that Nirans all around were starting to stare. At first they seemed surprised, then curious, then…
something else
. Alec shifted uneasily, not liking the scrutiny. If he didn’t know better, he’d say they were sizing his team up for meals. That, or rigorous fucks. Thing was, he
didn’t
really know better, did he. Thinking back, Gesh
had
said he found Alec’s species delicious. Alluring even, as the big Kríe put it. Would other Nirans feel the same way, too? Alec grit his teeth and avoided making eye contact. Definitely didn’t want to encourage them.

Another half hour of walking passed when he noticed a maroon male to his left. Big and barrel-chested, he had
two
sets of horns, but just as noticeable were his tusks and small snout. Standing outside an open tent, he beckoned the masses to come buy his goods. Body adornments and accessories of every sort, made of different metals and hide. Piercings, arm cuffs, chest straps, belts… Alec studied the items closely as he passed the male’s stand, then looked ahead to examine his captors. What do you know, they were wearing similar items. Had they gotten their stuff there? Probably. Would make sense. Oh, who fucking cared. Certainly not him, when they were suddenly just minutes from that mammoth.

Alec stared at the castle, no longer able to look away. Goddamn, that fucker was enormous. He took it in further, studying its exterior. While it didn’t have a mote and drawbridge like medieval strongholds, it
did
have a protective stone wall. And that protective wall
did
have four corner towers built into its white-washed sides. Beyond was the money, though. The huge, central keep, laden with regal, arched openings. Out of nowhere, Alec imagined himself peering out one of the windows. How many people would a fortress like that sleep? A hundred? Two hundred? Maybe even more? Funny thing, though, was how it not only oozed doom, but an inspiring kind of splendor, too. It was gothic. It was grandeur. It was “oh, fuck” and “wow.”

Alec exhaled warily as they continued their approach, the regal gate opening without warning. A stream of patrol guards immediately emerged. Alec watched as they passed and headed toward town, decked out in every kind of black. Black arm bracers. Shin guards. Large, protective kilts. Black shoulder armor and straps across their chests. Yet, even without all that garb bulking them up, they still were easily just as big as Gesh. Who, at the moment, was eyeing them coolly as he led Alec’s team to their fate.

Alec glared at the Kríe, ire rising with his stress. Right after those flyers had gotten shot down, Gesh left Noah’s side and never came back. Like he wasn’t just trying to put physical distance between them, but an emotional kind of distance, too. Afraid he might get even more attached? Would certainly explain his adamance to stay on schedule. The less time he spent with Noah, the less besotted he’d ultimately become. Hell, maybe even guilt was starting to mess with him. Another reason for his cold-shoulder behavior.

Alec frowned. Come to think of it,
all
of the Kríe were exhibiting similar behavior. He glowered at their backs. Guess they wanted to make sure they had time to ready their “blind eyes” for “turning.” That and to pack their cold friggin’ hearts with a whole lot of motherfucking ice.

Bastards.

Even now he couldn’t believe Gesh was really going to sell them. And that his pack was just going to stand there and let him. A sigh left his lungs. What was he saying. Of course he could believe it. It just pissed him off that there was nothing he could do about it.

He scowled down at his hands as that damn leash tugged them along, cursing those useless freaking rocks. He’d needed them. They’d been his only hope. Now what the hell was he going to do?

Gesh slowed things to a stop as they reached the dark bronze doors, swapping brief words with the stationed guards. They eyed his “goods,” then inclined their heads in consent. Two remained watchful to market activity while two others opened the way. Gesh’s pack and Alec’s team were led through a courtyard and up to the castle’s main entrance. More rubbed bronze, but on a larger scale. Slowly, the two gigantic doors parted, but not for dramatic effect. More like because those twin behemoths weighed a couple gazillion tons. Seriously. They were at least five meters high and definitely a good foot thick.

The guards led them into an expansive front foyer decked out in more goth-esque opulence. Wrought iron chandeliers with pristine white candles, hanging low from tall, vaulted ceilings. Kríe statues half-nestled into white-stone walls, each holding a pot of cascading flora. Alec eyed the things, then spotted even more above, peering down like gargoyles from a ledge. Except these weren’t grotesque. Not even close. Just elegantly eerie…

Continuing on, they were escorted further back to a gargantuan room Alec assumed was the main hall. It was similarly decorated, but with a bit more oomph, and teeming with a shit ton of merchants. Alec regarded them as they talked, then checked out their wares, gathering that it was broker day at the castle. Evidently the king was a recluse who liked to shop in private. And what a wide range of shopping he must do. The hall smelled of everything from animals and hide, to ironware and woodcrafts, to fruit.

The guards led them over to an open spot.

“The king will be with you soon.”

The team glanced around, their expressions beyond bleak.

“Jesus,” Zaden muttered. “This is fucking surreal.”

Chet’s jaw ticked. “We’ve been reduced to goddamn livestock.”

The trio, however, was still fairly distracted, taking in every little detail. But soon Noah’s brown eyes made their way back to Gesh. The Kríe muttered quietly with the males of his pack, none of them looking especially happy. Was their guilt eating holes in them, or were they merely put off by the wait? After all, Gesh liked his tight fucking schedules. That much was painfully clear.

The pack leader’s gaze flicked abruptly to Noah. Noah held it till Gesh frowned and looked away. Shoulders drooping, Noah frowned, too, mouthing “fucking coward,” then turned back to study the crowd.

“Fuck,” Bailey cursed. “I wish I had my smart pad. I’d’ve taken fifty pictures by now.”

Chet narrowed his eyes and shoved over to the pack. “Yeah. When the fuck do we get all our stuff back?”

Gesh curtly looked him over. Roni smirked and crossed his arms. “I told you, my bitch. All your stuff is now ours.”

Chet stiffened, then bristled from head to toe. “Like hell it is. That shit’s fucking ours. And I’m not your bitch,
bitch
. You’re selling me.”

An emotion Alec couldn’t place fell over Roni’s features as Gesh angrily stared Chet down. “It is
not
yours. We appropriated it. It is ours now to keep.”

“Fuck you, Gesh,” Chet bit out, his face turning red.

Gesh growled. “Hold your tongue, or I vow to Nira that I will muzzle you in front of all present.”

Chet leveled him with a lethal glare, but didn’t say another word.

Roni sighed and shook his head. “Either way, it does not matter. We did not bring your things along.”

Chet stepped in close. “Well then maybe,” he muttered. “You should take us back so we can get it before you ditch us.”

Roni frowned, gazing down into his angry gray eyes. “I would, little kensa, if I were able. I would like to take you back very much.”

Chet pursed his lips in blatant frustration. “Fuck!” he barked, rubbing his skull. “Why not just bend us all over right now? For one final ass fuck without lube.”

Roni cocked his head, clearly trying to decipher Chet’s meaning.

Chet scowled and cussed again. “Nevermind. Just fucking forget it.”

“Chet,” Roni rumbled softly.

Chet cut him a scathing look. “Don’t fucking talk to me. Like ever.”

The guards to their left snapped to rigid attention. “Zercy approaches. Receive your king.”

Alec turned in the direction the Kríe were looking and instantly spotted the male. He was headed their way as he spoke with another. His aid, maybe? An advisor? Maybe his second in command. Alec took in the sight of him, instantly captivated. Because even though he was Kríe, the same as Gesh, his air was completely different. Not only was he much more refined and lean—though he still packed a boatload of muscle—but his posture and grooming were impeccable. And man, did his towering frame exude imperialism. Power. Ambition. It rolled off him in waves. Like some otherworldly Julius Caesar.