Baraj rolled his shoulders, his frown deepening. “Take twenty,” he yelled to his men. “Spread out. Stay aware.”
Only one of the men set up his watch in the shade. These were city dwellers. Had any of them spent time in the desert besides her? Not her problem. Her only concern was staying alive and getting her brother away from their father. Assuming he would come with her.
Her stomach clenched, and not from hunger. Anxiety ate at her. It was just as likely Esau would refuse. And considering he was now eighteen and Helldrick was his father, she really didn’t have any leverage.
“Here.” A flask of water appeared in front of her face. Zaxe stared out across the golden sand, his eyes narrowed against the glare.
She took the water and drank deeply. “What do you think?” She pitched her voice low and angled her head slightly toward Baraj.
“Impatient and out of his element.”
Zaxe had figured that out, too. “But not you?” He seemed more at home than their entourage.
“I’ve been trained to adapt to all environments.” He took the flask from her, turned it around, and drank from the exact same spot, his mouth touching where hers had. It was shockingly intimate. Her lips tingled as the memory of their kiss made her even hotter.
“Who are you, Zaxe?” He was a complete enigma. “And who hired you?” That was an even bigger question.
“I am who life and fate have made me.” He capped the water and slid it back into the pack on his sled.
“That’s a roundabout and pretty way of telling me exactly nothing.”
He shrugged his broad shoulders and continued to scan their surroundings. He should look out of place. After all, he was a stranger here. But he looked totally at home, a part of the land itself, master of all he surveyed.
She shook the fanciful thoughts away. “So, what’s the plan?” Best to concentrate on the practical details. She was good at that.
“Find the outcasts, see if Helldrick is among them or if they have any information, and get out.” He glanced at Baraj, who was leaning against a tree watching them. “Deal with any and all unforeseen problems.”
A shiver went down her spine. Zaxe would kill them if necessary. “And am I an unforeseen problem?”
The heat from his glare should have melted the soles of her boots. “Never.”
“Good to know.” She lifted her sleeve and wiped the sand and sweat from her face. Zaxe continued to watch her for several long seconds before pulling a bag of dried fruit out of his pack. He offered it to her first before helping himself.
As she munched on dried apricots and figs, she studied him, unable to look away. Unlike most men, Zaxe didn’t brag about his skills, seemed to downplay them if anything. That made him even more dangerous. Like a venomous snake, he’d stay hidden, would seem to be sleeping if anyone approached, only to strike and kill his opponent before they knew what hit them.
The fruit stuck in her throat. Retrieving her own flask, she took several sips, not wanting to drink too much. Who knew when they’d run across a water supply. They were venturing where none of them had ever traveled before.
“I’ll be back.” She dismounted from her sled and stalked toward a small stand of low bushes.
“Where are you going?” Baraj demanded.
“To the bathroom. Unlike you, I can’t just whip it out and go.” A couple of the men snickered. “Do you mind?” It was crazy to antagonize the man, but the heat and worry were making her reckless. Or maybe it was having Zaxe with her. Stupid to expect him to protect her.
“Make it fast,” Baraj snapped.
She did just that, not wanting to linger in case he changed his mind and decided he needed to keep a closer eye on her. It would be humiliating for her, which would likely please him.
When she returned to the sleds, the other men were mounted and waiting. “Which way?” Zaxe asked.
While she had never been here herself, she had seen maps from those who had. It would have been easy for her to draw it for him, but then he could have left her behind. Securing her headscarf and goggles, she revved the engine. “Follow me.”
****
Zaxe was worried about Jamaeh. The deeper they went into the desert, the more she withdrew into herself. Was it worry? Or was she leading them into some kind of trap? While she seemed sincere, he didn’t know her well enough to be certain. The tracker he had tucked in his pocket would keep Gravasian command aware of where he was at all times, allowing them to retrace his steps if necessary, if he didn’t survive.
Back at the oasis, he’d wanted to hug her and reassure her that all would be well, but that would have been a lie. There was no telling what might happen. Dusty and tired, she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. The combination of her physical beauty coupled with her courage and determination drew him like a moth to a flame. Best beware and not get singed by the fire.
She seemed to know where she was going, or at least was good at pretending. Baraj and the others were getting anxious the deeper they went into the desert. Reman had sent men without desert survival skills. It was likely he didn’t employ any, living and operating in the city as he did. That might turn into a detriment.
Until Helldrick had been dispatched, he’d take the extra help, all while keeping a watch on his back … and Jamaeh’s. He sensed that she’d never had anyone to protect her. While he’d been on his own during his missions, at least he had the training and equipment necessary to succeed. All she’d had were her wits, pure grit, and the will to survive.
The sun was low in the sky, a burning orange orb, blinding in its beauty. The unending dunes had given way to a combination of rock and sand. They were all tired and the terrain had more places for someone to hide. It was the perfect time and location for an ambush.
He’d no sooner had the thought when the first blast hit. The sled to his left flipped, sending the man on it flying. “Take cover,” he yelled as he pulled his blaster. Not that there was anywhere for them to hide. The land was flat here, rocks rising on either side. They were boxed into a small canyon. If they tried to run, they’d be picked off easily.
Zaxe caught a glint from the rocks above. Taking aim, he fired. A yell was followed by a body pitching from the cliff and plummeting to the ground below. A blast slammed into his chest. Going with the momentum, he flipped from the sled, landed on his knees, and returned fire, dropping another enemy. He heard Jamaeh scream and started to look, but pulled himself back.
Gritting his teeth, he rolled to his right behind a downed sled. The best way to protect her was to kill all the snipers hiding amongst the rocks above. Focus settled on him like a well-worn blanket. All his years of training and missions guided his actions.
Baraj and his men were firing blindly, wasting the charge of the blaster. “Stop firing,” he roared. Some complied, but a couple of the men kept on shooting.
“By the hells of Melton,” he swore as he edged around the small protective barrier. Since they insisted on firing, he’d use it. On each return flash, he fired. One shot, one kill. There were ten down by the time he was done. Reman’s men had either given up fighting or run out of charge in their blasters. Either way, silence reigned.
He listened intently and caught some sounds off to the right. The low rev of an engine got farther away with each passing second. “Stay put,” he yelled. It could be a trap. Sending one man for reinforcements while leaving the rest in position.