Take Me (16 page)

T
alia rolled over onto her side and groaned. It was no use. Even though it was far past the midnight hour, she could not sleep. She sat up in bed and rubbed a hand across her eyes. They were swollen and stung slightly from the constant state of tears.

Her mind could not let it go, what had happened at dinner with Ryder. How quickly he had changed the moment she'd given him the information.

Restless now, she swung her legs out of bed and went to use the bathroom and rinse her face. When she glanced up into the mirror, her face was pale. Gods, she looked terrible.

You are still the enemy. He will never trust you
. Ines's vindictive words ran through her head again, refreshing her nausea.
You would be a fool to believe that Ryder holds any emotion besides lust for you
.

Oh gods. How would she last here? There was no way she could survive another moment of Ryder's touch, knowing she was nothing but the prisoner whore in his mind.

A series of beeps signaled someone was entering her chamber. Talia jerked her head toward the door of the bathroom. Who was out there?

She took a steadying breath and stepped back into her room.

Krystal stood in the doorway, pale and nervous-looking.

“Krystal? What is the matter? Do you realize what hour it is?”

Krystal crossed the room, pressing a finger to her mouth. “Shhh. Please, you must speak quietly.”

“All right.” Talia lowered her voice and took her friend's hands. “What is the matter?”

“I am leaving tonight.” Krystal's gaze was determined. “I intend to marry Trevon.”

“Marry him?” Talia's stomach twisted. Oh gods. Ryder would lose his mind if he were to find out.

“Yes. I am meeting him shortly. We are running away to a nearby county to exchange vows.”

“I see.” Talia swallowed hard and lowered her gaze, feeling the sting of tears. She would be losing the only friend she had on this planet. “And you have come to say good-bye?”

“No.”

Talia looked up, her brows drawing together. “I do not understand—”

“I have come to set you free, Talia,” Krystal said firmly and squeezed her hands. “I will not leave you here tonight. I will bring you with me.”

Talia's heart skipped a beat and then began a steady thud. “Set me free?”

“Yes. Will you come with me tonight?”

“Krystal…I don't know.” Talia licked her lips. The thought of leaving Ryder tore at her heart, but the idea of being his prisoner for one more day nearly broke her.

“What don't you know? I cannot condone the way Ryder has treated you, Talia.” Krystal shook her head. “It is deplorable. You should never have been brought here as prisoner in the first place.”

“No, please. He had his reasons.” Talia grimaced. Why did she still defend him? Though part of her knew he'd had no choice. She sighed. “If he had not taken me, your planet would still be ignorant to the attack planned.”

“Perhaps, but it does not excuse his treatment of you.” Krystal leaned forward. “Come with me, Talia. I will see that you are put on a pod back to Zortou—”

“No.” Bile rose in her throat and her knees felt suddenly weak. “I will not return. I would prefer you to send me to another planet…somewhere where I can have choices.”

“Gods, I am a fool.” Krystal winced. “I had forgotten the manner in which you were treated. Of course, I will send you to a neighboring planet for sanctuary.”

“Thank you.” Talia bit her lip. This was insane, was it not? Did Krystal realize what she was risking? “Are you sure about this? The trouble you would be creating is not worth—”

“Only if we get caught. And I do not intend for that to happen. Come.” Krystal stood up and began grabbing articles of clothing from the closet. “You must come with me, Talia. It would not be right for me to leave without you.”

Talia didn't reply and stared at her hands. What reason did she have to stay?

“Talia?” Krystal whispered again, more urgently now. “Will you come with me? Please?”

Talia gave a slow nod. If anything, she would go to keep an eye on Krystal. She was not so sure Krystal's faith in Trevon was well placed.

“Yes. I will come with you.”

“Good. I knew you would. We are doing the right thing, Talia.” Krystal began to stuff Talia's clothes into a bag and then slipped the straps over her shoulders.

“I would advise you to put on your warmest dress and a jacket. There is a chill in the night.”

Talia took a deep breath and then slipped off the bed, forcing her feet to move. She dug through the closet until she located a warm dress and pulled it on. After slipping into shoes, she grabbed a heavy jacket and pulled it on over the dress.

“I think that is everything you shall need. Are you ready?” Krystal asked.

Talia bit her lip and glanced around the room one last time. A myriad of emotions swept through her. Regret. Sadness. Resignation.

A bittersweet smile twisted her mouth. She had come to Belton a prisoner; now she was fleeing. Yet her heart would always be Ryder's captive.

She gave a slow nod. “I am ready. Let us go.”

“Good. Please, keep as quiet as possible. We will get out of here, I promise, but it may not be easy.”

Talia groaned.
Of course she tells me this after I have agreed.

They left the room and moved quietly down the hall. Each step they took made Talia's heart pound harder. They moved past Ryder's office and she clenched her teeth, barely breathing. Surely he would open the door and spot them immediately.

They passed by without any such incident happening, and some of the tension eased from her muscles.

She waited at the glass door as Krystal typed in the code. A moment later the door slid open and they hurried outside.

Out on the garden path Talia allowed herself to relax, breathing in the crisp night air. She followed alongside Krystal, keeping quiet until they were a good distance from the building.

Where were they going first? “Where are we headed now, Krystal? To the pod or to meet your lover?”

“We must meet up with Trevon first, and then I will ask him to take us to a pod.” She paused. “And we are not lovers yet, but I intend to remedy that soon enough.”

Talia's stomach twisted and she gave a sharp glance at Krystal. How could she reason with the younger woman when she was so determined? So disillusioned?

She suspected Trevon was an utter louse; it was her gut instinct that had little to do with Ryder's side of the conversation.

“Where do you intend to marry him?” Talia asked, glancing at her. “Will you stay on Belton?”

“I know nothing for sure.” Krystal nibbled on her bottom lip. “Trevon has promised that everything is planned for this evening.”

“Does he know that I will be joining you?”

“No, I did not have the opportunity to inform him, but it will be no bother. I promise.”

The bad feeling in her gut increased and she swallowed. Gods, maybe this hadn't been a good idea. “Are you sure about this, Krystal?”

“Quite sure.” Her tone seemed a little too confident, though.

They walked for a while, finally turning onto a path that led toward some kind of orchard.

The light from the moons faded the deeper they moved into the trees. The sounds of the night grew crisper, the loudest being the strange humming noises coming from unseen insects or bugs.

“He should be here,” Krystal murmured, twisting her hands. “He promised—”

“There you are, baby.”

Talia and Krystal both yelped and spun around.

“Trevon. I was starting to get worried,” Krystal's words were rushed. “I began to think you might not come.”

Trevon laughed. “Not a chance.”

Talia's gaze narrowed on the man strolling down the trail, a bottle of what looked like ale in his hand.

He wasn't an overly large man, smaller than Ryder, but definitely taller than her or Krystal. He was almost pretty with white blond hair that fell across one of his eyes, a round face, and wide eyes.

His obvious intoxication and the blatant lust in his gaze sent an uneasy shiver down Talia's spine. His glance shifted and his eyes locked on Talia.

“Did you bring a friend?” His grin widened as he looked her up and down. “Baby, you sure know what I like. We sure are going to have a good time tonight.”

Talia felt the blood drain from her face. Would Krystal have done such a thing? Brought her out here for…She knew the answer even as the question passed through her head.

No. Besides, Krystal's pinched expression showed she was just as startled by his comments. Annoyance flashed through her and she crossed her arms across her chest, hoping the contempt she felt for him was obvious in her expression.

“Trevon, do not be silly. Talia is not a gift for you.” Krystal's tone indicated her irritation. “She is a prisoner I have set free. I was hoping you could direct me to a pod that might—”

“A prisoner?” He laughed and turned his gaze back to Krystal. “All the better then, baby. She has no choice than to do our bidding.”

He stepped toward Krystal and pulled her hard against him, his mouth lowering toward her. She turned her head and his lips connected with her cheek.

Good girl, Krystal
. Talia took a deep breath, her fists clenched at her side.

“You reek of alcohol. You promised you would not drink again.” Krystal's voice shook. “And where is your bag, Trevon? I thought we were to elope tonight.”

His lips curled downward in a sneer. Obviously he was not pleased by her rebuff. “Elope? That was just an excuse to get you alone tonight.”

Talia sucked in a quick breath, her gaze darting to Krystal. The other woman's jaw went hard and her eyes narrowed.

“So you are a prisoner, my pet?” Trevon turned away from Krystal and directed his attention at Talia.

Talia's eyes narrowed as he circled her. The urge to taunt him was too great. To retaliate for any emotional pain his actions might have caused Krystal.

“This is the man you intended to marry, Krystal?” She forced out a light laugh. “I would encourage you to think twice in the future about the men you date.”

Trevon's teeth snapped together. “Why don't you shut that pretty mouth of yours, prisoner. You're much more attractive when you're not speaking.” He gave a hard smile and lowered his gaze to her breasts. “And you'll do just fine where Krystal lacks. Gods, look at those tits. Definitely more than a handful.”

He reached out to touch them, but Talia was prepared, slapping his hand away with force.

“You go too far,” Krystal snapped. She strode forward and grabbed him by the shirt, dragging him away from Talia. “What was I thinking? You are exactly as my brother and Dillon warned me. A pathetic leech.”

Her gaze locked on Talia's and Talia nodded. Thank gods the woman had come to her senses.

“Pathetic leech?” he repeated, his voice rising. “They are envious of my money—everyone is.”

“Believe what you must, Trevon.” Krystal's tone was sarcastic now.

With Trevon's back facing her, Talia waved her hand, encouraging Krystal to come to her.

Krystal gave a quick nod. “It does not matter, we will be leaving now. It was foolish of me to agree to come out tonight, Trevon. You are obviously not the man I thought you were.”

She strode past him and Talia felt the tension ease from her shoulders.

“I don't think so, baby.” Trevon's arm snaked around Krystal's waist and he jerked her back around.

Oh gods
. Talia's breath locked in her throat.
Foolish!
They'd been so foolish to come out tonight.

“I have been waiting for months to try out your tight little cunt, you fucking prude. I do not intend to leave here tonight until I have done so.”

The force and anger behind his words, and how he squeezed Krystal's breast until she cried out, sparked Talia into action.

“You'll leave now.” She came up behind them, her fist balled and arcing toward the side of his head.

Before her hand could connect, he spun and backhanded her, sending her flying backward.

“Oh!” Talia cried out. Her foot caught on a tree root and then her body was in the air.

Her head smashed hard against the side of the tree, and she went blind in an explosion of lights.

“Oh gods! Look what you have done!”

She heard Krystal's hysterical cry and wanted to sit up, but her body felt heavy. The lights faded and a thick darkness started to fill her head.

“She'll live. And when she wakes up we'll include her in the festivities. But for now, baby, why don't you and I get better acquainted?”