Star's Storm: Lords of Kassis Book 2 by S. E. Smith Page B

in Kassis. Star.
    His hand fell weakly to his side. “Stop
them. Tell them to leave me here. Contact them and tell them
whatever you have to but make sure they do…. not…. come…. here!”
Jazin bit out savagely. “Now! Before it is too late.”
    Jarmen turned to look at Jazin puzzled. “It
is already too late. I have been monitoring the star ship we
modified. They are not only on the surface of the planet, but at
least three of them have disembarked from it. I do not know their
location at this moment. They do not have a communications device
activated.”
    “Damn you,” Jazin cursed trying to stand
weakly. “You have to find her. You have to stop her before she gets
herself captured or killed.”
    “Who?” Jarmen asked puzzled.
    The huge Tearnat looked more than capable
of protecting herself, Jarmen thought in confusion. He rose and
grabbed hold of Jazin’s arm when he staggered drunkenly.
    “Star!” Jazin hissed in frustration and
fear. “My mate! Star is the warrior Madas was talking about, not my
brother, father, or warriors. She is sending Star in. I’m going to
kill that lizard if anything happens to my mate,” he vowed, shaking
off Jarmen's hand as he tried to make his way to the door.
    He had only walked a couple of steps before
his legs gave out on him and he sank to his knees. His fists
pounded weakly into the cold, hard floor in rage and helplessness.
He couldn’t even walk much less fight, how was he supposed to stop
his mate from trying to rescue him. It was a suicide mission.
    “I will do what I can,” Jarmen said helping
Jazin back up and gently settling him back against the wall.
    “I won’t last another beating,” Jazin said
in a tired, dead voice. “It is better for her to leave me. I can’t
even walk. There is no way I can make it out of here without
getting her killed.”
    “You are not alone. With help, we will get
you out,” Jarmen said stubbornly. “You made me believe in you. Now
it is time for you to believe in me,” the normally calm voice
sounded harsher, gruffer than Jazin had ever heard it before.
    “I can’t lose her,” Jazin said quietly. “If
Tai Tek gets his hands on her, I would give him anything he wanted.
Even then, he would still kill her. You have to promise me....,” he
said swallowing the bile that rose in his throat. “You have to
promise me that you will protect her with your life and,” he paused
again as his throat tightened in grief. “You have to promise if she
is captured you will kill her swiftly before Tai Tek can harm her.
I won’t let him torture her.”
    Jarmen frowned as he watched the emotions
flickering over Jazin’s face. “You would have me kill your mate if
she is captured?” He asked in a tight voice.
    “Yes,” Jazin responded softly. “You’ve read
the reports of what Tai Tek has done to other females. I… won’t let
that happen to my Star.”
    Jarmen’s mind brought up the reports he had
downloaded from Tai Tek’s personal files. That was another thing
they had worked on this last visit. It had taken Jarmen a while but
he had finally been able to hack into Tai Tek’s private accounts to
help locate him and determine what he was up to. In those files
were records of the hideous things the ex-councilman had done to
some of the women in his House.
    “I promise,” Jarmen said reluctantly. “I
will not let your mate suffer.”
    “Thank you,” Jazin said staring blindly up
at the ceiling. “Please keep her safe,” he whispered on a quiet
prayer.

Chapter 10
    Star leaned forward and wiped the sweat
beading on her forehead away against her sleeve as she balanced on
the narrow ledge she had stopped at to rest for a moment. She
looked up at the side of the cliff they were scaling. They were
almost to the top, thank goodness. They had landed a short distance
away not wanting to take a chance of being seen disembarking from
the star ship. It might be invisible to the eye but they were not.
She could tell Armet had fought