Free Captivated: 3 (Mating Ritual) by Ria Candro

Couldn’t fathom it. But one thing was for certain. She didn’t have the luxury of time to just stand here and try to take it all in. She had to leave. Now.
    If only she knew where to go.
    Go the way you came. Leave this town. Protect its people.
    Since that seemed about as good a plan as any, she turned and started to run to the side of the barn. It was the first sight she’d seen that fateful day, two years ago, when she stumbled through the stark, deserted land after crashing her spacejet. So she would run back through the field, retrace her steps, until she found sanctuary.
    Who was she kidding? She knew all too well there was no sanctuary to be found, not for miles and miles. More than likely she’d be running until the Malucons caught and killed her.
    But just as she reached the corner of the barn, four men rounded it, and she propelled into them at full force. She screamed, the sound muffled against the broad chest her face was buried in, but when she started to struggle, a familiar voice calmed her.
    “It’s me. Cindra, it’s just us.”
    “Bannor,” she gasped. Lifting her head, she met his gaze. Her limbs went weak. She’d never been so happy to see anyone in her whole life. But much as she wanted to indulge in the feel of his arms, she couldn’t. “I’m sorry, I can’t. I…I have to leave. I’m being—”
    “Malucons,” Bannor uttered, stopping her in midsentence. When she looked up at him, eyes wide, Devan chimed in.
    “We saw them as they entered town. Saw when they noticed you.”
    So they knew. They understood.
    “They’ll kill me,” she whispered.
    “Not if we can help it,” Tempos muttered, his eyes flashing darkly.
    When Cindra’s gaze wandered to him, Bannor’s hands closed over her arms, urging her gaze back to him.
    “Come with us, Cindra. We have a transporter. We can be back on our ship and away from this world in a matter of seconds. By the time they go after us, we’ll be long gone.”
    “I…” Flabbergasted, she only stared at him. Their offer was more than she could have asked for at a time like this, but if she went with them, she would endanger their lives. She couldn’t do that to them. “No, I—”
    “You can’t stay here, Cindra,” Bannor growled, his expression wild. “None of the town members will be safe if you do.”
    “Especially your precious Adamon,” Stefon rumbled, his gaze hard.
    Shocked, she blinked at the men. They thought she was worried about Adamon’s safety, when truly she’d been worrying for them?
    They were right, however. If she stayed, no one was safe. Adamon may have lied to her, but he’d also given her shelter. A home. He didn’t deserve to be put in danger. His parents didn’t deserve it. If she left, they would be safe. So would the Spygians…until the Malucons caught up to them. But at least she’d have a little bit of time to get away.
    To hide once again.
    She had no choice. Her life here was over. If she’d ever really had one. She’d have to think further about that later.
    Gulping hard, Cindra nodded at the Spygians. “Yes, I’ll go with you.”
    She saw all their expressions go hard with satisfaction. Bannor lifted one sleeve to display a transporter cuff.
    “Wait.” She touched his forearm before he could press the button on the cuff. When he gave her a questioning glance, she said, “I can’t leave without telling them goodbye. Without letting them know I’ll be okay.”
    Bannor’s brows furrowed. “There isn’t much time.”
    “Please, I—”
    She saw a shadow of movement in the field just beyond them, and turned her gaze that way. It was Mrs. Nashor. Her long, full skirt swayed around her ankles as she walked toward the barn with some tools in her hand.
    “Oh thank goodness,” Cindra breathed. She wouldn’t have to track her down now.
    Mrs. Nashor saw her and then her eyes moved to the four Spygians surrounding her. The smile that had begun to creep to her face died, melding into an expression