Free Soldier Mine by Amber Kell Page A

insides were churning and his jaws ached from clenching his teeth.
    He let out a breath of relief when the pod landed right side up.
    After a few coping breaths to settle his nerves, Kres unbuckled the safety harness with shaky fingers. He grabbed another bottle of water before he walked to the pod door. Programmed to release its occupants after landing, the door popped open at his approach.
    “Sure, now you open,” he grumbled, glaring at the silver orb. He wished it had opened back on the ship where he could’ve grabbed Vohne to go with him. He was going to punch his mate in the face the next time he saw him. Vohne damn well better be safe and sound for Kres’ abuse.
    Peeking out of the pod, Kres saw nothing but grass, trees and a stone path. A long burn pattern scarred the earth from his landing.
    “Looks like I’m walking,” he muttered.
    He’d only taken a few steps towards the path when the sound of electronic thrumming filled the air. A whoosh of air accompanied the landing of a luxury air ship. It was a private ship, only sixty feet long, emblazoned with a crest on the side.
    Vohne.
    Kres’ heartbeat doubled in speed. Surely this would be the type of ship a king took.
    Relief lightened his heart. He waited patiently for the ship to finish landing and the door to open. A pang of disappointment stabbed through his chest when a woman descended from the transportation, followed by a cadre of official looking guards.
    The woman approached him with a wide smile. “I was told you were on your way, King-Mate. I’m Jallryne. Welcome home.”
    Kres watched her approach, saw her enchanting smile and knew.
    This is the enemy.
    It was the expression in her eyes. As a soldier he’d learnt to identify hidden motives and unfriendly opponents. She almost vibrated with rage. The closer she came with the armed men at her back the tighter his nerves became. He resisted the urge to go for his knife. Instead, he stayed as still as he could, calling upon hidden resources of control.
    “I heard from my mate. The king is well and on his way to the castle. I’m to bring you to him.”
    Hearing that news from anyone else, Kres would have jumped up and down with joy, but he didn’t want to get into that ship with her. He knew with a soldier’s instinct, if he boarded that ship, he wouldn’t come out.
    His gaze slid over her shoulder at the men standing at attention behind her.
    The soldier on her left looked him in the eyes. “ Run,” the man mouthed.
    Kres’ nerves snapped. Turning on his heel, he fled.
    A scream of rage followed his disappearance. He headed towards the trees. He needed cover and needed it right then. A few stray blasts landed too close, scarring the ground beside him. From their proximity he knew it was from the soldier who had told him to flee.
    Anyone who could shoot could have easily hit him at such close range. Not all the soldiers were on her side. Unfortunately, it only took one good shot to kill a man who had nothing but a knife to defend himself.
    Long forgotten survivalist training rushed back into his mind as his feet found the quiet earth. He instinctively missed the crunchy leaves and rustling undergrowth as he ran. If the deceitful bitch wasn’t lying, Vohne lived.
    If Vohne lived, he would find Kres. Kres just had to survive long enough for the reunion.
    “You shouldn’t be alive. She promised me you couldn’t return!” the woman screamed behind him.
    A thick tree with low branches caught his eye. With a desperate leap, Kres grabbed the lowest branch, tucking his body close to the trunk. With slow, careful movements, he pulled himself to the branch above, his muscles screaming from the strain. Long, draping vines covered the space between branches, protecting him from spying eyes.
    Kres was reluctant to attack any of the soldiers. He didn’t know which ones shared the warning soldier’s views and which ones wanted to see his blood sprayed across the ground.
    The woman was easy.
    She