Free Bonded by Ria Candro Page A

his blood, combined with his normal horrible smell wafting toward her.
    Inara forced back a burst of nausea. She’d never taken anyone’s life before, and now she’d taken two, but she wouldn’t think about that right now. These men hadn’t given a thought to killing her entire race. To chasing a defenseless female down and killing her, for no reason other than what she was. She would show them as much mercy as they’d shown her.
    “Inara,” Neichon yelled.
    A thump sounded from behind her and she whirled to see that Neichon had knocked one of the remaining two Malucons on the head with the stick. Stunned, he fell straight on his back. Taking Neichon’s cue, she raced to the man and straddled his body, slitting his throat before he could recover.
    Three down.
    Holy shit, they’d taken three Malucons down!
    Her heart raced with hope, with excitement. She turned to see Valeron throw his stick at one of the Malucons attacking him. Using his strength and speed, he rushed the second and snapped his neck.
    “Yes,” she screamed. Yes!
    She let out a maniacal laugh. Her grip tight on her now-slippery dagger, she started to scramble to her feet, when something grabbed onto her hair and yanked hard.
    “No,” Neichon yelled from somewhere behind her.
    The noxious stench of unwashed Malucon flesh and horrible breath floated to her.
    Oh shit. Heavens help her.
    Out of the corner of her eye she saw Valeron struggling with the remaining Malucon. Saw them both fall to the ground, where Valeron wrestled into the top position and brought his elbow down on the Malucon’s larynx, crushing it. He leapt up and started toward her, but the Malucon who had a grip on her hair yanked her head back hard, wrapping his arms under her breasts. He let out a guttural phrase, and Valeron stopped short.
    The Malucon edged backward, his grip tight on Inara, and she saw Neichon sidestep into her view. One of his arms hung at his side and he was limping, but his only concern appeared to be for her.
    “Let her go,” Neichon said in his native tongue. A moment later he spoke again, this time in Malucon. Though she’d never learned to speak that tongue, she gathered he’d simply repeated his request, because the Malucon let out a harsh, grating laugh and shook his head. His arm crushed into her rib cage and she gasped for air. Her hands started to automatically rise in an attempt to pry him off…when she recalled the dagger still in her grasp.
    Oh shit.
    The Malucon hadn’t bothered to check whether she still had her weapon.
    Neichon must have read her changing expression, because his gaze flicked down to her hand, then back to her face. He gave her an almost imperceptible nod.
    The Malucon grated out something else, his tone foreboding. He inched further back, dragging her off her feet.
    Her heart hammering in her chest, she rammed her dagger into the Malucon’s thigh. He yelled against her ear, his grip loosening. Throat working, she pried herself loose and ran toward Neichon. Valeron flew past her, headed straight for the Malucon.
    Neichon steadied her. “Stay here.” He ran past her and she whirled to see him and Valeron engaging the cornered Malucon. The injured man swung for Valeron but stumbled when he put his weight on the leg that still had her dagger embedded in it. Neichon jumped on his back and he went down to the ground. She caught a glimpse of the men struggling, but then Neichon climbed atop the Malucon and snapped his neck.
    Inara’s knees gave out and she slumped to the ground.
    They were dead. The Malucons were all dead. They’d done it!
    Neichon and Valeron rose, limping toward her. The men pulled her into their embrace, lending her comfort.
    “It’s okay, Inara. You’re okay,” Neichon murmured.
    “We did it,” Valeron said.
    “Yes,” she sobbed. They had.
    * * * * *
     
    The Spygian spaceship loomed ahead of them, its gold and silver surface shining. Inara thought it might be one of the most beautiful sights