Chapter 159
Tempest sighed and sunk deeper into the water.
It’s been a long time since she was this at ease. The water was the perfect temperature, all she was really missing was a glass of wine and then it would be perfect.
A glass of wine and Dron, behind her.
A girl could dream.
"I don’t care what you were told! I want to know where she is!" Just the slight sound of words leaked into the small space.
Tempest let her eyes flutter back open. She looked down at her hands. She couldn’t see very well but she could feel how pruned up they were.
She didn’t know how long she was in the hot spring. Was it a few minutes? Hours?
She blinked a few times, trying to focus her eyes in the darkness.
"You’ve got but a moment to get out of my way or I promise you there will be pain." The voice in the distance got louder and Tempest realized that it was someone arguing at the entrance.
Shit!
Tempest rushed to get out of the hot spring. The only person who would be arguing this intently would be Rynax. She’d taken everything off including her wrist device. He probably didn’t know where she was and Aliq was doing exactly as he promised by making sure no one would be able to come in here and disturb her.
It was about to be a fight. Tempest wasn’t really interested in finding out who would win. She didn’t need that kind of drama in her life.
She was soaking wet, but there was no time for her to get dry. There was also nothing in the space that she could use to do that anyway.
She cringed as she put the fabric back on her skin, grabbed hold of her wrist device and activated the fabric so it formed a long muumuu design. It wasn’t flattering in the least but it would cover her body.
Tempest rushed as best she could down the long pathway. Every few seconds she had to reach out with her hand to feel along the wall so she wouldn’t bash her face into anything. It was pitch black in this portion of the cave.
They really needed to put some lighting here.
Finally, she heaved out a breath when she made it to the entrance. She could see Aliq and Rynax staring eachother down. Neither backing away.
"Hey, hey, hey, what’s going on out here."
Aliq growled and crouched a little, "You’ve disturbed her." He snarled at Rynax.
Rynax’s face was hard as he continued to glare at Aliq.
Tempest took a step forward, she knew what was going to come next and she would do everything in her power to stop it.
"Rynax, back off. I’m fine. Aliq he didn’t disturb me. I was getting out anyway." It was a lie. Tempest would have stayed in that hot spring until she was slowly boiled alive if they’d let her.
"You are in my way." Rynax snapped back at Aliq.
Tempest waved her hand in the middle of both of them but it was as if they couldn’t see her. She was invisible.
The alpha instincts for both men were taking hold.
Tempest tried again, her own instincts were screaming at her. She wanted to step in between them but something deep inside told her that was a really bad idea. Like she was about to put her hand in the jaw of a great tiger. She was sure she wouldn’t come out of the interaction unscathed.
"Boys, I’m fine. I’m right here!" She screamed, but they weren’t even looking at her. Tempest gasped as she saw both of their eyes turning black. It was too late.
It was only at that moment she realized how truly amazing it was that she was able to break Dron out of his alpha instincts. Also how significant.
Mexyn had told her that it was a clear sign that she was his fated mate. She believed it now.
Tempest also knew that she needed help. If the two of them were to fight, there was no telling if the people in this strong hold would still consider Tempest and the rest of her group guests. They would be the enemy.
"Don’t fight! Rynax, stop!" she screamed at him but still kept her distance. When that didn’t work once again, she pulled up her communicator and rang Mexyn. She felt bad for disturbing her but knew there were no other options.
It buzzed a few times before Mexyn finally answered. A hologram of the woman popped up, and Tempest instantly took note of the intensely blissed out expression Mexyn wore. The smile on her face couldn’t be faked.
Tempest felt even worse.
"Mexyn, help! Rynax is about to fight. I can’t get them to stop." Tempest quickly spewed out the information.
"Where?" A male voice barked in the background from Mexyn’s side. Tempest was sure it was Crilium.
"The bathhouse. Hurry!" Tempest shouted and in that second the communicator clicked off.
"Move away from the entrance. I will get to Tempest."
"Through my dead body." Aliq snarled at Rynax.
That was all it took. Rynax charged Aliq and all Tempest could do was press herself against the stone face of the cliff.
The speed was incredible. She could barely keep up with who was throwing blows. She could hear the growling and teeth snapping. She could feel the ground shaking under her feet.
How long until someone else heard that. How long until the other soldiers in this strong hold realized that one of their own was under attack. Rynax could have to go through an entire army. All of it was nonsensical. She was right there. Totally safe.
Thankfully, in the distance, she could see Crilium and Mexyn running full speed in their direction.
She’d taken her eyes off what was going on in front of her for only a second, and in that moment, Rynax managed to get his arms around Aliq’s neck.
"Rynax! No!"
Rynax growled louder, and there was no doubt in Tempest’s mind. He wasn’t just trying to hurt Aliq, he was trying to kill him.
It was barbaric.
Tempest couldn’t think of anything to do, but she knew she needed to help Aliq. She reached behind herself and grabbed a small stone and, with all the force she could muster, threw it like a Major League Baseball pitcher right at Rynax’s head.
It startled him. It startled her.
She gasped when she saw the blood trickling down from a new wound right above his eye.
It was just enough of a distraction for Aliq to get from under Rynax. He turned in Rynax’s loosened grip and wrapped a leg around Rynax. He yanked forward and slammed Rynax to the ground.
The fight didn’t end.
Now they were just rolling around on the ground, both of them trying to get the better of the other.
Tempest reached back for another rock, she was ready to throw it but thankfully she didn’t have to. Crilium reached them just in time. He dove down into the pile of the two men and wrenched Aliq away from Rynax.
Aliq snapped and jerked his body trying to get back to Rynax. Rynax charged but Crilium put his hand out and shoved Rynax back hard. Rynax flew, his head banging against a stone. And just like that Rynax was out like a light.
Aliq still hadn’t stopped fighting. Crilium had to drag the man into the cave entrance I’d just come out of. They disappeared from view but I could still hear the monstrous growling.
Mexyn sighed and walked up next to Tempest.
"I leave you alone for one moment." She uttered.
It was the most normal thing she could say and even in the craziness that was still going on she couldn’t control the burst of laughter that came out of her.
Mexyn and Tempest stood there for a short while laughing and shaking their heads. When Tempest finally got control of herself she realized she could no longer hear the growling.
"Is Aliq going to be okay?"
"Aliq will be fine. Crilium has a hold on him. He won’t be back out tonight." Mexyn nodded her head and moved closer to Tempest. "Now do you want to tell me what caused all this? Aliq isn’t what I would consider easily provoked."
"Oh, it was just a misunderstanding. I was in the bathhouse." Tempest started.
"Alone?" Mexyn quickly darted her eyes in Rynax’s direction. He was still laying unconcious on the ground but he was groaning and starting to stir.
"What? Of course!" Tempest balked at the woman.
"It would be no judgement on my part if you weren’t. After all I’ve just spent the night with a man who isn’t my husband. Who am I to look down on anyone." Mexyn shrugged her shoulders.
"No one is judging you either." Tempest quickly added. She looked toward the opening of the cave just to make sure Crilium wasn’t hovering. She hoped he wasn’t, it wasn’t as if she could see if he was. "And how was your night?" Tempest whispered in Mexyn’s direction.
"Ohh....world ending...life affirming...everything." Mexyn said wistfully.
Tempest grinned wildly. She was happy for her friend. If there was anyone who deserved some happiness it was Mexyn.
Tempest opened her mouth to ask more questions. She wanted more details, but Mexyn stopped her.
"Looks like our patient is finally waking up. How about we get him some place he won’t do any more damage."
Tempest looked down at Rynax who was blinking and sitting up. His hand went up to his head, and he winced.
She was grateful that he was okay, but she was really going to have a clear conversation with him about when violence should be used.
Bath time wasn’t on that list.
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⏸ PAUSE■ STOP