Born

“Irrelevant, I have the means to discover her identity. I only asked because it was the polite thing to do.” Said the creature that could dole out death to every Born in this network of tunnels without a second thought. The Bred were skilled enough that every living one close enough to help had been imprisoned.

Tuck bent down and grabbed Allora’s arm. She cried out and struggled, fighting to reclaim her hand.

Cormack growled a warning, unable to contain his base response. “Do not touch her!”

The commander glanced up at him, still holding her arm. “She is your mate?”

Refusing to answer, as lying was not an option Cormack repeated his demand. “Release her now.”

Though the Cyborg wars had ended long before his gestation, Cormack felt the predator within stir, a mongoose staring down a king cobra, confident he would be victorious.

“I am not your enemy, Bred, no matter what those that hatched you said.” Tuck turned back to face Allora, pressing her thumb against a flat metal plate in his arm. His eyelids drifted shut and he released her.

“Yes, you are the one I want.”

Cormack pounded on the glass again. “Allora, release me.” Regardless of her deception, he would protect her from these monsters, as he had been bred to do.

Scrambling to her feet she pounded from the outside. “The mechanism is jammed—I can’t get it to open.”

Tuck rose up, looming over her, glacial eyes zoned in on his target. Cormack assessed the threat, noted the weakness in his enemy, ready to strike the moment he got free.

That moment didn’t arrive.

“Cormack!” Helpless to do anything but bloody his fists as he pounded on the glass and watch as the Cyborg scooped her up and started back towards his vehicle. After dumping Allora inside, he called to the other one and the cockpit closed with a hiss, cutting off her screams.

The digger whirred to life, backing down the tunnel, kicking up exhaust as it sped away.

13

Please, I’ll give you whatever you want.” The offer spilled out of her mouth before she thought it through and she could have bitten her own tongue off at her stupidity. The Cyborgs were notorious for their raunchy sexual appetites. She’d overheard several of the kitchen supervisors snickering over the lewd use they had for farm animals left unattended by careless Breds. Luckily, both the driver and the commander ignored her, facing forward as they dove deeper into the planet’s crust.

Allora though her heart might explode, it beat so fast. Once the Cyborg had secured her in the tunneling vehicle, they both ignored her. Turning she looked out the back, through the same glass-tique material used to construct the draining tube. Thin as her hand, but virtually impenetrable.

Some sort of scooper mechanism filled in the tunnel behind them, leaving an obvious but impassible trail. Not that Allora expected anyone to rescue her. The only one that might attempt it was left at the mercy of the overlord.

Bits of rock pinged against the metal hull but the ride was surprisingly smooth. Allora wanted to ask where they were taking her, but figured they would ignore that inquiry as well. Instead of worrying about her own hide, she fretted over Cormack. He had been alone, trapped in the draining tube. She would never forget how he looked, on his knees, his expression fierce as he eyeballed her. Gone was the tender lover she had dallied with in her bathing chamber. She looked into the eyes of a man bred to kill. Not all the Breds were capable of taking out a Cyborg, most were designed to be laborers, but Allora didn’t doubt that if Cormack had escaped, he would manage to kill every Cyborg he could find.

The arrival of the Cyborgs had chased the Borns from the chamber, but eventually, Mag would give the order to investigate. With a flick of a switch Cormack would be as good as dead. Her throat closed up as guilt swallowed her whole. I put him in there, abandoned him.

She thought over what the Cyborg commander had said to Cormack. He was after her because of the Cassandra prophesy. Could it be a coincidence that he showed up to nab her on the heels of her discovering one of Cassandra’s journals? Allora believed in fate and destiny and with the belief came the acceptance that there was no such thing as a coincidence.

Clearing her throat, she raised her voice, hoping to project authority. These Cyborgs were no different than some ornery Breds who’d distilled and drank the grain they were supposed to be harvesting, men full of themselves and not able to see beyond the moment.

“I found one of Cassandra’s journals. If you take me back, I’ll show you where I’ve hidden it.”

Commander Tuck turned to face her, those eerie white eyeballs completely still in his face as he studied her. “You speak the truth. But why would you wish to return to the stronghold where you’ve been held captive all these years? Your father wishes to see you.”