THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

crashed into a sticky bush, kicking his legs to get free.
    He heard the sound of someone running all out. Were all the girls in this place insane? He pushed to his feet, pulse ripping with adrenaline. Had to get away from Godzilla’s bride.
    Wheeling around quickly, he spied her.
    She yanked her spear from the ground and hoisted it, spinning to face him from no more than ten feet away. Close enough for her to make him into a shish kebab.
    Tony raised his hands above his head. “Wait a minute, babe. I was comin’ in. Givin’ myself up.”
    Out of nowhere, Mathias stepped in front of him.
    Tony had never been so glad to see someone. Not that he wanted the crazy witch to skewer anyone else, but he doubted she’d make the mistake of attacking her boss.
    Mathias yelled, “Put down your spear.”
    Etoi lowered her weapon, but pointed a finger at Tony. “He released the prisoner. The scout will report to SEOH.”
    “We’ll deal with that if it happens. We don’t know that the scout isn’t still wandering around in the Sphere.”
    Tony mumbled, “Glad someone in charge isn’t hormonal.”
    Muscles bunched from exertion, Mathias turned on Tony, snarling, “Shut up. You’ve caused us enough trouble.”  With a flick of his hand, Mathias called up his boys. “Restrain him.”
    “Hey, I was wavin’ my hands, coming to you,” Tony complained. “That’s a sign of surrender.”  Granted he’d had no white flag, but still. “Where I come from we talk after someone gives up.”
    Sometimes. Other times they beat the crap out of you for being stupid enough to get caught, but he figured these guys wouldn’t know Jersey rules.
    He hoped they didn’t know them. “I’ve been tryin’ to find my way back. You found me headin’ toward the village, not away. Doesn’t that count for somethin’?”
    Mathias vibrated with anger. “You’ve released the TecKnati scout we captured. Nothing will save you from judgment now.” 
    “No, no. You got that all wrong.”  Tony backed up, but two boys moved forward, spears jabbing at his neck. A third one stepped in front of him, wrapping Tony’s hands and arms to his body then winding those crazy red vines around his legs. He protested the whole time, “Listen to me. I didn’t break us out. The other guy did.”
    Someone slapped a wide, flat leaf over his mouth then wound a vine around that twice. No matter how hard he tried, all the sound he could make was a muted mumble. Then they tied him to a long pole that two of the taller kids hoisted over their shoulders and carried him back toward the village like a pig on the way to being roasted.
    Now he couldn’t even yell the information to Rayen and Gabby so they could get to a transender on their own.
    Mathias might not let them go either if he thought they had any part in Tony escaping.
    We’re so screwed .
     

CHAPTER 28
     
    Why is Rayen looking at me as if I’ve wronged her?
    Callan kept his chin up, acting as if Rayen’s brooding silence didn’t bother him. She kept pace with his fast stride toward the Governing chamber. Anger burrowed deep in her gaze during the brief moments she flicked a look his way.
    He had not put her in this position.
    She was a prisoner. Even if V’ru cleared her from being TecKnati, Rayen was still in league with his enemy otherwise why had she helped the scout earlier and called Tony a friend?
    Callan refused to believe he’d seen hurt in her face when he’d ordered her to meet with V’ru. Never allow an enemy to get close . Something he should have been thinking about when he’d almost kissed her in the woods.
    Did she wield some power over him?
    No. Even he could not accuse her of that. He’d know if anyone used power against him. The only times he’d witnessed her tapping an energy force had been to kill croggles, twice, and to help save that little boy.
    She confused him.
    Maybe that was her game, to confuse him and Mathias while her friend, Tony, the without-question TecKnati, had aided the scout in fleeing.
    But that left Rayen and Gabby to fend for themselves, which would fit the selfish mentality of a TecKnati like Tony. So why would Rayen do anything to help him? Or continue to defend him?
    Was she thinking the same thing right now? That her so-called friend had abandoned her and the Hy’bridt?
    Betrayal cut. Callan knew that first hand.
    Why should I care? He had a duty to his people and these three strangers were creating problems he didn’t have time to deal