StarPyre

at his assistant. Stifling a cry, I bit my tongue when he began dragging Celyze’s body away. I’d never regretted ignoring him for the last few solars more keenly. I had to help him now. As soon as his feet disappeared through the doorway, I put my idea in motion.
Auro and Luwyn watched me with wide eyes as I jerked both of my hands in circles, trying to gesture they should struggle. Their combined weight should be enough to throw the Vhalxt assistant off-balance and temporarily distract the leader. I raised my hand to halt them, asking my aliens to wait a second. They nodded in understanding, though they still appeared hesitant.
They would soon witness the power of humans. Our biological plasticity allowed us to adapt to any environment, overcome seemingly impossible challenges.
At least, that was what I’d taken away from my one college biology course. Since then, I’d used the lesson as a mantra whenever I needed to deal with a jarring change.
Using my blanket for cover, I squeezed my two silver bangles within one fisted hand, bending each flimsy metal band into a makeshift shiv that looped around my thumb. Granted, these weapons may not be as effective as an actual knife, but the bracelets’ sharp crystal edges sufficed to cause some damage. Feeling around the rim of the crown, I was disappointed to find its structure was too fragile to be used as a weapon. I decided to carry it with me anyway as a backup option.
Who knew what the Vhalxt were capable of?
The spaceship jerked once more, more violently this time. Why had our captors bothered to take Celyze away while they were under attack?
Taking a deep breath, I hooked my thumbs into my silver jeweled shanks as I rolled my shoulders, signaling to my two emerald boyfriends that it was game time.
Instantly, they jerked against their holds, knocking their captor onto his knees as they struggled to free their bound wrists. The Vhalxt leader took the bait and crossed the room to aid his assistant.
Now was my chance.
Placing my crown on my head so the combs would keep my hair out of my face, I jumped to my feet and charged the leader, blanket in hand.
I tossed the blanket over his four hind legs and leaped onto his back, toppling the male to the floor. Screaming, I threw all my weight against his shoulder blades as I wrapped an arm around his neck, using my free hand to stab at each of his eight eyes.
“Veni vidi vici, bitch!”
He thrashed underneath me, but the combination of the blanket trapping him in his sticky webbing and my weight upon his back immobilized him.
I dug my bangle shanks into his eye sockets and twisted savagely. Slowly, he stopped twitching in my grasp, but I didn’t care. I was going to make sure this motherfucker was dead, even if this moment gave me nightmares for the rest of my life.
“Tori,” Auro called, snapping me out of my bloodthirsty trance.
I jerked my gaze in his direction. Both Luwyn and Auro were still struggling to escape the Vhalxt’s hold; his six extra arms were posing a challenge.
“Let them go!” I growled, not caring if he understood me or not. I had just murdered his boss—he shouldn’t need another clue that I meant serious business. Celyze was missing, and if I had to raid this whole ship to find him, I would—or die trying. I was ready for more bloodshed.
The assistant refused to heed my warning as I stomped over with both makeshift blades in hand, green blood dripping down my arms and onto the floor. Putting my many years of competitive cheerleading to use, I leaped and wrapped my legs around his neck, knocking him backward and pinning his legs under his toppled abdomen. Snarling, I didn’t hesitate to attack him like I had his leader, stabbing each one of his eyes viciously.
The assistant didn’t even struggle; he must have accepted his fate the moment I killed his leader. So be it. The motherfuckers wanted to breed us like livestock and had dragged Celyze away when that plan failed.
My arms shook as I stood, breathing slowly, trying to calm the adrenaline pumping through my veins. I’d freed two of my males. Now I needed to rescue one more. Then I hoped we could finally get off of this cursed ship.
“Tori?” Auro asked, touching my arm and making me flinch. Sadness crept into his expression as he backed away. Luwyn placed an arm on his shoulder and shook his head, saying something in their native tongue.
I didn’t have the words or gestures to apologize and let them know I wasn’t mad. I had just fucking killed two spider monsters. I needed a few private minutes to process.
“Auro. Luwyn,” I breathed, shooting them the gentlest smile I could muster. “Auro yes. Luwyn yes.” I pointed out the still-open door. “Celyze no.” Then I counted to four, naming each finger after a member of our group.
They both nodded as a sense of understanding connected us, returning a smile to my face.
Sighing, I approached toward the entryway with my shanks in hand, glad we had solved one problem.
When we entered the hallway, two figures were leaning against the wall with their arms crossed . . . and looking nothing like the Vhalxt.
“Hello, Tori.”

Sixteen
TORI
“Who are you?” I demanded, raising my weapons as I prepared to defend the three of us. “How do you know my name? And where did you learn English?”
The two strangers kicked off the wall and leisurely walked toward us. As they neared, both of my alien boyfriends muttered something and fell to their knees, bowing as their wings snapped tightly to their backs.
What the fuck?
I stared at my groveling males, then stepped around them in confusion, keeping my shanks drawn. I didn’t know what these newcomers had done to my men, but I planned to defend them no matter what.
The two figures could pass as human,