Pradorian Mate by C. Baely, Kristie Dawn Read Free Book Online Page B

hard wall. A sharp pain coursed through her fingers and wrist, causing her to involuntarily scream a series of profanities. She tightly held her hand until the pain subsided.
    This is stupid. She looked around the room, trying to find something that would help her open the heavy door. She wasn’t ready to give up yet. She looked for something like a crowbar, something strong and pointy, but there was nothing until her eyes fell on a large table. She approached the table, recalling the night before when he had used a huge knife to cut up fruit.
    Sara searched carefully among the colored food on the table until she finally found what she was looking for. She picked it up with a grin of satisfaction before heading decisively back to the rock door. On reaching it, she immediately started searching with her fingertips for some sort of crack or slit. When she found one just below head height, she worked the thick tip of the knife into it. She then pulled her weight backward while holding the knife’s handle, trying to budge the thick wall. To her dismay, the rock hadn’t moved in the slightest, yet her hands hurt and her arm muscles protested something awful. Sara was too stubborn to stop now. “Here goes nothing, girl.”
    Shock slammed through her when the huge door moved slowly. She got ready to pull again, but the door continued opening on its own. She lost her balance and fell back, her soft butt hitting the hard tiled floor.
    Realizing something else must have caused the door to open, she quickly stood up, not sparing time to rub her sore behind. With the large knife still in her hand, she placed her back against the wall next to a protruding stone. She held the knife ready to take whoever was standing outside by surprise.
    Sara’s heart pounded like crazy in her chest when a big Pradorian male entered the softly lit hall of the cave. He didn’t seem to notice her. It was as if Sara had become one with the wall. She even held her breath to avoid making any sound.
    This is my chance. He passed by and stood with his back to her as he inspected the room. She moved quickly toward the open exit while trying to make as little noise as possible. As soon as she was through the door, she stopped momentarily to adjust her eyes to the daylight before running as fast as she could toward the vast forest.
    * * *
    It was late in the evening when Archail returned to his cave. He still felt foul- tempered and annoyed with his young captive, especially when he considered what he had just agreed with the council to do for her safety. At the same time, a thought nagged at him from the depths of his soul. Maybe he was the one at fault in this situation rather than poor Sara. After all, she only wanted a reasonable explanation for finding herself on a strange world surrounded by a species that was new and unfamiliar to her.
    During his long lifetime, he had always considered himself to be a reasonable Pradorian, but he found this current situation too troublesome for his own liking. Yet he couldn’t stop. Admitting it to himself made him even more upset.
    He was about to enter his cave when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to see Dar, his second in command, standing there watching him wearily.
    “ What is it, Dar?” Archail’s voice was deep and hard and conveyed his annoyance.
    “ She is gone, my great Vasil.”  Dar’s voice was almost a whisper, yet a glint of satisfaction lit his eyes.
    “ Who is gone?” Archail noted Dar’s hesitation.
    “ The female you held, my great one.”
    Archail stared at him dumbfounded for an instant before realizing what he had said. Rage surged through him, like an animal ready to pounce on its prey and rip it limb from limb.
    Dar backed away a few steps in alarm.
    “ How did she get out?” Archail stepped forward, causing the other man to back away a few more steps. “I am waiting…” boomed his leader’s voice.
    “ I… I opened the door, great one.” Dar swallowed hard.
    Archail