Choosing Theo: The Clecanian Series Book 1 Victoria Aveline (the giving tree read aloud TXT) 📖

cheeks were hot with her tears. Jade absently noted that her temple felt warm and sticky.

An ear-splitting roar sounded all around her, and in the next moment the weight of Nedas was gone. She could hear vicious snarling and bloodcurdling shrieks of pain. One particularly awful shriek abruptly ended and was replaced with a muffled gurgling sound.

Jade needed to keep moving. She lifted her good arm and was able to drag herself a few more feet toward the stairway.

Through her bloody vision she saw a massive demon standing before her. She whimpered and collapsed at the sight.

Warm hands clutched at her face, and she yelped in pain. “Jade?”

Theo? Was that his voice? She tried to force her eyes to focus on the person crouching over her. Finally, his face came into view.

She started to sob, pain erupting through her torso with the action. “You found me.” Her words came out garbled and broken.

His beautiful face was splattered with blood, and his eyes were black. When he gently smoothed her hair, his hand was shaking. “I will always find you, Jade.”

Theo looked up to where the demon stood. “I need you to get her to safety. I have to make sure I find Xoris. He can’t get away with this.”

A booming voice replied, “I’ll protect her with my life.”

He peered down at her again. “Rhaego is going to take you somewhere safe now. I trust him.”

The ground shook as the massive demon approached her. His hands were infinitely gentle as he lifted her, but the movement made her cry out in pain all the same. “I’m sorry, little human,” he rasped.

“Theo,” she called out weakly.

In an instant, he was by her side. “I’m here, beautiful.”

“There are more prisoners here. Humans.”

The demon’s eyes widened, and he shared a tense look with Theo.

“Promise me you won’t leave without finding all of them.”

Theo’s face was hard. Unreadable. Jade’s vision faded to black, but just before she lost consciousness, she heard him whisper, “I promise.”

Chapter 38

Warmth and weightlessness washed over Jade as she came to. Her lids were heavy, but she forced her eyes to slide open.

She found herself lying in a small bed. The room was unfamiliar but not unpleasant.

“You’re awake!”

She glanced over and saw Asivva sitting on a low couch. The demon who’d carried her out was also sitting there staring at her curiously. She smiled when she saw that Zikas was leaning on him, snoring.

He must be a big softy to let Zikas use him as a pillow.

Asivva hurried over to her. “How do you feel?”

Jade thought on it a moment and then giggled. “I feel high.”

Asivva’s brows drew together in confusion.

“High as a kite.” Jade continued to giggle uncontrollably. “Did you guys give me drugs?”

“Oh, I forgot,” she said and quickly reached over to a low machine behind Jade’s head. “Yes, they did.” The giddy feeling began to fade. Asivva looked at her apprehensively. “We healed your body but we didn’t know what your mental state would be when you woke up. After everything you went through, we thought you might wake up screaming or swinging.”

Jade rubbed her temple trying to clear away her mental fog. “How long have I been out?”

“A few days,” Asivva said, still watching her intently.

Jade sat up in the bed and looked around the room again, searching. Disappointment flowed through her. “Where’s Theo?”

The demon answered in his booming voice, causing Zikas to jolt awake. “He stayed behind to aid the other captives as you requested.”

She softened. He’d kept his promise. “I’m sorry. I forgot your name. Do you know what happened?”

Zikas leapt off the couch, running to her other side. She gave him a smile and then focused her attention on the demon.

“My name is Rhaego. I believe all prisoners have been located and he’s handing off the investigation of the facility to enforcers from The Intergalactic Alliance.”

“How many humans did they find?”

“A dozen female humans and about twenty other females of different species.”

“Did they capture any of the assholes who kidnapped them?” Jade noticed Rhaego’s fingers tighten on the arm of the couch.

In a growl, he said, “Some were captured, some escaped.”

Asivva faced the two males. “Can you please excuse us? I’d like to speak with Jade privately.”

Zikas gave her hand a squeeze. “I’m glad you’re alright, Jade.”

“I’ll alert Theo that you’re awake,” Rhaego said with a bow.

“Rhaego,” Jade said, stopping him in his tracks. “Thank you.”

“It’s nothing,” he said with a quick incline of his head.

“No, I mean thank you for helping me. You’re a good guy.”

Rhaego opened and closed his mouth wordlessly. He gave a sharp nod before leaving.

When they were alone, Asivva chuckled.

“That guy is not good at receiving compliments.”

Asivva gave a shrug. “I expect he hasn’t been given many compliments in his life. The Tuvasta are a hard people, and in Tremanta he’s treated with fear and wariness.” Her stare became serious. “Jade, can you tell me what was done to you? We found evidence of physical assault but not sexual. Is there anything that happened that you want to tell me about?”

“No, I’m fine,” she said, patting Asivva’s hand reassuringly. “Theo got there in time. That asshole Nedas jumped Xoris’ and attacked me.”

Asivva still look fraught with worry.

“Now that I’m safe and everything is okay, I’m almost glad it happened.”

Asivva’s head snapped back like she’d been slapped.

“If it hadn’t, then no one would’ve known what they were doing down there. All of those women would still be trapped. If a little pain means we’ve uncovered an underground organization of dickheads bent on kidnapping and impregnating women, then I think it was worth it.”

“Dickhead?” Asivva parroted with a chuckle. “I agree that it’s good the ‘dickheads’ were revealed.” She touched Jade’s arm. “It was more than a little pain, but I admire your bravery.”

Asivva gave her a bitter smile. “I need to tell you some things, and I hope you take them well.”

Jade tensed. What the fuck now?

“First, I want to explain that there was a reason for Theo’s