Primal Bond (Warlords of Vasz #4)

19. Chapter 19

Chapter nineteen

F inn walked alongside Zanik, Jasper, and Kyral as they made their way back to the Ironclad. The ship loomed ahead, its metallic surface glinting under the station's harsh lights. Finn’s heart raced, but this time, it wasn’t from fear. Relief washed over him like a tide, especially as he stole a glance at Jasper.

Jasper looked well, his posture straight and his eyes alert. The two had crossed paths in the depths of despair, both humans ripped from their homes and trapped in Rivek’s hellish grasp. Now, seeing Jasper alive, Finn felt a strange new flicker of hope ignite within him.

“What were you thinking, walking into a place like that?” Finn asked, shaking his head. “You could’ve been caught.”

Jasper shrugged, a sly grin spreading across his face. “I could ask you the same question. We had a plan.”

We . The Borraq named Kyral walked beside Jasper, his expression unreadable. Finn studied him, cautious. He had a powerful build, sharp horns jutting out from his head, and an aura that screamed danger.

Finn had learned the hard way that trusting Borraq didn’t come easily. Zanik was different, but Kyral? He wasn’t sure yet.

Even if Jasper did seem to trust him.

As the unlikely group entered the Ironclad, Kelara raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of suspicion and curiosity. Her fingers danced over the controls of the ship, eyes darting between the newcomers and Zanik.

Zanik shot her a quick nod, a subtle signal that he would explain later. Finn fought the urge to laugh. He could already hear Kelara's voice: bringing one human on the ship wasn't enough?

“Alright, time to spill,” Finn said. “What was your plan, Jasper?”

Jasper sighed. He looked relieved, but tired. “Kyral and I have been searching for you and Asher for a long time now. We heard you'd been sold to a Borraq in this sector, but we didn’t know who. When we got information that you were seen at that club, we figured it was our best shot.”

Asher. The other human that Finn and Jasper had bonded with in those dark early days. Sensitive, barely hanging on.

In Rivek's hold, the three of them had talked about escape, tried to keep their heads up. It hadn't worked. One by one, they'd all been ground down and sold off to cruel masters.

It all seemed so long ago.

Kyral chimed in, his tone steady. “I’ve got connections in the underground. It wasn’t easy, but we managed to find the club and get in without causing a fuss.”

Finn exchanged glances with Zanik. “So, you just… walked in there?”

To save me? went unsaid.

“Of course,” Jasper replied, his eyes bright with determination. “I got out — trust me, it's a long story. But I couldn’t sleep right, knowing that you and Asher were still out there.”

Finn clenched his fists, fighting back the emotions that threatened to spill over.

Jasper continued. "When I heard you cry out, I thought—"

Oh . That bit was less emotional. "It was all part of the act," Finn cut in quickly, hoping his face wasn't as red as it felt. He avoided Zanik's gaze, memories flooding back.

The sting of Zanik's hand, the heat that had spread through him, the way Zanik's massive frame had dwarfed him — Finn swallowed hard. He wouldn't mind being punished more often if that was how Zanik did it.

Jasper nodded, though he looked unconvinced. "Well, we're here now. You should come with us, Finn. I'll take you to a safe place quickly, and then Kyral and I can keep looking for Asher."

"Where's safe for a human in Borraq space…?" Something occurred to Finn. "Wait, where have you been all this time?"

Jasper simply looked at Kyral. There was something unspoken in the way he did, a wordless handing over of the baton. It was the look of two people who had been working together for a long time.

Working together, or—

Before Finn could finish that thought, Kyral took over the conversation. "My clan, in the wilds of Vasz. I'm not born to it, but it took me in with open arms — and Jasper as well. The alpha has taken in several lost humans now. Rael is a good man, and a strong warrior. He'll protect and shelter you while we keep looking for Asher."

On Vasz ! The Borraq home planet?! Finn stared; beside him, he could feel the way that Zanik stiffened sharply.

Jasper took Finn's astonishment for fear. "It's true. I know it sounds scary, but Rael's clan is a safe place for us. No-one is looking for humans right in the heart of the Borraq home world, after all."

Somewhere safe. That was a nice idea, but…

Finn shook his head. "I can't. Not yet. I need to take Rivek down first. He's just going to keep doing this to more humans."

Jasper's face fell. Kyral stepped forward, his voice low and serious. "That's a dangerous idea, Finn. Rivek's not someone to mess with."

"I'll help him do it," Zanik said, his deep voice rumbling through Finn's chest. "It's Finn's choice."

Finn's heart swelled at those words. Zanik wasn't treating him like a fragile thing to be protected, or a possession to be controlled. He was acknowledging Finn's right to make his own decisions — something that had been stripped away when he became a slave.

Finn looked up at Zanik, taking in the sharp angles of his face, the intensity in his eyes. A warmth spread through him, different from the heat of arousal. This was deeper, more profound.

Jasper and Kyral exchanged glances, their silent communication evident. Jasper sighed, a heaviness in his voice. “I’d be more comfortable if you were out of danger, Finn… but I accept your choice. I can't blame you for wanting that bastard dead. Is that why you were in that damned place?”

Zanik stepped forward, his presence commanding. “Rivek is my rival. A powerful smuggler in this sector. He rarely leaves his warship, which makes him a tough target. But he has a human slave and visits that club, so that’s where we were waiting for him.”

Kyral crossed his arms. “What were you planning to do when you found him there?”

Finn hesitated, the weight of their expectations pressing down on him. “Execute him,” he finally said, his voice steadier than he felt.

Jasper’s brow furrowed. “And what about Asher? How were you going to find him?”

Finn’s heart raced. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. The uncertainty gnawed at him. He thought about Asher, about the countless other humans still trapped in Rivek’s grasp. “I… I don’t know,” he admitted.

A swell of shame washed over him. He had fixated on revenge, blinded by anger and hurt. But Jasper had left whatever safe harbor he'd found, just to save Finn and Asher.

All the while, Finn had just thought about Rivek. The thought twisted in his gut, suffocating him.

He couldn’t let Rivek go unpunished, but what about the others? The ones still out there, suffering?

It felt like being torn in two. One part of him craved justice, the other yearned to help…

Zanik's hand settled on Finn's shoulder, warm and grounding. The touch sent a jolt through Finn, a reminder that he wasn't alone in this fight. “I have contacts on both sides of the law,” Zanik said, his voice steady. “We'll find him — whether Rivek is dead or alive.”

Finn looked up, meeting Zanik’s gaze. Despite his icy coolness, the confidence radiating from the Borraq enveloped him like a warm blanket.

Finn wished he could borrow some of that certainty.

“Jasper, Kyral,” Zanik said, turning to them, his grip on Finn's shoulder still reassuring. “What’s your next move?”

Jasper's gaze was pinned on the sight of Zanik's hand on Finn's shoulder, but he didn't ask questions. “We’re following leads. Rumors of who Asher might have been sold to. We’ve been tracking whispers across the sector.”

Kyral nodded, arms crossed, his demeanor all business. “There’s a market for humans just a few jumps from here. It’s a hot spot for traffickers. If we struck out at the club, that was going to be our next port of call.”

“Good,” Zanik said, approval etched on his face. “Keep the pressure on.”

Finn felt a rush of adrenaline at their resolve. He stood a little taller, bolstered by Zanik’s support. “Jasper,” he said, locking eyes with his friend. “We’re going to find Asher. No matter what.”

Jasper’s expression softened, a hint of pride flickering in his blue eyes. “You got it, Finn. We’ll figure this out together.”

Finn’s heart raced. They were moving forward, chasing a lead, but all he could think about was how Zanik’s hand had felt on his shoulder. It wasn’t just support; it was a promise that they could actually pull this off.