Saven Defiance (The Saven Series Book 4) Read Free Page A

a noisy mouthful of air.
    “So, what did you do?” I take her hands in mine.
    “We took him to Dr. Zuma in Rindyar. He was the only one we could think of at such short notice; however, it was stupid, thoughtless. But we were desperate … we knew we were losing him, and there wasn’t adequate time to devise alternatives.”
    I frown, slightly confused. “Isn’t Dr. Zuma an ally? That’s where Logan took me after I was shot. I don’t understand.”
    “We didn’t either,” Neve continues, chewing on the side of her lip. Alex moves behind her and plants a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “At first, everything seemed fine. Dr. Zuma treated Logan and nothing seemed untoward, except that he was jittery as hell. Turns out that Dante had seized control of the planet after your visit. I don’t know why he thought Logan would return—maybe it was just a lucky guess—but he had the place sewn up tight. The Saven soldiers were in hiding, and they chose their moment to pounce. We’d been so careful never to leave Logan alone but—”
    “But I left him unprotected,” Haydn butts in, “and they took him. We only managed to escape by sheer luck.” He grinds down hard on his teeth.
    “It’s not your fault.” The words leave my lips of their own accord.
    “I don’t want or need your sympathy,” he snaps, putting me back in my place.
    “Listen up, asshole,” Ax replies, instantly jumping to my defense. “Stop speaking to Sadie like that.”
    Haydn flips up his middle finger, and I stare open-mouthed at him. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear Haydn was a victim of body snatching. This is so unlike him.
    “Haydn.” Neve pins him with a glacial look. “I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say your attitude is not helping. So, cut it out, or go take a nap or something. You’re as grouchy as a grizzly bear in need of a decent feed.”
    “You’re falling for all this crap?” he says in an incredulous tone.
    “Haydn, we know Sadie. You know Sadie, and she’s telling us the truth. I’m not gonna lie, it’s one hella mess, but she isn’t deceiving anyone. And she’s dead right on one thing. We need to figure out a way to rescue Logan. That should be our only priority.”
    “That is my only priority,” he growls, almost affirming her grizzly bear comparison. “I’m all ears.” He folds his arms across his chest and purposefully averts my gaze.
    I’ll take it. Happily. Ignorance is easier to accept than all the hurtful, barbed comments.
    “Any ideas?” Neve asks me.
    “Do we know where he’s being held or can we find out?”
    “I’ve touched base with a few trusted friends on the ground in Saven. While they can’t confirm it categorically, it appears that all the prisoners are in the dungeons under the palace. That’s our safest bet,” Rylan says.
    “Well, what about Logan’s original plan then?” I say. “To infiltrate the palace via the tunnel network from the old Saven district?”
    “We’d thought of that, but it’s risky. Logan may have given up that plan or Advisor Mellor may have. We still don’t know if he’s trustworthy or not.”
    “Logan wouldn’t give up anything.” My voice brims with confidence.
    Guarded looks are traded around the room, and large goose bumps sprout on my arms. Tension lances the air.
    “Not willingly, no,” Neve quietly answers.

CHAPTER 2
    “Oh, God.” I slap a hand over my mouth, as her insinuation sinks in. “Dante wouldn’t …”
    “He would.” Her face pales. “Dante hates him, Sadie. He’s had it in for him for years. Who knows what he’s been doing to him.”
    I hate to agree, but as I recall everything I know of Logan’s erstwhile beloved brother, I know her concerns are justified. Dante has always resented the fact that he was overlooked by King Adjani in favor of Logan, and he landed the blame for the death of their mother squarely on Logan’s shoulders. I remember how Dante targeted me on Thalassic City purely to antagonize