Page 15 of Hunter's Moon

Tharion hesitated, then nodded. He knelt by the vent, wincing as he did so, and pried off the cover with ease. I marveled at his strength, even in his weakened state.

“Ladies first,” he said, obviously amused. “Unless you can seal the vent behind us?”

Jerk.

I crawled into the duct, the cool metal soothing against my skin. Tharion followed, replacing the cover behind us. We shuffled along in darkness, the hum of machinery growing louder.

Finally the duct opened into a small maintenance room. Dusty consoles lined the walls, their screens dark and silent. Pipes and wires snaked across the ceiling, creating a maze of shadows.

I helped Tharion out of the duct, noting how he leaned on me more than before. “This should work. We can rest here for a bit.”

He nodded, sliding down against a wall. I knelt beside him, my hands hovering uncertainly over his blood-stained clothes.

“I’m fine,” he growled, but his eyes betrayed his pain.

“Let me help,” I insisted, reaching for the hem of his shirt.

Tharion caught my wrist, his touch surprisingly gentle. “Why do you care?”

I met his gaze, struck by the honest confusion there. “Because... because you saved me. And because no one deserves to suffer alone.”

He released my wrist, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “You’re an odd one, Lina.”

I helped him remove his shirt, revealing a canvas of gray skin and swirling green. A deep gash ran across his ribs, still oozing blood.

“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Tharion said, noticing my concern. “We heal quickly.”

I tore a strip from my own shirt, using it to clean the wound as best I could. Tharion watched me work, his expression unreadable.

A distant clang echoed through the vents, making us both freeze. Tharion’s arm wrapped around me, pulling me against his chest.

Long after the sounds faded, I realized I was still pressed against Tharion, my hand splayed across his muscled abdomen. Heat burned through my veins as I pulled away.

“We should try to get some rest,” I mumbled, avoiding his gaze.

Tharion shifted to make himself more comfortable. I leaned against the opposite wall, but the chill of the metal soon had me shivering.

“Come here,” Tharion said softly, holding out an arm.

I hesitated, then scooted over to him. He pulled me close, his warmth enveloping me.

As I drifted off to sleep, I wondered how I’d ended up here - on the run, in the arms of a Vinduthi bounty hunter, with more questions than answers.

I woke with a start, my heart racing as memories of our escape flooded back. The maintenance room was eerily quiet, save for the soft hum of machinery. Tharion’s arm was still draped around me, his body radiating warmth in the chilly space.

Carefully, I extricated myself from his grip and sat up, studying him. In sleep, his features softened, the sharp angles of his face less severe. The gash on his ribs had already closed, leaving only a faint pink line. Vinduthi healing abilities were truly remarkable.

My gaze traced the swirling green markings on his gray skin, following their path down his muscled chest and arms. He was undeniably attractive, in a dangerous sort of way.

I bit my lip. What was I thinking?

This was madness. He’d been hired to capture me, for reasons I still didn’t understand. I should be running as far away as possible. Yet something held me back, a pull I couldn’t explain.

I glanced at the vent we’d crawled through. It would be easy enough to slip away while he slept. But then what? I was alone on an unfamiliar station, hunted by forces I didn’t comprehend. At least with Tharion, I stood a chance.

“You’re staring.”

I jumped at the sound of his voice, my cheeks flushing as I realized he’d caught me watching him. Tharion’s eyes were open now, regarding me with amusement.

---