Page 33 of Saving Lauren

I sigh. That sounds like an awesome plan. I cannot wait to be far away from here, blowing this ship to pieces sounds like music to my ears.

We return to the Command Center of the ship. T’Rak and O’Rec immediately get into their chairs and start to work. D’Var gently sets me down on the bench. The ship starts to move, turning away from the ship of the Sternotheri, I take a final look.

It’s a crazy coincidence that Yalix is working with them, but I guess that only shows the level of psychopath he is. Still, there is so much to unpack, but for now it can wait.

“Are you hungry, thirsty?” D’Var asks, and I see the concern on his face. I feel so dirty, and I am tired.

“I would love some water,” I say. He takes a step towards the mess hall, but I feel his struggle and my bond starts screaming as well, so I grab his hand.

“Don’t leave me,” I whisper, he nods in understanding. O’Rec heaves a sigh, but he winks when he walks past us and goes to get me a bottle of water. He hands it to D’Var, who then hands it to me. I smile at O’Rec, thankfully, and he crouches before me.

“We have to get you to the med bay as soon as possible. We need to heal your leg. Also, we have to disable the tracker, so they cannot find you again. We want to take you home.”

“Home?” I echo, it’s the first I have heard of that.

“Home,” D’Var confirms and when I put the cap back on the bottle, he scoops me up and carries me towards the med bay.

He gently sets me down on the table and I hiss, my leg is throbbing. With all the adrenaline gone from my body, the pain has come back with double the intensity.

“I have you,” D’Var murmurs and he calls out to O’Rec, who appears with scanners by our side.

“Tracker first,” I grimace. “I can hold on for a bit longer, just get the damned thing out.”

O’Rec nods approvingly and gets to work. He probes my head with the scanner, then with his fingers. A piercing pain arises from my skull causing me to cry out. D’Var gets to his feet immediately and shoves O’Rec, so I grab his arm, while I grit my teeth.

“It’s okay, D’Var. What needs to be done, needs to be done.” I look at O’Rec.

“Was that the tracker?”

He nods.

“Just get it out, please.”

“It will hurt," he begins, but I yell at him.

“JUST GET IT OUT!” Tears are streaming down my face again and I am panting. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m just…” D’Var wipes away my tears, touching my forehead with his.

“Do not apologize. Squeeze my hands, it will hurt, but O’Rec will get it out fast.” He gives O’Rec a menacing look.

“Will you not, O’Rec?”

O’Rec just laughs. I feel a piercing pain in my skull, and everything goes dark.

Slowly I come awake, I realize I am lying on the table, D’Var is holding my hand, O’Rec is nowhere to be found. I moan as I try to sit up, and D’Var reaches around me to help.

“Is it done?” I ask and he nods. I sigh with relief as a tear escape down my cheek. “Thank God. The thought of Yalix being able to track me again makes me sick. It just … it had to come out.”

D’Var smiles. “You are a strong fierce warrior, my mate. And even strong fierce warriors do sometimes have enough. It did make it easy for O’Rec to tend to your leg.” I turn my leg a bit so I can look at my inner thigh. It’s cleaned up and the wound has healed quite a bit.

“Did you give me nano’s again?” I ask and he nods.

“Yes, we did. Unfortunately, we cannot heal the brand itself. It is there permanently.” I swallow hard. I feel tears burning, but I am determined to push them away.

A lonely tear still escapes my eye and trails across my cheek. D’Var wipes it away, holding me close.

“I hate that.” I choke out. “I hate that I will always have to be reminded of my terrors.”

D’Var shakes his head. “It is not a reminder of your terrors - it is a reminder of your strength. You have been through the worst, yet you came out on top. You won. The sight of you with that bone club is a sight I will always remember. I am so proud of you, my Zarra, my fierce and strong mate. There is no other like you in the entire galaxy and every day I thank the stars for finding you.”

---