Page 53 of The Edge of Dawn

He was so alive.

Energy danced from her fingertips.

She didn’t want to let him go.

“Dragek, it’s fine,” she murmured, surprised at how gentle her voice sounded. “I’ll go ahead with this treatment. Unless you don’t think I should, for whatever reason…”

For a moment, she locked eyes with Zyara, who nodded as if she knew exactly what Jade was trying to do.

“No,” he said gruffly. “She is trustworthy. I was merely questioning why you should not have the best possible treatment that exists.”

“Believe me, if we had unlimited resources, I would offer you stasis and nano-surgery right away,” Zyara assured her. “But there’s the small matter of the fact that we have amassed many enemies, and things are predicted to get heavy.” She shot Dragek another pointed look. “As a warrior, I’m sure you understand the concept of appropriate allocation of resources. Fractures aren’t life-threatening injuries. Jade will be fine. She’s in one of the most heavily protected places in the Universe, isn’t she?”

Dragek loomed over them; big, menacing, and surprisingly… protective. “Fine,” he growled.

“Fine,” Zyara agreed. She disappeared behind an array of holo displays, and Jade heard her utter a series of rapid-fire commands in Kordolian.

She returned with a black vial of some sort in one hand. “Jade, can you tolerate injections, or would you have me sedate you?”

Jade waved her hand dismissively. Maybe it was the medication they’d given her, but she felt a little giddy for some reason. “Is that a needle? I’m fine with needles. I just don’t see how a needle is going to heal my broken bones.”

Zyara nodded. “The nano-particles inside this vial are programmed to be attracted to bone inflammation. They’ll infiltrate the fracture site and create a structural matrix that will accelerate bone repair. Once they’re in situ, you won’t feel much pain. Are you ready?”

“Get it over and done with. As long as you promise that I can go somewhere quiet and have a rest after all of this.” She really was tired. As Dragek had carried her to the medical bay, she’d almost dozed off in his arms.

Like a baby.

How was it even possible that she suddenly trusted him so much?

“Of course.” Zyara nodded. “In fact, I would demand that you rest. It’s part of the healing process.”

Dragek said nothing. He just loomed beside them.

Jade stiffened in anticipation. Suddenly, it occurred to her that she was really digging her fingers into Dragek’s arm—to the point where it was probably causing him pain.

It was the anticipation of the needle.

And yet, he didn’t flinch.

“All done,” Zyara said suddenly, and Jade blinked, for she hadn’t felt a thing—just a faint tingle in her forearm. “Don’t bear weight for the first day or so. After that, you should be fine to mobilize. We can arrange a small transportation device for you in the meantime. I’d imagine the general will be sending you onboard one of our ships, so you’ll have access to all the amenities you need.”

“Onboard? I didn’t think that…”

Dragek clamped his fingers over hers in a gesture that was somewhere between a reassuring touch and a possessive hold. The intensity in his eyes made her heart stop. “There are threats, Jade. Enemies. Those who would steal you for your Talent and force you to become that which you despise the most. But you’re here now, and I will not allow such a thing to happen to you. These people—they have the resources and the knowledge to help you contain your power. And the safest place for you to be is on one of the Fleet ships—in space, surrounded by the weapons and shields of the fleet.”

And everything had been going so well…

Her thoughts collided. Her mind became a chaotic mess—of infinite possibilities and the fear of being trapped for the rest of her life.

And worst of all… the fear that he might actually be her enemy—one who sought to control her and possess her only because of this mad dream-walking ability that they apparently thought was a Talent.

And why did she somehow get the sense that Dragek was somehow apart from Tarak al Akkadian and Zyara and that strange, scary one called Ashrael?

Like he wasn’t really a part of them…

But what could she do?

He was the only one here that she remotely trusted.

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