Page 101 of Rebirth

“I know,” I whisper, hating how much my eyes are threatening to close even though I’m fighting to stay awake. As if the moment I lose consciousness, this thing that’s within me will rush through my veins past my last resistance and take over. “He did it to save them.”

“Yes,” Adira says, “but there has to be some other way to save you. We can…try taking the parasite out—”

“I will end your life and that of any other being who enters this space and tries to do the same thing.”

Adira stiffens at He’rox’s words, blades getting longer, sharper, as she grits her teeth.

“Simple extraction is impossible.” He takes a step closer, dark blood brimming from his neck as he walks straight into one of Adira’s spikes as if they aren’t even there. “Soh’fee will die, and that end is UNACCEPTABLE.”

His tentacles coil and snap at his back, cracking the air like whips before they launch over him, all four pointing at Adira’s crown.

“Move, commander.”

Adira hesitates, blades withdrawing a little as she glances back at me even as He’rox advances. And I realize this woman who I hardly know is putting herself in danger just to protect me.

I smile at her, reaching weakly toward her even though only my fingers stretch in her direction.

“It’s okay,” I breathe. “I trust him.”

She studies me for a moment before letting out a breath.

“Fuck,” she mutters. “Fine. Do what you can.” She pins He’rox with her gaze. “Save her if you can.”

He’rox doesn’t hesitate. “I will.”

Only when she steps away do I see the massive wound in his chest.

“You’re hurt,” I murmur, even as my vision wanes and I fight to keep a hold on consciousness.

“Not yet,” he says, dark gaze locked with mine. “Only if I fail. And that is not an option.”

There’s a promise in his words that I cling to, knowing that if anyone can save me, it’s him.

A light matrix appears above me in a language I cannot read. Nearby, Adira paces, at the same time that there’s a thump in the wall.

Adira’s gaze snaps to where the entrance to the room is. “You locked them out?”

“I would have locked you out, too.” He’rox’s eyes remain on the matrix as his hands move like a whirlwind, the computer performing calculations every millisecond. Each formula he puts in comes back with a red flash against the screen. Every theory he tests comes back as a failure.

Adira’s jaw tightens as she moves to where the door stands seamlessly in the wall.

“Open it.”

“I must warn you, commander, if you let my brothers in they will try to stop me.” He looks up at her. “And I will kill them all.”

Adira’s throat moves as they hold gazes. “You would attack them? Kill them? Your own Vullankin.”

He’rox dismisses her with his gaze. “For Soh’fee, I will do anything.”

I stare up at him, amazed as I watch him work, and hardly believing this is really happening.

To have someone fight so hard for me…not even the one person I could trust in this whole world fought this hard for me while he was alive. My father taught me to fight for myself. But now…

He’rox clicks something in his native tongue, not bothering to speak to us in English. The wall moves, long needles coming out of the wall as his gaze flicks to mine.

“Do not be afraid, Soh’fee.”

But I am not. I am calm. Surprisingly calm as I watch the needles enter my skin, taking blood before they disappear into the wall.

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