Page 46 of Homecoming

Aeryn saw him. “My sister dumped noodles on you.”

He blinked and looked down at the mangled woman on the backboard. “Is that the tiny cow? Huh.”

“Thank you for finding her.” Aeryn sniffled, and then, she plowed him in the jaw. “And that is for insulting her!”

Ligo had staggered back and was clutching his jaw. “Sohar, pull your mate in.”

“She is protective of her little sister.”

“Sis... Aw, hell. That little bit of nothing is related to the goddess over there?”

“Ligo, just stop. You aren’t impressing anyone with your contempt for betas. If a marked beta comes your way, will you spit on her or insult her?”

“Of course not.”

The medics were getting ready to turn her over to check her back for injuries, and when they did, there was a giant squid and a seahorse.

Ligo muttered, “Fuck.”

Aeryn blinked. “I can feel her. She’s back! Oh. But she really isn’t happy.”

The medics laughed and said, “Good, if she is happy about this, she is twisted.”

A wheezing voice said, “Fuck off and die.”

The sound startled everyone but Aeryn. “Orla, I would hold your hand, but you are all bloody and gross.”

“Hey, bunny. Hope there wasn’t too much of a fuss.” Her words came out slowly.

They eased her back to her back, and Ligo made a confused sound. “Why does she look... different?”

“Stop. Staring. Perv.”

She was being rinsed, and Aeryn was furious. There were claw marks on her inner and outer thighs that hadn’t been visible before.

Calm, calm, calm, bunny. All that I lost was some shreds of skin, but that is why I had to get off that boat. I was too weak to hold up my concealment, and they took that as an invitation.

“Sohar, add sexual assault to the charges, please,” Aeryn said softly. “It was an attempt, but it was what spurred her escape.”

Ligo said, “She must have knocked the bastard out.”

Sohar said, “Six. Six of them were on that boat. They were all broken and bloody. She is no joke.”

The sound of a helicopter approached, and everyone looked skyward. They picked up the backboard and cleared the area for the landing, and then, Orla was loaded onto the helicopter with the medics, and they were up and on the way with Ligo hopping in at the last minute.

Aeryn shouted, “If you upset her, I will rip you down the middle and use you for bait!”

Ligo nodded through the window of the helicopter door.

Aeryn looked at Sohar. “We are following, right?”

“We are. Come on, let’s get you cleaned up. You are wearing a lot of blood.”

“Oh.” She looked down and vaguely remembered holding Orla as she set her down.

She went to shower, change, and then sat staring forward until Emerald Island appeared and got closer. She kept contactwith Orla the whole time, or rather, Orla kept it with her. It was like listening to a pulse.

Sohar squeezed her hand. “She will be fine.”

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