Page 22 of Badari Medic

Brent had only one concern on his mind. “Is Raeblin here?”

The soldier stepped aside and pointed at the lobby behind him. “Yeah, she and the human prisoners are in there, in the hall.” He grabbed Brent’s upper arm. “She’s done a great job but you need to know she’s wounded. Not too bad.”

Ripping himself from the warrior’s grasp, Brent sprinted to the door and eased through the broken frame. Badari soldiers preparing to move out gaped at him but he ignored them, running through the debris to the hallway beyond. “Raeblin!”

She slumped on the floor, leaning on the wall, a makeshift bandage on her leg, her face a mask of pain and shock but as he arrived, she tried to struggle to her feet. The humans crouching near her tried to dissuade her from moving.

Brent settled the issue by scooping her up in his arms. “Sweetheart, they never should have sent you out here and especially not without your mate to watch your six.”

For a moment her brave façade held and then she crumpled, clutching him so tightly he had a hard time breathing. “Where’s your medkit?” he asked.

“Under a ton of ceiling and walls,” she said, hiccupping through her tears. “I was so scared, Brent, but I kept working and I tried to protect the humans when the attack happened.” Raising her head, Raeblin kissed him hard and he tasted the salt of her tears on his lips. “I prayed to the goddess to see you again and you came. You came for me.”

“That’s what a good mate does,” he said. Raeblin still in his arms, he yelled at the two remaining Badari soldiers. “You got a Badari healer with you here?”

“Hainn, from the South Seas,” one man answered. “I’ll call him now.”

“Tell him to hustle.” Brent found a clear space to set his precious burden down, got out his knife and cut away her already torn, blood-stained pants leg. The wound was bad, but he could see her body was attempting to heal. The problem was if it healed too fast, contaminants or shrapnel might be sealed inside, leading to further complications. “Where the seven hells is the healer?”

“On his way,” the Badari said. “Hey, thanks for the help, brother. You took out the enemy like nothing I’ve ever seen.”

“An injured mate will inspire a man,” Brent said with a cocky grin. “Highly motivating.” Turning his attention to Raeblin, who was breathing hard and seemed to be fading in and out, he joked, “Maybe you need a hit of my blood today.” He wished the damn medic would hurry up.

“Did you—did you call me your mate?” she asked, eyes wide and glowing golden.

“Well I’m not consummating the bond here and now but as soon as you’re healed and I can get you home, yeah, I’d be honored to claim you. If you want to claim me.”

Hainn arrived before she could respond. He went to his knees next to Raeblin and examined the wound with a critical eye. Taking out his kit, he warned her, “This is going to hurt.”

She grabbed Brent’s hand and held on for dear life as the South Seas medic poured an antiseptic cleansing solution over her injury, washing out grit and shrapnel and blood flowed freely. Raeblin gasped and her fangs deployed as if to challenge the healer for inflicting pain, but she quickly retracted them and closed her eyes. Hainn wasted no time in placing his hands above her shattered leg, the green glow of his healing power blazing. As Brent watched, cradling Raeblin in his arms as best he could without being in the way, the exposed bone knit smoothly and the underlying nerves and blood vessels wovethemselves together, with layers of skin flowing to cover the previously open wound.

“You’ll need to see Timtur when we get back to the valley,” Hainn said as the glow faded. “He’ll make sure the healing was done properly.”

“You did a nice job, brother,” Brent said.

The healer acknowledged the praise with a tired smile and patted Raeblin on the shoulder. “It’ll hurt for a bit and don’t worry if you need to sleep for about twelve hours straight. I’ve mended the damage but your body has to catch up with the trauma.” He assessed the twenty or so humans clustered a few yards away. “I can deal with them.”

“I should help,” Raeblin said. “I’d done most of the checks before the attack began but there might be new injuries.”

“You’re taking care of yourself now,” Brent said, admiring her determination to do her job despite her own pain, but he wasn’t having any of it. Not on his watch. “And I’m taking care of you.” He looked to Hainn. “Who’s in charge of this team?”

“Wyat, you met him outside.”

“Tell him I’m taking Raeblin to the valley now. I can take a few more passengers, maybe five, if he wants. But we’re going now.”

Startled, Hainn offered no objections. “Wyat says fine and yes, please take as many humans as you can. We lost one flyer, you know.”

“I saw when I came in. Lose anyone?”

“A few injured, like Raeblin, no fatalities, thank the goddess. Several close calls.” Hainn patted Raeblin on the shoulder and moved toward the humans. Quickly he indicated five people to go with Brent and Raeblin.

“I’m moving fast,” Brent warned the group. “So keep up. I need to get my mate home.” He exited the building, careful not to let any of the jagged edges of the door touch Raeblin,and headed off across the compound. He heard rapid footsteps behind him but he honestly didn’t care. His only concern was the woman in his arms and getting her to safety.

He met Gabe as they were going. “Figures you’d show up at the party,” his friend said, “Even if you were late.”

“I like to make a grand entrance,” Brent replied. “Caught a bit of your dogfight. Nice job.”

Gabe was inspecting Raeblin with a critical eye. “She okay?”

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