Page 39 of Orc's Forbidden Claim

“How far?” Sek’su asks.

He’s breathing heavily and he’s curling over again, clearly in extreme pain. Wren has a look of such intense worry that it breaks my heart for her. Khiara stares at Sek’su for several seconds, then unexpectedly he puts his hand on Sek’su’s good shoulder.

“Bad?” he asks.

Sek’su looks up, panting, and nods. Khiara grunts and then looks around, but for what, I’m not sure. He grimaces, then he’s looking at me. The downturn of his lips eases, but the worry in his eyes doesn’t. I know him well enough that I know he’s thinking over something.

“I can make it,” Sek’su huffs.

“Good,” Khiara says, not looking away from me.

I can read the look in his eyes too easily now. Doubt. He doesn’t think that Sek’su can make it, and he has no idea how to help. My stomach clenches into a hard ball. Khiara closes his eyes as he takes my hand in his. It’s a brief moment but understanding passes between us. We both know it could have been him that was hurt. Now we have to do all we can to get Sek’su home.

“Can we just go?” Wren asks, her voice trembling.

“Yes,” Khiara says, his voice deeper and even more grumbly than usual.

Reluctant, I let go of his hand. He keeps his grip on mine a moment longer than I do him before turning and leading the way.

27

KHIARA

Ikeep us moving as quickly as Sek’su can manage. We’re still far from the lizards’ compound. It’s an effort to not continuously look back at him. The poison is coursing through his body.

I was an animal handler in my younger years. That experience gave me first-hand knowledge of how the cudov are. One of the other handlers didn’t follow protocol and was poisoned. He didn’t make it even with the healers at hand. It was a lesson not soon forgotten.

Though we need to move fast, I also have to watch for traps and be alert for Urr’ki patrols. It’s a strange feeling to realize I’d be glad to have a Zmaj patrol show up. Being a lone warrior in the tunnels is fine, but a lone warrior with two females to protect is a far cry from okay. And they are two human females. Urr’ki females would be able to defend themselves, but the humans are not from Tajss. Their bodies are not suited for the dangers. I believe their souls, at least some of them, are born of Tajss, but their bodies are designed for the home their people left behind in the stars. Not born of the sand and rock of Tajss itselfand therefore not strong enough to withstand the rigors without protection.

And I will protect her. First and foremost. She is mine.

The growl that slips past my lips is unexpected. A side effect of the depth of my passion and need for her. Leaving the cavern behind and entering another of the crisscrossing tunnels that burrow throughout the mountain, I push the pace as fast as I dare, knowing Sek’su is getting weaker by the moment. Until it happens.

“Oh!” Wren exclaims.

When I turn, he’s on his knees, pressing his hands to the ground. He heaves and huffs, trying to push his way back to his feet. Saylor goes to his side too, pressing her hands to his face. Jealousy, stupid and unnecessary but still strong, stabs into my chest. Narrowing my eyes, I stalk forward.

“Get up,” I demand.

Sek’su raises his head. Pain is written over his face, but he nods, pushing against the ground. His arms shake with the effort but he rises. Wren and Saylor give what support they can, though both of them together cannot weigh even half as much as the Zmaj.

His head is bowed, his breathing ragged, and his entire body trembles. I grab his chin jerking his face up so I can look into his eyes. I move in close. Two fingers width from his face.

“You will make it,” I growl. “You hear me?”

He nods, swallows, and clears his throat.

“Yes,” he huffs.

“Good,” I say, dropping his chin. His knees quaver and he almost drops. I slap his face. Wren yelps and Saylor steps between us but my focus remains on him. “No. You hear me? You do this for her.”

I point at Wrenlee. Sek’su is huffing in anger now, not with the need to succumb. He turns his head to Wrenlee. She stares at him with wide-eyes and an open mouth. He raises his hand and strokes her face.

“Yes,” he says, not looking away from her. He straightens, squaring his shoulders the best he can, and takes a deep breath. “Yes.”

I give Saylor a quick look. She’s angry with me and I see it. There is nothing I can do about that right now. I will cross that bridge when I get our group to safety. Turning away from her seething eyes I set the pace even faster than I had before.

28

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