Page 8 of Battle Fluke

Hudson laughed. “Oh, are you afraid I might hurt yourlittleinnocent one? I’m sure she can defend herself if she wants to.”

“I won’t fight you.” The hostile spit of words was almost as shocking as the two being found together at all.

Hudson slowed down, facing the larger, unhurt mer. She swam closer, getting in her face again, brushing their cheeks as she whispered, “Not even to save your own life?”

The mermaid looked horrified, and for a moment, Hudson smiled, thinking she understood. This mermaid hadn’t realized until now the danger she was truly in.

“No. I won’t fight you or anyone else. Not even to save my own life.”

Hudson laughed again, though this time the swirl of curiosity inside of her was uncomfortable and new.

“Bring them to my cave.” Hudson swam off. She fought the urge to look back, to see how these two reacted to her words. But she knew better than to show any true interest, to show any curiosity beyond what she normally would.

In her cave, she swam directly to her collection of herbs and moss. She pulled out several of each, and after a moment, grabbed a few long strands of seaweed as well. By the time the two were escorted in, she sat calmly on her stone, the supplies hidden in the shadows beside her.

“Loosen the ties.” Hudson spoke before Cryloc could open his mouth.

“Hudson?”

“Are you questioning me, Cryloc?”

“No.” His word was a salute of honor, the way she demanded.

He untied the larger one first, probably because he thought she was the weaker one—but Hudson knew better. Instantly, she swam to the other’s side, pulling at the ties that bound her. Hudson watched, head tilted. Such an innocent, as though the words she spoke were actually the truth, without hidden agenda or other motive.

“She needs help now.” Innocent, but not weak. Hudson had never imagined such a thing possible before. The one had always meant the other.

“Yes.” Hudson nodded, and for a moment longer, she lingered on the image of this young lithe mermaid holding up her stronger though smaller and injured companion. “You can go, Cryloc.”

Cryloc opened his mouth, but a narrowed gaze in his direction shut it. He turned and swam away, fluke moving with force, sending waves of water back to her. She knew his concerns. But she wouldn’t ever again let a mer, man or maid, have her question her decisions. Not a single one of them.

“She’s going to die.” The larger mermaid laid her companion on the floor of the cave, gently resting the other’s lolling head against the wall. Such gentle care, in the same place Hudson had so recently pressed Mika to the wall, telling him not to question her again. The irony was not lost on her.

“No, she’s not.” Hudson chuckled and reached down into the shadows of her seat and plucked up the pile of supplies, all wrapped up in one of the longer strips of seaweed she had collected with the moss and herbs. “I have supplies enough to heal her.”

“Thank you.” She swam closer and reached for the pack.

Hudson pulled it back before it could be taken. “But you have to tell me something first.”

“What?” Her eyes were so wide and dark, they were disarming.

“What are your names?”

“I’m Kyree, and this is Honour.”

“Ah.” Hudson handed over the pack and nodded. She watched as Kyree swam to where Honour sat, her chin now on her chest, consciousness all but gone. It seemed almost too easy, until Hudson’s fingers strayed to the scars that raised the skin over the ribs on her right. It was the reminder she needed. None of this had ever been easy. She had fought for every step she took, and she would be a fool not to take this opportunity for what it was.

Pushing herself from her seat, she silently assisted Kyree in changing the dressings and mixing the herbs. After all, what was the point of having one of Reine’s best generals as a captive if she allowed her to die.

“Rest,” Hudson said as Kyree swayed and stumbled into her.

“Honour.”

“I’ll watch her. She’ll survive. I’ll make sure of it.” Hudson was glad none of her own men were in there to hear the softness in her voice, a tenderness that she had long outgrown.

“Okay.” The faith and trust Kyree’s voice held itched at Hudson’s skin. She wanted to tear it out of her and throw it to the deep soundings.

“You have to let us go.” Honour’s voice was weak, but the strength of her position still carried in her voice.

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