Page 78 of Aria's Ascension

The gunshot echoed off the walls as a fist-sized hole appeared in Zhrovni’s head. Face slack, he slid bonelessly to the floor, leaving a streak of green blood and grey matter behind.

Aria stepped back, then calmly shot him twice more in the chest, just to be sure he wouldn’t get back up, no matter what technology was used on his corpse.

A grunt behind her had her whipping around in time to see Tirox struggling to sit up on the gurney.

“Moons-damned magic,” he growled, relaxing back with a groan. “Kix, command this thing to release me!”

“You shouldn’t be trying to move anyway, you stubborn man!” she chastised, darting to him to lay a hand on his chest, the only part of him that didn’t appear to be injured.

Kix sprinted to the wall and tapped on a console. A faint hum she hadn’t really noticed abruptly cut off, and Tirox sighed in relief.

Scanning his body, she drew in a shuddering breath at the extent of his wounds. His legs, arms, and fingers were clearly broken, and almost every inch of his body was covered in cuts and slashes.

“Fucking bastard,” she choked. Bending over, she gently cupped Tirox’s cheeks and called, “Kix, do something!” More softly, she demanded, “Tell me you’re okay.”

His golden eyes were dark and still with pain, but a lopsided smile curled his full, red lips as he murmured, “I will live, my heart. It will take far more than a few scratches to pry me away from you.”

“Aessa,” Kix called softly.

Glancing at him, she saw him wave her over, his other hand hovering over the console on the wall. She nodded and reluctantly backed away, understanding he needed her to move in order to initiate the healing.

A buzzing sound, deeper than the earlier hum, started up as soon as she stepped away. Tirox threw his head back and bellowed behind gritted teeth as his bones cracked and shifted back into place, his skin knitting together before her very eyes.

His screams of pain were like knives in her chest. Aria had to curl her hands into fists, clenching them until her fingers ached, to stop herself from reaching for him, but she couldn’t stop the tears from spilling down her cheeks.

She felt warmth at her back and knew instantly it was Thrasin. How he’d managed to get so close without her hearing him she didn’t know, and didn’t care.

Swaying backward, she leaned against him, letting his heat chase away some of the coldness in her bones. Kix and Rellik closed in on either side, offering their comfort, as well. She blindly reached for their hands, using their touch to steady herself as she watched Tirox’s body reform.

The healing only lasted maybe five minutes, but it was the longest five minutes of her life. Thankfully, Tirox passed out after the first.

When the buzzing died, Kix pulled her into his chest and wrapped her in a tight hug.

“We need to search the building to ensure there are no enemies left, lying in wait. Stay with him. We will not be long,” he murmured against her hair.

She should go with them, but she nodded instead.

“Be careful.”

“Always, my treasure.”

When they left, Aria climbed up on the gurney, tucking herself into Tirox’s side, and laid her head on his chest, listening to the reassuring sound of his heartbeat as she waited for him to wake up.

There was so much to be done. She needed to gather up and question the ants, search the spaceship for survivors, wake up the slaves in stasis, make sure Skaa and the men below made it out, secure the building, prepare for police or scavengers to show up, and a hundred other things…

But all that would have to wait.

Aria wasn’t going anywhere until Tirox opened his beautiful, hypnotic eyes and gave her that wide, mischievous smile she loved so much.

Chapter 43

An hour later, Aria was grumbling under her breath as Tirox strolled merrily down the halls, carrying her like a princess.

“Damned stubborn, bullheaded alien.”

“Mmm, but I am your stubborn alien, am I not?” he purred in response, boosting her higher to nuzzle his face into her hair.

The moment he woke up, he’d been ready to go, and no matter how insistently she ordered him to lie back down, sure he needed more rest after everything he’d gone through, he wouldn’t listen.

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