Page 22 of Akur

Bringing her hand to her mouth, she took a tentative taste, bracing for the worst. If this was some kind of sewage, she was prepared to cut her tongue out—

But it was water. Clean water. At least, it tasted that way. She’d just have to trust she’d found a busted pipe in what she was realizing must be the city’s underground. These tunnels must stretch wide and far. Somehow, the teal rebel had transported them to this location, but it was only a matter of time before the gator-guards thought to look for them here. Until then, they had to get teal guy better and find a way off this planet.

Tucking the hilt of his sword under her arm, she washed her hands before cupping them underneath the leak. It wasn’t effective, but it was the best she could do. When her hands were full, she turned around and counted her steps back.

It took much longer to find the alien again. At one moment, she wondered if she’d lost him, took a turn she didn’t realize, but when her shoes hit against his boots and shock almost made her lose the water she’d so carefully carried, she released a breath of relief instead.

Falling to her knees, she crawled over the alien, finding his lips with the back of her hand. They wouldn’t budge. He wasn’t opening his mouth.

Shit.

The water trembled in her cupped palms, precious drops already escaping between her fingers. She couldn’t waste a single moment, but she also couldn’t lose what little she’d gathered. She needed him to open his mouth, and she needed him to swallow.

Leaning closer, she tried to gauge his position by touch alone. She could barely make out his features in the dark, but she thought his face was turned slightly to the side based on where his breaths hit her cheek.

His breathing had grown more labored in her absence; each inhale a painful rasp that made her wince. She needed to get the water into him, and she only had one idea.

“Don’t you dare read anything into this.” She didn’t know why she even bothered speaking. She doubted he could hear her. “This is purely survival. Like in those wilderness shows where they have to…never mind. Just don’t die on me.”

Carefully, so carefully, she lowered her face until her lips found his. They were warm, just like the rest of him, and barely parted. The sensation made her pause. Made her almost change her mind. But she had no other choice.

Using the gentlest pressure she could manage, she pushed against his lips with her own, trying to create enough of an opening.

His lips remained stubbornly closed.

“Come on.” It was a plea. “Work with me here. You need water. You need to heal. You need tolive, you stupid, brave fool.”

She tried again, this time using her teeth to catch his upper lips and pulling ever so slightly. A tremble went through her that she ignored. He tasted exactly like he looked. Like mint in chocolate. An inappropriate thought for one of the most inappropriate things she’d ever done. Pressing her eyes closed, she worked her lips against his, nudging, teasing until finally—there—the smallest gap. It would have to be enough.

Moving with painful slowness, she positioned her hands above the opening she’d created and let the water trickle down, drop by precious drop. Most had been lost on the journey back. Only a few drops made it into his mouth.

There was a weak cough, then the blessed sound of swallowing.

“That’s it,” she whispered, relief making her voice shake. “Just like that. Stay with me, Mint Man. Stay with me.”

Gripping his sword once more, she turned to face the darkness once again. The water was working, and that meant she needed more.

He was still fighting. Still holding on.

And as long as he was fighting, so would she.

6

Akur

Pain.Everywhere.

Was death not supposed to be peace? It wasn’t. The gods of Tonvuhiri lied.

He tried to groan, but all that happened was a strained sound in his throat.

If he wasn’t dead, then by some miracle, he lived, and he wasn’t sure which was worse. He couldn’t move. Still couldn’t see.

No. Wait. Hecouldsee. But darkness surrounded him so thickly, it was as if no light had graced this space in eons.

The human. Where was she?

Kon-stahns.Qrak. They’ve probably taken her already. Left him here thinking he was dead. And he couldn’t even move. The most he could do was ball his claws into fists.

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