Page 46 of Akur

Another spasm rocked through him, and he dug his digits deeper into the stone. “Could still be a trap. More elaborate than their usual methods, but—”

“But what would be the point?” She turned to face him, and he could see the analyst in her taking over, piecing together the puzzle. When he didn’t answer, she pressed on. “He’s hiding us. Not just from the other Tasqals, but from the gator-guards, too. And he’s provided everything we’d need to…” her voice faltered slightly, “to survive for a while. Including medical supplies that seem specifically chosen for your condition.”

“What do you mean?” His gaze shifted to the items on the table, watching as she picked up some things.

“I’m wounded, but not horribly,” she glanced over at him, “thanks to you. I’m sure half of this isn’t for me. There’s gauze and some tubes of stuff.” She lifted a few and one caught his eye. Made him freeze.

Metcer cells.

The realization hit him through the haze of heat. The Tasqal had left metcer cells? Where did that fiend even get them from? Those cells were the only thing that could tame his heat. Bring him back to his former self without the worry of his cock extruding and demanding sating. Why? Why would a Tasqal do that?

Why not leave him weak and tormented? It would be easier to take the human away then.

“I mean, what are these things?” She picked up some more vials, her brow furrowing in confusion.

“You cannot therapy this, female—” She glared at him. “Kon-stahns.” Qrak. “The Tasqals cannot be read. They are unpredictable. The only thing one can predict with thosescum…” He stared back at her now. “Is their obsession with your kind.”

Silence descended between them.

“They want you. More than they’ve wanted anything else. I can only guess why.”

Her throat moved again. “Why? Why do you think…”

He studied her for a few moments. She really didn’t know? He supposed she wouldn’t. Her world was far away from this part of the galaxy. No one in the Restitution understood how the Tasqals even found her planet. And she’d been locked in stasis for much of the war. She didn’t know how the Tasqals fought to retrieve the first five humans…or how many more they killed.

“Because,” he finally said, not quite sure if he should speak the words so clearly. If he should let her know. Not sure how she would take it. “Your species holds the key to their survival.”

13

Constance

The stubborn alienwas still refusing help. He remained in the corner, glaring at her. And it might be the light, but she swore that red tinge from that fin at the back of his neck was spreading across his skin.

He was in heat. She’d heard the Tasqal say it and even though she didn’t trust the fiend, every second that passed she believed what he’d said was true. And Akur seemed intent on not telling her about it. He didn’t want her to help.

And…

And he’d kissed her.

She watched him now through the corner of her eye as she made use of the medical supplies the Tasqal had left. Cleaning and bandaging the wound on her shoulder, she’d taken the time to clean and put ointment on the other scratches and scrapes along her sides as well.

There was running water from a small spout in the corner and she made use of it, too. Washing her face. Her hands. Cleaning the blood, grime and what else from her skin. When she finished, she watched as Akur silently did the same. The heaviness of his silence weighing between them.

Fine. If he didn’t want to talk about it, then that was fine.

Her movements were slow. Maybe it was the biting cold in this room or just the tiredness. She was so very tired. Weary. She needed rest. But she wasn’t going to close her eyes. Adjusting herself on the stool by the table, she checked for any other wounds she might have missed, ever aware of the Shum’ai across the room. His last few words echoed in her head, despite that he remained silent.

Your species holds the key to their survival.

Those words; they meant more than he knew. Felt like they were important in some other way than just a grim proclamation or her role in this intergalactic war.

When she picked up one of the little vials of medicine the Tasqal had left and brought it close to her face, she heard the alien shift. She could see him sit up straighter in her peripheral vision.

An idea occurred, one she acted on immediately, pretending that the little vial slipped from her hand and she caught it before it hit the table. The way he jerked confirmed her suspicions. The vials, whatever was in them, he wanted them.

“You’re sure you’re alright?” She said, choosing to stare at the vial as she held it up to the light and turned it over.

“Fine.” His voice was so rough now, as if he was experiencing intense pain or torment.

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