Page 15 of Restoring the Ngozii

Thesilenceinthecave is damn near painful as we wait for something, anything, to happen. It takes everything in me not to pace or tap my foot or fingers. Kari leans against me, completely relaxed as she waits patiently. Her confidence in her destiny, in the Guardians, is overwhelming. I have confidence inher, in her abilities, and this isherdestiny, so I want to trust it, but I just feel that there’s so much at risk.

Our village is at risk if this fails and Tavionna decides she’s done playing nice. My father’s life has been at risk since he was poisoned by the psycho. Her people are at risk of dying from some unknown issue, and as much as I hate to think of innocent people dying for no reason, I still find I don’t want to help her.

Okay, that sounds mixed up and ridiculous. I want to help the innocent people, no one wants to be sick for no reason, but I don’t want to help Tavionna. I don’t trust that when this is all over she’ll just leave us be. I feel like it’s all a ploy or a lie. I don’t like it. She could easily use us to cure her people and then turn around and kill us all without a second thought. Considering that she already planned to do that before, I find it hard to simply trust her.

Footsteps echo down the hall, and Kosiiba jumps up, ready to defend, and I have to hold back a scoff. I’m going to have to teach that boy one hell of a lesson for stepping up to me like he did. How could he possibly think I would ever harm my own soul-bond!? I would cut off my own arms before I ever laid a hand on her improperly.

Guards come into the room and tell us to follow them, the priestess is ready to meet with us.About fucking time.I nearly groan that out loud, but apparently it filters through the bond because Kari smacks my arm and gives me a death glare. I shrug a shoulder at her, grabbing my lab kit, and follow the guards, keeping her between myself and Kosiiba.

My tail lashes anxiously behind me, and Kari, the minx, grasps it and lets it slide through her hand as it flicks to the side, making me shiver. I glance over my shoulder, her face an impartial mask as she eyes the caves around her as if she didn’t just give me a semi right here in front of a whole colony of people. Damn it. Things are serious, and she’s still managing to toy with me. Shoving that aside as her amusement filters through the bond, soothing the angry edges of my soul, I carry on and let out a deep breath.

We enter the main cave we portaled into and are led directly to Tavionna and her mates as they stand in the center, surrounded by her people and warriors, who watch us warily. Kari steps up to my side as I stop, Kosiiba coming up to her other side as we wait for her to speak.

There’s a long pause before Tavionna opens her mouth, speaking loud enough for everyone to hear. “After careful deliberation, we have decided to accept your help. I must admit that I am grateful to have someone offer such assistance, especially you. However, with the tensions between us, I am insisting that Kari stay with me as the tests are run. With her here as collateral, I know you won’t go against me and poison my people.”

“I would NEVER…” my seething growl is cut off by Kari’s hand on my chest as she spins to stand in front of me, her eyes glued to mine. The bond is wide open between us, her emotions flowing freely from her hand directly into my heart.

Please, Vahru, trust me. This is my opportunity to bond with her, to make her see reason, to STOP THIS WAR. Don’t ruin that. I have my comm, we have our bond, we’ll never be apart as long we’re linked. If I need you, you’ll know. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices to do what’s right. Trust is a two way street, my love, and this is me opening up that chance to build it with her.

I sigh as I stare down at her, hearing her words in my mind and feeling her truth in my soul. Her love filters through, strong enough to take my breath away, and I’m forced to close my eyes to stop the tears that threaten. Wrapping my arms around her, I pull her tight to me for a moment before letting her go. She smiles softly at me, mouthingI love youbefore turning to Tavionna.

“We accept your terms. I’ll help Vahru collect the samples he needs, and then I will remain here while he processes them at the lab.”

“If Captain Kari stays, so do I.” Kosiiba steps forward to stand by Kari, and a spark of pride lights my chest. Part of it is from Kari, the other from me. With Kosiiba here, I know she’ll be protected until I can reach her.

Tavionna rolls her eyes as if Kosiiba is nothing more than a nuisance to her, but she allows it. I nod to him in thanks when he glances over at me, and he returns the gesture.

“I’ll need to see the sick to gather samples for testing so I can determine the cause. If you would?” I hold out my hand, indicating for her to lead me on.

“Right, this way, please.” She turns and brushes past us, her Ngozii mate following her as Xenshay waits for us and brings up the rear. We’re led to a dark cave with a few guards and other people huddled around the sick lying on the floor in rows. I march to the end of the room and start in the back.

Dropping down beside the first patient, I open my large bag and withdraw a notebook and pen, handing it to Kari. Finding the label stickers and another pen, I hand them to Kosiiba as I instruct them to note the numbers of the patients, age, and date. I then pull out a thermometer, blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, and swabs. Kari notes down the patient's blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and any other issues I notice on the body, like the red eyes, if any blood is leaking, or sores on the body. After swabbing the mouth and nose, I have Kosiiba label each swab bottle and pack them into a case for travel.

We continue on like this through each patient until all have been checked. So far, the signs point to some form of poisoning or bug, just as Kari suspected. But only the tests will tell us for sure. “I also need to take samples from some of the healthy, preferably from family members of the sick so we can tell what’s foreign and what isn’t.” I look directly at Tavionna as I stand from the last patient, and she eyes me carefully. “Volunteers only, I’m not trying to push.”

She turns and looks at the crowd gathered in the hall before eyeing those in the room. Several step forward and begin to form a line for me, and I smile politely. “Thank you. If you wouldn’t mind telling us which patient you’re related to so we can note that?”

I sit and go over each healthy family member willing to let me check them over and take notes. It takes a long time, and we have more samples than I’ll be able to handle on my own. Help will definitely be needed for this. Once I’m finished, I pack up the bag and the notes Kari took and prepare myself to leave. Tavionna and her men escort us back to the main cave where they pause and wait for me to get going.

Kari unfastens the portal watch from her wrist, gently redoing it around my own. “Call Jeff when you get back, have him help you, catch him up, he’ll be valuable.”And try not to worry too much about me. I’ll be just fine. The priority right now is the sick.

Kari, you’ll always be my first priority.

Her lower lip wobbles for a second before she throws herself up into my arms, kissing me as if she’ll never see me again. Our bond swells with the love we share, and it takes everything in my power to let her go. Once her feet are on the ground, I set the watch for home and open the portal. Turning to it, I pause and glance back to Kari as she blows me a kiss, Kosiiba nodding to me with a serious expression when I glance at him. Sighing, I force my feet to move and step through, exiting beside my cabin.

Dropping my kit into the vehicle, I rip out my comm and dial Jeff.

“Where the hell have you been!? It’s been hours! What happened to constantly in touch?” Not even a hello when he answers on the first ring, straight to the yelling. I don’t even have it in me to sigh as I rub at my chest, anxious to get back to Kari.

“I’ll explain on the way to the lab, get here now, I need your help. We have a shit ton of samples to test.”

There’s no response as the line clicks off, Jeff’s angry face disappearing from view. Finally sighing, I put my comm into my pocket and lean on the vehicle, watching the path for the lieutenant as I constantly check my bond with Kari to make sure she’s still breathing and safe.

Chapter 10

Tavionna

Theblindinglightofthe portal that Vahru opens and steps through fades, leaving me staring at Kari and her child guard as they stare into the empty space. The boy puts a hand to her shoulder as she rubs at her chest, and I can’t help but scoff. What do these two know about pain? About love? They have no idea what the world is made of.

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