Page 23 of Heart's Keeper

Lana nodded. "If he's violent again, I give permission to do so."

"It is tragic to see this happen. And at a time like this," Xilya said. "I wish we could turn back but..."

Lana nodded. "I know. We need to settle with the hunters first." Lana pressed her fingers to her eyes and breathed for a moment, then dropped her hand. "I thought about making him stay behind. When he first attacked Krel. But I couldn't bear the thought of being without him. I felt too weak to deal with the rumors. I'm already an outsider. I feared they'd think maybe it was because of me..."

Xilya crouched down beside her and made Lana look at her. "I can understand your fear. We both know it isn't your fault. When we return to Tryth, I will gladly defend you from anyone thinking otherwise."

Lana gave her a weak, sad smile. "I'd be grateful." She turned her eyes back to Xerus. "Have you learned anything else about what it might be?"

"Some findings. A few stories here and there. I must dig deeper."

Lana bowed her head. "I fear I can't do this without him. I know I have to."

"It's natural," Xilya responded. "A queen is not whole without her predomis."

"What if he doesn't come back to me?" Lana whispered, shivering. "What if he wakes up and..."

Xilya's expression darkened. "We will find a way to bring him back. I promise. And if anyone can get through to him, it is you. If you call to him, he will follow. If there is a shred of strength still in him, he will remember his oath to you as his queen. He must protect.”

Lana closed her eyes, wanting to believe it with all her heart. She remembered the day of their bonding ceremony and his vow to her as her predomis. His promise to her to be her guardian in all things. And to be her voice of reason. To guard and to advise.

To betray and break one’s vow was a death sentence.

She shuddered at the thought of what the other vrisha would do if they thought he had betrayed her. “We can’t let anyone else know. I will command the others to keep silent until something can be done. He can’t come out of here until we return to Tryth. Even if he wakes up seeming all right. We can't let him out."

Xilya gave her a sad, knowing look and bowed her head. "It must be done."

"I will tell the crew to inform me right away when he wakes up." Lana rose from her spot, and Xilya did the same. "Then we will talk."

"That would certainly be wise. If you need someone with you..."

"I'll let you know."

Xilya tilted her head at Lana as she leaned against the door and watched Xerus some more. "You should know I didn't come only to check on you," Xilya said with slight hesitation. "I know you want to be with him now...but you should be aware that the others have been growing restless to speak with the hunter and his...woman. They have been waiting outside."

Lana nodded and sighed. "We should talk to them." It took immeasurable strength to turn away from the locked room, an ache swelling in her chest as she did so. She ignored the pain and settled to follow Xilya out of the storage level and into the dark passage.

Before exiting the ship, she caught up with one of the crew, ordering them to inform her right away when Xerus woke up, then she and Xilya walked back out into the steamy jungle. The day was beginning to end, with the outside less blinding than before, now turning to a dull grayish color.

From the midpoint between the two ships, Lana's team and Elise with her hunter had drawn imaginary boundaries several feet away from each other, neither crossing but both keeping a wary eye. The vrisha paced or circled or stood watch, while the hunter sat quietly with his knees drawn up, blades resting in his hands, studying them, with Elise kneeling beside him.

When they saw her and Xilya approaching, each group seemed to relax, if only a little. Lana stopped just a few feet away, her and Elise locking eyes before she ordered the team to make a fire.

If they were to talk as a group, they needed a neutral space like the central chamber on the ship. But since she didn't expect either of the two to trust them enough yet to board her ship, they would have to work with the area around them.

The team worked quickly, digging out a pit and placing firewood, then setting the flame. As the fire grew, they each took a seat around it with Lana sitting opposite Elise and the hunter, who hadn't moved.

They watched each other without a word before Lana cleared her throat and looked at Elise. "Forgive me if my English is a little off. It's been a long time since I've used it."

Elise glanced at her partner, then nodded to Lana. "It's fine."

"It's just...very sudden and odd to see another human, and I hadn't had the time to really prepare..."

Elise smirked. "It's cool. I get it. I'm just glad you're not hissing or growling at me."

"I get seeing me like this with the vrisha is jarring."

Elise looked around at the others, then back at her. "You could say that."

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