Page 22 of Heart's Keeper

"I wouldn't go near, Risa," he said. "Your predomis isn't himself."

Lana had started to protest when the fighters came close enough that the sand they kicked up sprayed her body and stung her eyes, forcing her and the others to move farther back. Elise came around and got the hunter's attention. She spoke to him in a language Lana didn't understand, and the hunter in turn barked something back. Xerus' attack never slowed and neither did the hunter's. Elise continued to argue with her man even as he fought, trying, Lana hoped, to persuade him that they weren't a threat.

Something must have gotten through to the hunter because, as he leaped to one side and ducked Xerus' tail, he gave Lana a swift look and noticed Elise beside her with the others. He jumped back as far as he could from Xerus to try and gain some ground, but Xerus was on him before he could even pause. Xerus' strikes became less organized and more savage, forcing the hunter to move faster lest he lose a limb or find his guts on the ground. Lana knew something had to be done. She looked to the others and made a decision; one that it pained her to make but was, at that moment, necessary.

"Make him stop," she told them. "Whatever you have to do."

Their faces turned grim, but they understood. As the hunter threw his blade, catching Xerus' thigh, Xerus shot forward and kicked the alien down, forcing him on his back. With mouth open wide and teeth ready to sink into flesh, Xerus lunged down at the hunter, and, in turn, the hunter drew up his second blade, ready to stab Xerus' neck. Before either could make contact, Gyrix and Krel grabbed hold of Xerus and dragged him back, hooking their talons into his sides. The sisters came around the front, placing themselves between the hunter and Xerus, their teeth bared as Xerus snarled and snapped at them.

Tears stung Lana's eyes as she watched them take him down, forcing him to the ground. He struggled and writhed under them, almost breaking free several times.

Even with the two males sinking their claws in him and the females grabbing his horns and tail, it took several minutes to pin him right so that he couldn't get up. To Lana, the process felt like days and made her feel exhausted just watching. She badly wanted to go to him, to try to bring him out of whatever maddened state he was in. Once they had him pinned, she could no longer just stand there and wait. She cautiously approached and crouched down, hoping to make him come to his senses. But as she reached for him, his eyes turned up at her, and she flinched, immediately drawing back.

She hadn't seen that look on him since...

Her body turning cold, Lana rose on shaking limbs and backed away. A hand touched her shoulder, and she jumped.

“Let me put him out…so we can get him back on the ship safely," Aryus said from behind her.

Not knowing what to say, Lana merely nodded and stepped aside to let Aryus pass. As he approached, Xerus let out a deep growl. Aryus gripped Xerus’ neck in one place, covering the vents at the curve of his throat. Then, with two knuckles, he swiftly brought down his other hand and clocked Xerus in the head. Xerus went out instantly, his head dropping into the sand, eyes rolling back and lids closing, body going limp.

As soon as he was out, the team let him go, turning him over so he was on his back. Kneeling in the sand, Lana took hold of his head, placing it on her lap. She whispered a few words and brushed her fingers along the side of his face, then lowered her head and kissed his mouth.

Xerus, what's happened to you?she thought, an ache growing in her chest at the sight of his sleeping form.

"We should get him to the ship quickly, Risa," said Nix. "Before he wakes up..."

Lana quickly wiped tears away, then turned her head and looked up at the vrisha female and nodded. She carefully stood up and allowed the team to take hold of him, moving as quickly as possible back to the ship. Only Aryus stayed behind with her.

Lana watched them go for a moment, then looked over at Elise and her supposed mate, who had been standing nearby. The hunter looked guarded, his arm wrapped protectively around Elise's waist. Lana approached with caution, keeping her fear and concerns at bay.

"I need to return to the ship. I ask that you don't leave until we've talked," Lana said with as much authority as she could muster. "I think we both have a lot of questions that need answers."

Elise nodded and it was enough that Lana trusted they would stay. Her thoughts turning back to Xerus, Lana quickly returned to Aryus, who waited nearby, and allowed him to lift her up once more and take her swiftly back to the ship.

Chapter Nine

Lana sat on the cold ground, her shoulder pressed against a grated, barred door. Peering through one of the openings, she could see beyond into the small room and to Xerus sleeping within.

The room had been meant for storage but had been quickly emptied, the items within being exchanged for Xerus' body. They told her before they’d placed him inside that he had woken briefly, only to blink up at them as if he didn't know them before falling back asleep. When Lana returned to the ship, she found him in the storage room with the door locked tight. All she could do was stand there looking at him, feeling a sickening ache growing in her chest. The others understood her need to be alone with him and so departed quickly after to give her space.

She couldn't say how long she had been sitting there staring at him, but she knew it must have been a long while because, several times, crewmen had come in to check on her. They didn't speak or ask if she needed anything, knowing if she did, she would call on them. They left her, knowing there was nothing they could do and that she needed time.

Lana knew she couldn't sit there forever, hoping just watching Xerus would make him better. But she couldn't seem to bring herself to leave his side either, despite knowing she would eventually have to. They still had to complete the mission. She had to go on. She had to be the leader they expected even if she didn't feel it. Even if all she wanted to do was crawl into the room and lie next to her mate and hope when he woke he would recognize her and everything would be fine.

Lana wiped away another tear as it fell, her hand shaking. She took deep breaths, trying to find the calm she needed to think about what to do next. It was hard as she realized how much she needed Xerus beside her, not just as partner and predomis, but as mentor and friend. She'd never felt more alone, and she had to decide what to do now that he couldn’t be beside her. Knowing she would have to finish the mission without him as he stayed locked away for his safety and the safety of the others.

Her eyes flitted over the grated metal of the door, and she wanted to throw up and weep all at once. She had decided they needed to put him somewhere safe. But as soon as she had laid eyes on him in the room, all she could see was a cage. She had locked him away. Something she never would have dreamed, never would have believed, she would ever do. Not since Lazris.

Tears slipped down her face, and she angrily wiped them away. No, it was no good letting her emotions run away with her about it now. She needed to get up and do what had to be done. When everything was over, she would leave straight for home and find Xerus a cure.

The door behind Lana slid open, and she heard the soft clicking of footsteps across the central storage level till they stopped beside her. Lana looked up and saw Xilya looking through the grated door.

"How is he?" she asked.

Lana let her gaze slip back down to her lap. "He sleeps for now. I can't say how he will be when he wakes up."

Lana caught Xilya's tail flick upward beside her. "When he does, we can administer a calming spray if..."

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