Page 39 of Heart's Keeper

Elise cursed as Nezka righted her. They watched one side of the station burn, embers and ash falling onto the trees. Lana had started toward the fire, as if she could somehow help—could somehow stop it—when Elise reached out and grabbed her arm.

"We can't do anything now," she said. She pulled Lana away, and, knowing she was right, that nothing could be done, Lana turned and followed her and Nezka back into the forest.

As the light faded from the setting sun, the forest grew dark and ominous. She could hear the crackling and splitting of wood and smell the smoke as fires grew around them, made from the hunters and their weapons. Still, they pushed on until the smoke and heat drove them closer and closer to the edge of the valley, forcing their path around the forest and alongside the open field. From there, Lana could see the hunters’ ships sitting not far off and could see those who still fought out in the open, running and dodging in and out of red smoke created by Gyrix's bombs. Many men were down, bodies scattered across the landscape. Those who still lived had hunkered down in groups between large rocks or behind the now broken mechsuits. She saw those of her team, saw the sisters fighting way off in the forest at the opposite side, saw Gryrix disappear as he leaped off a rock and chased down one of his enemies. She saw no sign of Krel or Aryus but knew they had to be somewhere close, somewhere near the station. It was only when she caught sight of a dark shape between the fumes of field smoke that she had to pause and then stop.

Breathless, she stood there watching, uncertain if she had seen it right. And even if she thought she saw it right, her mind told her it was likely Krel or Aryus after all, stalking a hunter who was about to set his sights on a group of men hiding behind a fallen mech. Still, she couldn't bring herself to move, even as she heard Elise call to her. She waited, feeling like she was rooted to the ground and nothing in the world could move her. Watching the red smoke with acute focus, she saw a familiar silhouette; a massive black shape against a red screen.

With the fires and the setting sun, the sky lit up in a sea of orange and red that reminded Lana briefly of home. A wind blew the smoke into a thin twister and, in the red haze, Xerus stalked slowly out in the open. His eyes, a violent reflection of the blazing fires around him, focused in on the hunter, his face stuck in a twisted snarl. He bent his head and closed in on the hunter like a predator stalking its prey.

Something must have given him away because the hunter turned suddenly and drew up his weapon. In response, Xerus struck. Faster than Lana had ever witnessed, he took the hunter out, ripping into his throat, spraying blood. A memory came to her of seeing Xerus do the same to a soldier in a video before they were ever together. Seeing it now with her own eyes made her feel sick.

"Lana? Lana, we have to go," she heard Elise shout.

Lana didn't respond. She wasn't sure she even could. She watched Xerus slaughter the hunter, pieces of armor and flesh spewing across the grass.

He's gone. He's gone, Lana, and you can't save him. You have to leave him and go.

She was shocked. Shocked and decidedly angered by this thought. This ugly, betraying, hopeless thought.

"No," she said aloud.

"What? What do you mean?" Elise said from beside her. "You can't stay, Lana. You're gonna get killed if you stay. Do you hear me?"

Xerus rose up and saw the men, his nostrils flaring, teeth bared. He started for them.

As soon as he took a step toward them, a shot went off, and the ground right at his feet sprayed dirt. As he looked around, so did Lana, and she saw some several dozen meters off, a sniper and his comrade up on a rocky hillside, his gun aimed in Xerus' direction. Xerus hissed, then turned back toward the men and took another step. This time, a bullet hit its mark across Xerus' back. He growled but didn't stop. The men huddled behind the mech, empty guns at their feet. With trembling hands, they drew knives.

"Dammit," Elise growled. "Nezka, pick her up, let's get out of here—"

"No," Lana said again, louder. She turned to Elise and fixed her with a piercing glare. "No. Go to the ship and keep any hunters back. I'm staying."

Elise looked at her, confused and concerned until she looked up and her eyes widened. "What is that vrisha doing?" She started forward and Lana stopped her. "Isn't that your guy?"

"I have to go."

"Lana!"

Lana squeezed her arm. She forced Elise to look at her. "I have to go to him. You'd do the same for Nezka." She glanced over at the ex-hunter, who watched her carefully. Elise looked at him, then turned back to Lana with a frown. "If you go out there..."

"I know." Lana smiled sadly. "Go."

Elise shook her head but stepped back. Nezka took Elise's arm and drew her close to him. He bowed his head to Lana as if he understood.

"Thank you. To you both." Lana bowed her head. Without looking back at them, she turned and stepped out into the open. She started at a walk that quickened into a jog and then into an outright run.

"Lana? Lana, can you hear me?" Xilya called from her techband, her voice a mere hiss. "Don't go to him, Lana, he will kill—"

Lana yanked her techband off and threw it. As she passed through a small layer of smoke, she covered her face and coughed but didn't stop or slow. She didn't look around her to see if any hunters were coming or if soldiers were going to fire on her. She looked only ahead to Xerus as she called out to him.

His eyes were still on the men as he had yet to see her. He bent his head low and exposed his fangs, ready to charge at them. Bullets hit his thigh and side but couldn't keep him back. Not from this prey. If a bullet hit the right place, however, Lana knew it could be fatal. And it was only a matter of time before the sniper made his mark.

Before Xerus could move on the men, Lana closed the distance. She got between him and the soldiers, putting out her arms to make him halt. With her now in his way, Xerus paused and stood very still.

"It's me, Xerus," Lana said softly. "It's Lana."

Xerus' pupils expanded and his nostrils flared.

"You know me." She stayed several feet away from him, refusing to move. Xerus didn't move either as he studied her. "Listen to me. You're sick, Xerus." She dropped her arms slowly. "And I should have done something sooner. I knew something was wrong, but I didn't think...didn't know." She shook her head and felt the sting of tears. She took deep breaths to keep her composure. She swallowed hard, took another deep breath, and stepped closer. Xerus let out a low growl, and she hesitated before taking another step. "I love you, Xerus. I know you don't understand that right now. But I do and will no matter what." She raised one hand toward him, and he hissed, but she didn't drop it. "You've gone through so much. But I didn't see it. Didn't understand. Even at Lazris. I just thought you were a tough warrior and nothing could harm you. I was an idiot, and I’m sorry."

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