Page 104 of Unleashed

“No,” Quinn rasped, tears filling her eyes. “No. I won’t lose her. Ican’t.”

Aduun clenched his jaw. Nina had said Orishok was made into death; why wouldn’t he be able to sense how near to it she loomed? Aduun should’ve moved faster, should’ve fought harder, should’ve donesomethingto avoid this.

Orishok strode forward, and Quinn jogged alongside him, heading toward the buildings in the distance.

“I should have talked to her about the serum before we left,” Quinn said. “I should have… Why didn’t I talk to her before? We could have lost her. Wearelosing her!”

Vortok and Balir moved after them. Aduun followed, only to stop after a few steps. His responsibility was not solely to Nina. His clan was here, his people. He turned to face them. In the daylight, the full damage that had been done to their bodies over the years was apparent — wasted, leathery, discolored skin stretched over jutting bones, matted, ragged fur, hunched stances and pained faces.

“I… I will not abandon any of you who wish still to follow. You are free now, to seek what life you will, but I…”

“Go,” Gorvahl said from the front of the group. “We will await you here. Tend to your mate. We’ve endured this long. We can go a little longer.”

The others nodded and voiced their agreement. Aduun swept his gaze over them and was overcome by humility, by love for these people he felt he’d failed so many times in the past. That they still looked to him with compassion, with respect… It was nearly too much to bear.

“Thank you,” he said and turned to hurry after his companions.

Orishok maintained his rapid pace as they entered the city. The buildings were familiar; Aduun had seen their shadowy likenesses belowground, but the streets up here were lined with healthy vegetation — grasses, vines, trees, flowers, all alive and bright, flourishing and well-tended — and many strange statues with vague features. They made only two turns before Orishok entered a building and raced up the stairs to the second level. Aduun, Vortok, and Balir followed closely behind.

Quinn broke away and hurried down the hall, disappearing through a doorway as Orishok carried Nina into a large room. He brought her to a bed set atop a platform against the far wall and laid her down gently. Nina’s hands fell limply beside her. Her eyes were closed, her breath shallow.

Balir moved to stand beside her. Orishok glanced at him, shifting slightly as though to avoid physical contact, and watched as Balir placed his hands over Nina’s abdomen and pressed down on the wadded cloth covering her wounds.

Quinn entered, and Vortok stepped aside to allow hber past. She moved directly to the bed and climbed onto it. She held something in one hand. Settling down on her side beside Nina, she brushed her fingers over her daughter’s forehead.

“Nina?”

Nina opened her eyes to look at Quinn.

Tears rolled down Quinn’s cheeks. “I need you to make a decision. You know what was done to me, what I am, and I… I couldn’t take that choice from you, no matter how much I wanted to keep you safe, and this isn’t how I wanted you to have to choose.” She lifted her hand and opened her fingers. A long, cylindrical object lay upon her palm. “Lucie was able to replicate the serum used on me on theConcord. I asked her to try not long after you came to us.”

Aduun stepped forward, legs bumping the edge of the bed. “What does that mean?” he demanded. “What will that do to her?”

Quinn turned her face toward Aduun. “That she’ll heal…and live a long, long life.”

His heart leapt. “So why waste time? Give it to her. Do what you must!”

“It is Nina’s choice.”

“What choice is there in this? Live or die?”

“It’s not that simple,” Quinn replied, turning back to Nina. “You have to understand why we didn’t do this before. I’ve been on this planet for twenty years, Nina, and I haven’t aged a day. Icannotdie. That might seem like a blessing, but we don’t know how long this will last. A hundred years, or ten thousand… Forever? We didn’t know what it would do to a child, didn’t know if you’d ever grow up.”

Nina’s gaze flicked between Orishok and Quinn, then she looked at Aduun, Vortok, and Balir. She placed a trembling, bloody hand atop Balir’s. “I want more time with all of you. As much as I can get. Yes.”

I love you all,Nina’s voice said in Aduun’s mind.

His chest constricted, and his heartstone pulsed.

Quinn closed her eyes and pressed her forehead to Nina’s. Her shoulders shook with a sob, and she sniffed when she lifted her head again, meeting Orishok’s gaze.

Orishok cupped her jaw. “Sonhadra will not have her, my queen, just as it will not have you.”

Quinn turned her head and kissed Orishok’s palm before looking at Aduun, Balir, and Vortok. “You will need to help hold her down. It is…painful.”

Aduun climbed onto the bed beside Quinn and settled his hands on Nina’s left leg. Vortok stepped to the bedside and lowered his hands on her right leg. Orishok and Quinn each took an arm, and Balir maintained his place at her midsection.

“We are here for you, Nina,” Aduun rasped. “We areallhere for you.”

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