Page 14 of Rescuing Mara

“FUCK!” I curse loudly before I start pacing like a caged animal.

“O’Rec!” she says firmly. “Give her the healing injection and the Nano’s. Now.”

I nod, thankful for her presence, where I am unable to keep my calm.

Within seconds, I am administering the injections, and then I sag in a nearby chair. L’Ren walks over to me and touches my arm.

“It will be alright, O’Rec. Just stay with her and explain everything when she wakes up. She may need some time, but as long as you are patient, you will win her heart.”

CHAPTER11

Mara

When I wake up, the silence is deafening. I slowly count to ten to make sure I’m not missing any threats. When nothing changes, I take a deep breath, the scent of fresh spices overwhelming me for a minute. The warrior, my brain registers before it all comes back to me.

Ananta, our plan: her followers beat me up, and the warrior came for me, taking me from the ship.

I suppress a sharp inhale. I am all alone, and I don’t know where I am. I am not safe. Taking another deep breath, I scan my body. I feel… fine. Strangely, I am well rested, and my beaten-up body does not hurt at all. Fresh spices tickle my nostrils. Slowly, not to alert anyone in case of danger, I open my eyes.

The light is blinding me for a second, but when I get used to it, I see I’m lying in a really big bed. That explains the softness I’m feeling. I look straight ahead and see the stars through floor-to-ceiling windows. There’s a door to the right at the end of the room. I slowly turn my head to see more and I startle.

There, sitting in a chair by the bed, shoulders slumped, caved in on himself, is the warrior. He is the reason this room smells so good. Could I be in his bedroom?

His head is hanging forward, hands covering his face, and despair is flowing off him in waves. I feel a tug inside my chest, my body tenses up seeing him this sad.

Without thinking I sit up and touch his arm with my hand.

“It’s okay.”

He shoots up, blinking at me.

“You, you are awake!” he exclaims.

I nod. Something eases inside of me now the intense despair seems to have lifted from him. He still seems sad, though. What should I do?

Immediately, Ananta’s words rise in me. He thinks I am his mate therefore he wants to mate me. My throat tightens. I really don’t want to do this, but I guess I have no choice.

I reach for the bottom of the shirt I’m wearing and pull it over my head.

The warrior startles and jumps up, the chair falling because of his swift movement.

“What are you doing?” he asks before putting a hand in front of his eyes.

“I thought I was your mate? Don’t you want to… uhm… mate me?”

“Yes! No!” His voice sounds shrill, and I cock my head.

“I don’t understand.”

The warrior takes a step back, putting up his other hand in front of him.

“L’Ren will be here shortly, she will help.”

“Who is L’ren?” I really don’t understand. If I’m his mate, what does he want with another female?

“Where’s the fire!” someone says cheerfully when a door opens to my left.

I turn around to see a female walking in who looks… Like me?

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