Page 39 of Naga Healer's Mate

The larger Jorvlen’s grip on her loosened further as he turned to face the newcomer.“The Niri healer?What are you doing down here?”

Nirrn’s long and powerful tail coiled against the rough stone floor, his upper body rising to his full towering height.The red emergency lights caught the flex of his blood-spattered muscles as he moved forward with lethal grace.

“Take your hands off her.”His voice emerged as a guttural growl that sent shivers through Islae’s body.This wasn’t the soft-spoken healer she knew.This was something ancient and deadly awakening.

The smaller guard aimed his weapon at Nirrn.“Back off!This prisoner is property of—”

“She belongs to no one.”Nirrn’s tail lashed violently against the cracked floor, the impact echoing like thunder.His hand, usually so gentle in its healing work, curled tightly around a warrior’s sword with deadly intent.

Islae felt the larger Jorvlen’s weight shift as uncertainty crept into his voice.“You’re just a healer.We’ve heard about you—the soft-hearted Niri who works in the central surrogacy clinic.”

A dark laugh rumbled from Nirrn’s chest.“You’re right.I am a healer.”His golden eyes locked with Islae’s, and she saw something possessive and primal in their depths.“Which means I know exactly where to strike you to cause the most intense and horrible pain before I kill you.”

The smaller guard fired his weapon, but Nirrn moved with impossible speed.His tail whipped gracefully through the air, knocking the guard’s legs out from under him.The plasma bolt scorched the ceiling as the guard crashed to the ground.

“Last warning,” Nirrn snarled, his scaled shoulders rippling with barely contained violence.“Release her, or I will show you what happens when you threaten the one I’ve vowed to protect with my life.”

Islae’s heart thundered wildly in her chest.She had never seen anything more terrifying—or more beautiful—than Nirrn at that moment, poised to unleash devastation on those who had hurt her.The healer was all but gone, replaced by something far more dangerous—a Niri male protecting what was his.

Chapter 21

Nirrn

Theworldblurredredat the edges of Nirrn’s vision.Islae lay pinned beneath the large Jorvlen guard, her clothes torn, blood trickling from her split lip.The sight ignited something deep and primal inside of him—a force that shattered his healer’s restraint completely.

“You dare touch her?”His voice emerged as a guttural snarl.The larger guard stood up, startled by the deadly promise in those words.

“Back off, healer.This bitch needs to learn her place.”

Nirrn coiled his massive tail, his muscles rippling beneath the orange and gold scales.“I’ll show you your place.”He struck with devastating speed, wrapping around the guard’s throat and yanking him off the ground.

“The cervical vertebrae.”Nirrn squeezed the guard’s throat tighter, his clinical knowledge merging with savage intent.“They’re so delicate.Shall I demonstrate exactly how much pressure it takes to paralyze you?”

The second guard picked up his weapon and fired it wildly.Nirrn twisted, using the larger guard as a shield.The plasma bolt seared through his captive’s chest.The acrid stench of burned flesh filled the air.

“You should have studied anatomy.”Nirrn dropped the lifeless body.“Now you’ll learn the hard way.”

He lashed his long tail out, sweeping the second guard’s legs again.As the Jorvlen crashed down, Nirrn’s hand closed around his throat.Knowledge of pressure points and nerve clusters became a roadmap for inflicting agony.

“The brachial plexus.”He dug his fingers in, eliciting a scream.“Fascinating how much pain can radiate from such a small cluster of nerves.”

“Please…” the guard choked out.

“Did you stop when she begged?”Nirrn’s golden eyes blazed with deadly fury.“When your partner tore her clothes?When you both held her down and threatened to do vile things to her?”

Each question was punctuated by precise, devastating strikes.Bones snapped.Tendons tore.The guard’s screams echoed off the stone walls until a final, savage twist silenced him forever.

Nirrn turned to Islae, his chest heaving.Blood dripped from his scaled arms, but his touch was achingly gentle as he reached for her.“No one will ever harm you again.You are mine to protect now and forever.”

Nirrn gathered Islae into his arms, cradling her against his chest with utmost care.Her shallow breathing and the way she curled into him, protecting her left side, confirmed his diagnosis—cracked ribs, likely internal bleeding.The metallic scent of her blood made his scales darken to a burnt orange hue.

“Stay with me,” he murmured, one hand cupping her head where a nasty gash still oozed.“I need to check your pupils.”

“M’fine,” Islae slurred, but her unfocused gaze told a different story.Definite concussion.

His mighty tail propelled them swiftly through the dim corridor of the prison level.The stone walls amplified every sound—heavy boots hitting metal grates above, distant shouts, and the hum of plasma weapons.A small group of Nirrn’s human rogue and Niri warrior allies emerged from the shadows, unexpectedly but pleasantly falling into protective formation around them.

“Main access is compromised now,” Mikal, one of the human rogues, reported in hushed tones.“They’ve doubled the guards at the exits.”

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