Page 27 of Venomous Heart
“Who are you?” she asked boldly, not taking her eyes off him. “I sent a note to Commander Arlen at the Command Center.”
“My brother sends his regrets, but his duties prevent him from meeting you this morning.” The newcomer inclined his head slightly in apology. “I am Captain Khal.”
Well, that explains the resemblance. He sent his baby brother to let me down easy.
Ava bit her lower lip to hide the sudden pinch of disappointment, but judging by the look of pity on the Eok’s face, she’d failed miserably. It hurt that Arlen had refused to see her, more than she’d thought it would, and certainly more than it should.
After all, what did she expect? He had ordered her to leave after kissing her, as though her touch had burned him.
Or as though he was disgusted by it. As though kissing her was a perversion to be ashamed of.
“If Arlen sent you then it’s fine by me,” she lied through her teeth. “He doesn’t need to waste his precious time on me.”
She knew she sounded bitter and spiteful, but she couldn’t help it. Arlen had no idea what his touch did to her when he kissed her—what it still did. She couldn’t sleep without dreaming of him, and whenever she wasn’t careful, her mind circled back to the feeling of his hands on her body. She was losing her mind.
And he obviously wasn’t losing his.
“I was told you require some sort of medical equipment?”
Khal brought Ava’s attention back to the real reason—or, rather, the excuse—she had used to send the note to Arlen. She hesitated, but not for long. She had used her need for medical supplies for Uril as an excuse to see Arlen again, but the need was real nonetheless.
“Uril needs myocardic nanites. The shock he got in the fight made one of his murmurs grow too much, he’s not getting enough oxygen.” Ava lifted her chin, steeling herself against the onslaught of feelings at the thought of Uril’s deteriorating condition. “My stock here is depleted. I’ll also need equipment to monitor his heart. Here’s a list of what I need.”
Ava handed a piece of paper to the Eok, who took it reluctantly.
“Dr. Yrakan will come to treat him in a short time, I’m sure.” Khal stared at the list of equipment Ava had requested, then slid it into a pocket of his vest. “In the meantime, you can communicate directly with him if you have any need.”
Anger flared in Ava instantly.
“I don’t need Dr. Yrakan to take care of Uril.” She crossed her arms over her chest and frowned. “Iam Uril’s doctor. Commander Arlen might have relieved me of my position as medical doctor to the rest of the population, but nothing will make me give up Uril’s care. Not evenhim.”
As she bit out the last word, Khal lifted his brow. Ava immediately regretted her outburst and the obvious way in which she had betrayed herself. Shame flooded through her as she realized that this young Eok knew she was hoping to see Arlen at every corner.
I’m such a fool. I should be focusing on getting the Exo-Heart and getting far away from here, not pining after a man who obviously wants nothing to do with me.
The thought didn’t help; it only made her angrier at herself.
“I am sure Arlen would have been more than happy to see to you personally, but he does have a security concern to deal with right now.” Khal spoke in a low, soothing voice. A voice full of pity, and it was that pity that made Ava bristle like a cornered beast.
She wanted no one’s pity, especially not from one of those big blue warriors. She mentally shook away her feelings to focus on what Khal had just said. Because any danger lurking on Aveyn could compromise her chances of retrieving the Exo-Heart and saving Uril.
And that wasn’t something she was ready to accept, Big-Blue-and-Mighty warrior or not.
“What security concern?”
“There is no danger to you, Doctor Ava,” Khal answered with a light shrug. “There is no need to worry. You just focus on staying safe in the mansion. You can rely on us for the rest.”
Khal eyed her with a kind of paternal dismissal, like he was trying to let her down easy. Like there was nothing she could say or do that would be of any help. It made her mad—madder than anything else he could have done. She might be a filthy hybrid, a creature whose very existence was a stain on the Ring, but she certainly wasn’t stupid. And she wasn’t going to be treated as though she was.
“Patronizing, much?” When Khal didn’t answer, Ava summoned that stern look that always helped her with difficult patients, the look that made grown men apologize with downcast eyes like children. Ava stared hard at him, until his easy smile faltered and he looked like he wanted to bolt down the hall. “You might as well tell me. I know more about this green rock than all of you combined. So speak, before I make you.”
The young Eok took a step back, throwing his hands in the air in surrender. A chuckle left his mouth and his eyes twinkled with a private amusement. “Well, all I can say is that you deserve each other.” Khal laughed out loud, clearly amused. “You’re just as charming as he is!”
“What are you talking about?” Ava’s eyes reduced to slits and she took a step closer, anger flowing through her like liquid fire. “What did Arlen tell you?”
Did he tell his brother that he kissed me? Did he tell him he wanted to avoid me at all costs?
Questions and thoughts tumbled over themselves in her mind, each more painful than the next.
