Page 55 of Venomous Lust
Khal watched Hazel’s face as she scrunched up her eyes, but he knew she couldn’t see. Humans weren’t predators like Eoks, and they lacked the nocturnal vision his kind had evolved. He turned around again and climbed up to the unknown.
He blinked as harsh sunlight hit his pupils, but soon enough he was able to see that the Myrador had crash landed in the middle of a vast plain of soft-looking grass. The metallic surface gleamed under the rays of a harsh, single red sun.
Khal crouched low on the metal frame, scanning the horizon for any signs of life. When he was satisfied that there were no hostile natives coming to attack, he looked down the hatch to see Hazel looking expectantly up at him.
“Is it safe?”
“As safe as we’re ever going to be.”
She didn’t answer but climbed up to join him, soon followed by Zaxis. Khal helped the Avonie climb, placing Celaith in his arms once he was out. They all sat there under the sun for long minutes, reeling from the effects of the crash landing.
“I can’t believe we’re still alive.” Hazel looked around and blinked, like she wasn’t sure this was reality.
“We have a lot of work to do to remain that way,” Khal answered, sliding down the metal surface of the Myrador and to the grass below. It reached up to his mid-calf, soft and dry.
He turned around, motioning for Hazel to follow. She slid down and he caught her easily, then helped Zaxis get down with Celaith. As they all looked around the plains, Khal wondered what this new planet had in store for them.
The worlds beyond the Frontier were uncharted, their wildlife unknown, their civilizations barely in contact. Many sentient species had never been contacted. Many were primitive enough to kill strangers at first sight, ask questions later.
Khal saw no animals in the plains, but he knew that meant nothing because of the recent crash. Any wildlife on this planet would have scattered far and wide due to the crash, but it was still a relief not to have to fight off unknown predators.
“Let’s get further away from the Myrador.” Zaxis looked around with an anxious, serious expression on his face. “If the Muharee live anywhere close to where we crashed, they’ll have seen us, and they will come. There’s no telling what they will do to us.”
“It’s not the Muharee that concern me.” Khal shook his head. “Whoever blasted us out of Muhar’s orbit knew we were coming and chose to blast us on sight. They won’t just assume we all died. They’ll look for the Myrador.”
“You think Knut did this?” Zaxis’s face was as somber as Khal’s feelings.
“I see no other explanation.”
Zaxis nodded, pursing his lips.
“We need shelter,” Khal agreed. “Far enough away from the Myrador without losing sight of it. I would prefer to see them coming.”
His eyes scanned the horizon. Far away—much farther than he would have liked, due to the heat and distance—was the beginning of what appeared to be a dense forest, with tall, slender trees growing so close together, he couldn’t see beyond the tree line.
“That way.”
Khal pointed and saw Zaxis blanch. Khal knew the Avonie would be too proud to admit it, but he wasn’t strong enough to carry the weight of the female for so long. Khal turned to him, prepared to tear Celaith from his friend’s arms if he had to.
“It’s too far,” Hazel intervened. “Celaith can’t stay in this heat under the sun for so long. She needs care now.”
“I’ll be fine.” The Arvak female surprised them.
They all looked down at Zaxis’s arms to see her dark pink eyes fluttering open, then closed. Then open again. She was fighting hard against her weakness.
“Go on. Leave me here.” Celaith pursed her lips. “You can come get me after you find shelter.”
“You must have hit your head, female, if you think I’ll leave you here without protection.” Zaxis knelt, helping Celaith to the ground, bracing her back against the shade of the metal wall. His voice shook with anger, but Khal recognized the devotion in his gesture as Zaxis looked over Celaith’s body.
He understood. He felt the same way about Hazel.
“Just get me an ionic gun from the hold,” Celaith chided, but her tone wasn’t as biting as before. “I can take care of myself.”
“I know.” Zaxis nodded. “But I’ll stay with you all the same.”
Khal stared at the Arvak female. Her brow was drawn with pain, covered in a thin layer of sweat. She was in no condition to walk, even less to fight.
“I’ll go with Hazel,” Khal decided. “You stay here with Celaith. I’ll be back as soon as we find shelter.”
