Page 62 of Venomous Lust
“Is your Medina sentient?” The thought was chilling, but not impossible.
“The Medina is one and only, a Great Mother to her people and a vengeful one as well.” The Muharee turned his yellow, dispassionate eyes to the forest. “She knows all and remembers all. She judges us all in the end.”
The chill in Khal’s heart spread to his bones as he looked at the forest beyond the cave with new eyes. As though it could understand their words, the roots were turned to them, upright and unmoving as the chirping descended to a low buzz.
A slithering movement caught the corner of Khal’s eye. A white root was crawling over the rocks, moving slowly in his direction. Before it could reach his foot, Khal moved deeper inside the opening of the cave. As he approached, the Muharee turned and walked and Khal followed, cradling Hazel against him like treasure.
Only the Midnight God knew what they were going to find in those caves—if he could hear Khal this far from Eokim.
For a long time, Khal walked in the complete darkness of the cave. His infrared vision gave him sight, painting the world in shades of gray and red. As they progressed further, the cave changed, the rocks intermingling with shimmering, warm, crystal-like veins until finally, a low, warm glow illuminated their way.
Khal stopped as the Muharee waited for him in front of the opening to a large room.
“My name is Yalko.” The Muharee looked from Khal to Hazel, then back. “I am the chieftain of the Kerlu tribe. What is your name, Eok warrior?”
“I am Khal, son of Enlon of the Erynian tribe,” Khal answered. “This human female is my bloodmate. Her name is Hazel.”
Yalko’s yellow eyes went to Hazel’s still unconscious form. There was no telling what feelings brewed behind that reptilian face, but Khal thought he saw gratitude and maybe even respect as he looked down at her.
“Your mate is strong and brave. She freed me and my brothers from many years in Gerkin’s jail,” Yalko said. “It is out of respect for the blood I owe her that you are allowed to come with her, even if your kind is an enemy of mine. She shall have all she needs to heal under our care, and you will receive my personal protection. No harm will come to either of you as long as you remain my guests.”
Khal held the Muharee’s gaze, and not for the first time, wondered about all the things he did not know about the strange species. They were not the mindless savages they were rumored to be, that much was clear.
“I am grateful.” Khal inclined his head but kept his gaze alert. “I accept your hospitality, but I am not your enemy. The Eok people seek peace with all species.”
Yalko’s eyes flashed with something fierce and angry. “You are my enemy, Khal, son of Enlon, never make the mistake of thinking otherwise.”
The Muharee chieftain turned his back on Khal and entered the large room. A second later, Khal joined him, Hazel limp in his arms.
Chapter 20
Hazel
As Hazel floated in darkness, sensations spread through her body. At first, it was only heat, then the heat became more intense, lighting up her body with what felt like dozens of small fires, turning the precious warmth into a searing pain. Too much—it was too much. Voices reached her through the blaze: familiar, yet strange.
Hazel wanted to move, wanted to speak, to tell those voices she was hurting. That whatever they were doing had to stop. A hand ran along her arm, up to her shoulder, then up to her head. A flame licked her skin where she had been cut by the ionic detonation, stinging pain biting into her flesh, spreading under her skin like ants.
She wanted to scream, wanted to yell for them to stop.
Then those same hands closed around her leg and the pain turned into agony. A vivid burn wrapped around her thigh, covering her skin like a kiss from a volcano, penetrating deeper, making her muscles clench. Misery traveled into her veins and invaded her tendons, her bones, spreading up and down her leg like a vicious wildfire, untamed and savage.
Anguish tore through Hazel, relentless and meticulous, setting each of her cells on fire. She fought the hold of darkness, pushed through the heavy blanket of sleep, thrashing against its veil.
She wanted to wake up. She had to wake up or the pain would make her mad.
Finally, her body started to respond, her fingers twitching, her eyelids fluttering but still refusing to open.
“She is coming to faster than she should be.” A familiar voice spoke from somewhere far to her right, sounding like broken glass crushed under a hard heel. “She is stronger than she looks.”
“The strongest,” another voice answered, deep and male. A voice that made Hazel fight anew against the encroaching darkness.
Long, strong fingers wrapped around her hand, warm and good. Hazel held on to the feeling of that hand, focusing on her arm, then her fingers. The agony waged its war on her body, but Hazel held on to Khal’s hand, to Khal’s voice, like a lifeline. Finally, her hand answered her command and her fingers moved, squeezing his in return.
“She can hear us.” There was relief in Khal’s voice, a near-joy laden with a deep sadness. “She squeezed my fingers.“
Hazel’s eyelids finally opened, and she found herself staring at what looked like a rock ceiling marred with luminescent gold veins. As she blinked, a familiar Prussian blue giant bent over her, his eyes of the same shade shining with emotion. A heartbreaking smile stretched Khal’s full lips as his hands cupped both her cheeks.
“Hazel.” He said her name like a prayer, full of devotion. “You came back to me.”
