Page 34 of Healing Creek
Nausea pulsed in her gut. Jenny—the sister who sat with her through treatment after treatment when she was a child. The sister who snuck her sweets when she was between treatments but still under strict medical supervision. Jenny could die…because of her.
Creek’s chair screeched as he pushed back away from the table and stood. “If you no longer need us, I think Grace should rest now.”
Mercury studied him a moment then nodded.
Grace stood and allowed Creek to walk her out of the room. The moment the door slid closed behind them, she stopped. Tears flooded her eyes, and she wiped them away.
Creek met her gaze with raised eyebrows, as if to saysee, you need rest.
“I don’t want to keep you away from the pack.” He was an Arena Dog. He needed a pack. She’d seen the loneliness in his eyes. And this pack seemed willing to count him as one of them. She didn’t want to get in the way of that.
“There is nothing more I can say that will be of any use to them. They will come to the right conclusion, and it is best to leave them to come to it on their own.”
“The right conclusion?”
“They must locate and help your sister.”
“What if Patel and Santos don’t know where she’s being kept. Maybe they were going to contact Roma to find out where to take me?”
“That’s a likely possibility. It just means we’ll find another way. The future of all Arena Dogs depends on it.”
Grace wasn’t so sure. What about Samantha’s baby? But she knew from Jennifer’s research that the genetic defect that prevented Arena Dog pregnancies should be as effective when only one of the potential parents were Arena Dogs. If it had been as simple as pairing human females with male Arena Dogs, surely Roma would have figured that out after all these years.
“Come.” Creek put a hand on the small of her back and led her forward. “Time for you to rest.”
***
Creek didn’t lead Grace to her own room. Creek led her to his. If he left her alone in her room, she wouldn’t sleep. That mind of hers would chase around in circles of guilt and worry. Besides, he fully intended to sleep with her in his arms and his bed was larger. He’d tried to keep an emotional distance, but she drew him in. She looked at him with respect. She had never feared him, not for a single moment. She was content to spend time with him in the garden where they could just be. She was his butterfly, beautiful and fragile but also strong.
When they reached the door to the room where he’d been staying, he announced, “We’re here.”
“Where? This isn’t my room. But you know that. You know this ship like…” Her voice lost strength as she spoke.
The door opened and he urged her into the room.
“You need rest, but you should not be alone after being attacked.”
The door closed behind them, and Grace stopped a few steps inside. What did she see? The room was large, and the bed was soft, but the room was bare by human standards. Not unlike the room that had been her prison. There was nothing of him here.
She wrapped her arms around herself and rubbed them as if she were cold. The ship’s temperature was controlled so it wasn’t really a chill that had her shivering. “I felt so helpless.”
Ah. Her mind was mired in memories of the attack. Creek stepped up behind her and wrapped her in his arms to give her his warmth. “They can’t hurt you now.”
“I know.” She relaxed into his embrace leaning back against his chest. “It just reminded me of the first time. I was really scared then. I guess I should feel lucky that after two kidnappings, I walked away from both without being seriously hurt.” She turned in his arms, putting space between them but staying close enough her scent filled his lungs.
“I should have protected you better. They should never have gotten close to you.”
“I knew you’d stop them. This time. But what about next time. You might not be there to save me.”
He wanted to tell her he would always save her, but she was right. His life was uncertain. Once they reached Haven everything could change. And her path would not be safe so long as Roma thought her valuable.
“I guess my family was right. I can’t be trusted to look after myself.”
He sat on the edge of the bed and patted the mattress next to him. “You were smaller than your attacker and had far less training. There was little you could do. But maybe we can change that.”
Grace sat beside him. “What do you mean?”
“I can teach you some simple techniques that will give you options if you are attacked again.”
