Page 28 of Healing Creek
Samantha grinned and her eyes filled with unshed tears. “And I have Grace. I promise to check-in with—”
Mercury huffed. “Grace is leaving us tomorrow. You haven’t forgotten.”
The medic finally seemed to realize the importance of their newest patient and strode out of his office. “What have we got here?”
Grace saw the plea in Samantha’s eyes. She didn’t want the medic to know about the child. That must be why Samantha, a very smart woman, hadn’t already been to the med-bay for a routine check.
“Nothing serious. A case of dehydration. I did a scan to make sure it wasn’t a symptom of anything more serious.”
“Oh. Well. Thank you, Grace. I’ll just take a—”
Samantha sat up on the bed and pulled her knees to her chest as if she needed to physically protect the child she carried. “No need.”
Mercury growled low, but Samantha ignored him. “I’m perfectly fine.” This time there was a thread of iron in her tone.
Samantha had been the one to vet all the crew, but her confidence in him must not run deeply enough to trust him with such a precious secret. Grace could understand that.
Secrets. She was keeping her own and she really hated it. Hated being dishonest with Creek and the pack. But some secrets had to be kept. She wished one of her siblings was there to tell her what do. They were so much smarter than her. She didn’t know what was right.
She’d been the only one in her family who’d known her sister was using their great aunt’s research on Arena Dog genetics. They’d both known it could be dangerous if Roma found out their aunt had left notes that only Jennifer could read. She had the skills to correct the flaw their aunt had intentionally inserted in the Arena Dogs’ DNA—one that prevented natural reproduction. Grace had kept that secret, but someone working for Jennifer had not and it had put both their lives in danger.
It occurred to her that she could simply tell Roma that Samantha was pregnant. Maybe there was no need for her sister to solve the problem of the childless Arena Dogs. If Samantha got pregnant, others could, too. But how awful would that be? Another generation of slaves. And if they no longer needed her sister, would they release her and risk her bringing kidnapping charges against them or would they simply kill her? How was she supposed to know the right path? What could she possibly do?
If she did go with Patel to where her sister was being held, did she think she had the power to rescue her? It was ridiculous. She couldn’t even rescue herself. She wasn’t like the Arena Dogs. They’d rescued Jupiter and Creek and taken over an entire ship.
Grace checked Samantha’s fluids and heart rate while Mercury pulled the medic aside to distract him with conversation.
“Why did you trust me with this?” Grace whispered. “I know you didn’t trust me before. Why now? Why something so important?”
“Because Creek trusts you. And I can see you care for him.” Samantha relaxed, stretching out her legs to let them dangle over the side of the bed.
Did Creek trust her? And could it be that simple? Grace looked away as her eyes teared up. She wanted to be trustworthy, but nothing about her current situation was simple.
***
Creek came early to walk her to dinner that evening. When they reached the mess hall Samantha and Diablo were sitting at a long table with two Arena Dogs and two human women she hadn’t met before. The Arena Dogs were clearly a couple, male and female, sitting close. The female, a beauty with ebony hair and big black eyes, bowed her head and smiled shyly at her mate. He was the largest of the Dogs, with impossibly broad shoulders and a silver scar that cut across his jaw.
As Creek and Grace approached the table, the smell of seared meat drifted across the space along with the sweet scent of fresh fruit. When Samantha noticed them, she tried to stand. Diablo stopped her with a hand on her shoulder and a growl. Samantha huffed at him and rolled her eyes.
“I’m so glad you could join us,” she said. “Let me help you get to know everyone.” With that she made the introductions. The Arena Dogs were Carn and Hera. The humans were Celestia, a redhead with a sea of freckles, and Cosmo, a stocky woman with a short cap of brown curls. They were both shuttle pilots that had come aboard with Mercury’s pack.
“We’ll be piloting the shuttle to the space station tomorrow,” said Celestia as she lifted her drink.
The thought of leaving so soon should have been a relief, but Grace felt it like a slug in her gut.
“Is that safe?”
Ears pricked all along the table and four sets of Arena Dogs’ eyes focused on her.
“I mean, the crew you’re releasing are all locked up now, right? Creek explained that you didn’t trust them not to try to retake the ship.”
“That’s true, but they’re unlikely to sabotage their own release,” said Samantha.
“Several of the humans who were former slaves will also be there to help protect the pilots,” added Creek.
Cosmo reached for a ripe red berry looking nonplussed. “TheNeellais a medium range passenger shuttle. So, we’ll have plenty of space and a bulkhead between us and the passengers once they’re loaded.”
Cosmo’s confidence did nothing to loosen the fist in Grace’s gut. “You’re very brave.”
