Page 23 of Tharn's Hunt
For a moment, the cave is silent except for the ragged sound of my breathing.
I turn to Jah-kee.
She is pressed against the far wall, her strange weapon clutched in her hands. Her eyes are wide, pupils dilated with fear. And she is trembling.
Something cracks in my chest.
She is afraid. Of the shadowmaw? Of me?
I lower myself slowly, sheathing my claws as I huff softly. The movement pulls at the torn flesh of my shoulder, but I ignore it. I keep my movements slow, calm, despite the battle-blood still singing in my veins.
Alarm goes through me when her eyes lose the blue, rolling over to display pure white before she fights to steady herself again. Still fighting to remain vigilant. She is very unwell. Her breathing too rapid. The fire beneath her skin too much.
We cannot stay here. Shadowmaws are never alone. This shelter is no longer safe.
I need to take her somewhere secure. Somewhere I can protect her while her body fights the illness that has claimed her. Somewhere with water, with healing herbs.
Home.
I will take her home.
“Jah-kee,” I project. Her gaze flickers to my face, then to the corpse of the shadowmaw, then back to me. Her body trembles like something caught in the cold.
“We must go now,” I try again, the thought heavy with urgency. This place is no longer safe. The shadowmaw’s presence here—it defies the laws of Ain. It’s a warning. A sign.
I reach for her, moving slowly, cautiously, not wanting to frighten her further. She watches me, those water-blue eyes fixed on mine. For a moment, I think she understands.
Then her eyes roll back once more. Only this time, they don’t right themselves. Her weapon clatters to the stone floor, and she crumples.
I catch her before she can hit the ground, cradling her overheated body against my chest. The light in my skin roars to life where we touch, racing across my skin and sinking into hers.
There is no time to wonder at it now.
I gather her close, securing her against me with one arm while I collect the waterskin and medicinal pouch with the other. The food I must leave behind. Perhaps the shadowmaws hunting this female will sate themselves in what is left of the sandfin and cease their pursuit of her.
With Jah-kee held securely against my chest, I step over the shadowmaw's corpse and out into Ain's harsh light. Her body is limp. A small, burning weight in my arms.Her life-force feels thin, a flickering flame threatening to be extinguished by the slightest breeze.
I press my nose to her temple, inhaling her scent, and my dra-kir thunders in my chest. She is small. Fragile.
And she is mine.
I must move quickly.
I must get her home.
I must save her.
JACQUI
The sun beats down. It feels like it’s trying to crush me into the sand, turning me into nothing more than dust.
Perhaps that’s why this planet is so desolate. Maybe it’s not covered in sand…maybe it’s the remains of crushed bones from unfortunates like myself.
But I’m not on the ground.
I’m being carried.
His arms are solid around me, holding me close, his skin cool where it touches mine. My head lolls against his chest, and I can feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath my cheek.
