Page 181 of Seven Oars
It was Thilza’s way of saying that conversation wasn’t on his mind, but that if Phex wanted another fight, he’d oblige.
Which was saying something, because Thilza rarely fought.
Phex fisted his hands, then relaxed them, as if grasping for control.
“I nearly killed a defender,” he said hoarsely.
“Would it have mattered if you knew?” Thilza asked.
“Yes.Yes!You’re all sick fucks.”
“You got that right. Striker Phex.”
Rosamma jerked at his words.
Phex’s chin went up.“Don’t want it. Don’t care.”
Thilza laughed, an ugly sound.“Then why the fuck did you maim this one?”
Phex backed away from Fincros, from all of them. Then, turning sharply, he left the Dome almost at a run, as if he wanted to escape himself.
Xorris scuttled after him, followed by all the others.
Only Thilza remained.
He let Rosamma go and joined her in wiping blood from Fincros’face. His huge hands were surprisingly tender.
“His eyes are shot to hell.” He sounded choked up.“Fuck.”
“He’s broken everywhere,” she sobbed, refusing to believe what had just happened.
“Do you want me to take him to the Cargo Hold?” Thilza offered.
His words drove it home. It was real.
“I don’t know,” she whispered, feeling as fragile as a fresh crust of ice on the lake. One little step, and she’d shatter and flow away in waves of pure sorrow.“Should we move him?”
Thilza slid his massive arms under Fincros and grunted as he lifted him.
“Better put him where your females can help make him comfortable. He needs it.”
*****
In the Cargo Hold, Gro and Eze helped Rosamma lay Fincros on a mat and prop him up to approximate Rix’s natural stasis position. Rosamma didn’t know if he was in stasis or unconscious, or if they were one and the same. She only knew it was bad.
“It’s all because of me. If only I hadn’t met him at the Dome. If only Phex hadn’t discovered us…”
If only she’d gone away when he asked and not wasted precious days…
She sobbed, repeating her lament over and over until Gro took her hands firmly and forced her to look up.
“None of it is because of you. Look around. We’re in hell. They are demons.”
“Finn’s not a demon,” Rosamma hiccuped.
Gro squeezed her hands.“They all are, baby. The difference with Finn is that he seems to understand it.”
Rosamma only shook her head in denial and tugged her hands free from Gro’s. Her hands were her tool. Fincros needed them.
