Page 21 of Cozy Prisons
The last thing she wanted to do was go to the medical building. She wanted the familiar surroundings of her own home!
“She wants to rest first,” Daxus called out. His response to Palathum’s order made her sag against him.
“Fine,” Palathum responded. She said something else that Nataly didn’t catch.
She didn’t have to go to the healer, and Daxus was keeping her from looking ridiculous in front of everyone. She would turn around and hug him except she felt too shaky to do anything but keep a death grip on the strut.
“You seem tired,” Daxus said, keeping his voice low and calm. “Can I carry you back to your domicile?”
She didn’t want to be carried, it made her feel like a helpless idiot. But the desire to be home overrode her dislike.
“Please.” The one word broke at the end, and she shut her eyes tight to keep the tears at bay.
Fuck, she was falling apart right in front of everyone!
Strong arms scooped her up and cradled her against a broad, hard chest.
“No one is looking,” Daxus murmured. “They’re all busy and they think you’re simply out of breath. Rest your head against me as if you’re so tired you're falling asleep.”
Thankful for Daxus’s ruse, Nataly let her head rest on his shoulder. His neck brushed her nose. Acting on instinct, shenuzzled her face close and felt the soft area of skin. Talins had a strip of exposed skin where their necks met their shoulders.
He smelled of earth, mover bot lubricant, and sweet lemons. She pulled in a deep breath and the tightness in her chest eased.
“That’s it,” he encouraged. “Relax and breathe. I’ve got you. Nothing is going to hurt you while I’m here.”
Between his words, purring, and scent, the panic receded rapidly, leaving her feeling exhausted and hungover.
Some people called out asking what was wrong with her, and he gave them all the same answer: she’d worn herself out.
The humans mostly laughed and teased Daxus for overreacting. The Talins thought that he was acting completely appropriately. Each time he was told to take her to Falkilm he refused, stating that a visit to the medical building could wait until later.
She kept her eyes closed and head hidden against his neck the entire time. She probably looked silly, but that was better than everyone knowing the truth.
She was irredeemably broken.
Daxus
The moment Nataly and her friends appeared at the edge of the landing area, Daxus made sure to keep an unobtrusive eye on her. He watched her grow more tense as her fellow humans left her side. Then she was alone and holding onto a strut as if it was the only thing solid around her.
It was difficult to keep a sedate pace, but running would draw attention and he knew that was the last thing Nataly wanted. It helped him to think of her as having the same level of pride as he did.
The desire to hide weakness in front of others was something he could completely understand. Sometimes appearances were all you had.
When he wasn’t answering someone’s questions, he kept talking to Nataly. He didn’t know if it helped, but she wasn’t opening her eyes, so he thought she might like to know how close they were to her domicile.
“We’re almost to the edge of the village perimeter,” he said after passing Utharium and the bots he was guiding.
For a moment he thought she might’ve fallen asleep, but when he stopped to let her door open she opened her eyes and looked around. Her body completely relaxed in his arms as she realized she was home.
“I’m going to lay you in the bed,” he said.
“Sure, thanks,” she murmured, closing her eyes again.
Her sleeping area was a mess. Most of the pillows and covers were scattered on the floor around the bed. It gave him the impression that she hadn’t slept well the night before.
He laid her down, then grabbed pillows to tuck around her. Sitting up, she took them from him and used them to prop herself up against the headboard.
“That’s good,” she murmured, sounding a little sigh as she relaxed back. “I don’t know why I'm so tired, but a nap is all I need.”
