Page 54 of Cozy Prisons
She laughed, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “You shouldn’t underestimate any of us humans. We can be a vengeful bunch. But you know all about that."
He sounded a negative rattle. “I enacted justice, not vengeance.”
She rolled her eyes. “Sometimes it’s the same thing. You can’t tell me you didn’t feel an immense sense of satisfaction knowing that you were the one who made sure that guy would never be able to hurt anyone again.”
He did, but wouldn’t admit it, so he changed the subject. “You’ll never have to worry about being attacked again. Not with me as your protector.”
For some reason, that made her laugh. “Aww, that’s really sweet!”
Then he remembered who he was talking to. Her house had driven him out, using non-lethal force, but there had been plenty of ways she could program a domicile to end a life if she wanted to.
She might already have!
“You’re safe too,” she murmured, as if reading his mind.
“Thank the ancestors for that,” he murmured with a rumble of amusement.
Chapter 18
Daxus
Although he taught Nataly every calming technique he knew, nothing stopped the anxiety. He wasn’t surprised, not after she seemed to know what direction they were going simply by listening to her body's reactions. It was as fascinating as it was frustrating. He’d been so sure he would be able to help her.
Standing at the edge of the village, cradling her against his chest, Daxus had to admit he’d failed.
“This was a nice day.”
They’d been silent for the last section of the walk, so her sudden words caught him by surprise.
“It was?”
She nodded. “Absolutely. It’s been a long time since I spent a day out simply enjoying myself. No work, no obligations. Just sunshine and good company.”
Her words made him wish he’d been on Arise from the beginning. He could’ve kept her from working so hard. Heunderstood the necessity, but he still didn’t like that the humans were forced to labor to help create the colony.
He focused on the best part of her words. “I enjoyed our time together also.”
“What’s wrong with Nataly?”
They looked up to see Hale rushing toward them. Nataly jerked in his arms. Instinctively, he knew that Nataly wouldn’t like anyone to think her weak. They were alike in that respect.
“We simply walked too far and Nataly became fatigued,” he said as a breathless Hale reached them.
The human was covered in sweat, as if they’d been walking for a long time. The bottom of their long wrap was crusted in dirt, and their shoes were filthy. As usual, they had an information square clutched in their hand with a data crystal insert and the sharp sampling rod in the other.
Hale didn’t look at Daxus. “Do you need someone to care for you? I could get you food and bring it to your domicile.”
Daxus didn’t like the way Hale ignored him. “I’m her caregiver.”
Hale scowled at Daxus. “Maybe she doesn’t want a Talin taking care of her. All of you are pushy and don’t listen. You should take her home and leave. I’ll actually listen to what she wants.”
From what he’d heard, this was how Hale was with all the Talins, and sadly, with most of the humans. Nataly’s ability to retrieve the information from the data crystal was probably the only reason Hale liked her.
She tapped his chest with her palm. “Please put me down.”
He didn’t want to, but with Hale watching, he couldn’t refuse or risk proving the angry human right.
Setting Nataly down on her feet, he stayed close. He knew she wasn’t so tired that she needed to be carried, but he got into thehabit while they’d been testing her anxiety. She felt so good in his arms, he wished he could carry her everywhere.
