Page 26 of Jewel of the Alien Bandit
The scientist would be able to help both our species. Perhaps we could develop a pre-screening technology to see who would be more likely to bond with krelins? I shivered, and Vareo held me closer. I had to resist nuzzling into his chest.
We waited in silence for what seemed like hours holding each other, before my loh starts to flicker from exhaustion. My muscles strained trying to force out more radiation to steady our bodies floating within the pod. The pulse stopped, and we drifted until my loh scrapped against the metal as it spun. I bit down hard on my lip and my whole body clenched against the pain of feeling my loh being torn a part until part of it caught on a piece of metal and we both turned with a yank and were tossed through the hatch, my back loh bouncing against the surfaces breaking away as we flew. My screams silenced as my throat became raw and I felt my grip on Vareo slip until I slumped in his arms unable to move.
Everything went white.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Vareo
WE WERE THROWNinto the main transport deck, and Luan’s screams filled my ears, chilling my blood. My eyes focused only on her, and her small frame went limp in my arms
Fuck.
Her gorgeous diamond wings were shredded, floating around us in shards mixed with a disturbing amount of blood streaming through the air like a morbid snow globe the ancient artifacts dealers tried to pawn off. The bright light around her faded, and what was left of her loh retracted into her back. As I held her to me, I couldn’t prevent us from drifting closer to the walls that circled us, but I’d make sure it was me that bounced around the walls this time.
My hands were sticky from her blood, and I could see her loh were cracked and broken along her back, some jewels completely missing, creating large craters of open flesh wounds. My whole body grew cold, and detached from itself like I had lost a very piece of my soul.
I swore into her silver hair, wet liquid dripped from my eyes, and I hadn’t known that was still possible. “You are not fucking dying on me.”
My shoulder hit the wall and I grunted, tucking her in my chest to make sure she didn’t get clipped again. She didn’t needto protect me, my body would be bruised, but I’d survive just fine. She’d pushed herself for too long making sure both of us didn’t suffer, waiting to come out of warp, and she didn’t need to. It wasn’t the first time Carmen held me in the transport deck for warp, they were well aware of how sturdy shols were.
But apparently Luan didn’t know that, and she was tougher than most necia warriors I’d seen. This wouldn't end her, I repeated that over again until I believed it.
An unusual feeling was building within me that I couldn't explain. Pressure grew within my chest the longer I held Luan in my arms, unable to do anything to help. I felt more helpless now than I did the day I realized I was nothing more than property.
She was mine, I growled, and I did nothing to protect her.
That was it, I realized as soon as I said it.
She was mine.
And I failed her.
The walls were getting close again, and I was prepared to take another blow before I felt the gravity field activate around us, and I landed crouched with Luan sagging against me.
I gently placed her against the wall, away from the door to the main ship. Brushing a stray hair away from her face I felt her breath against my fingers, still alive.
“This won’t take long,” I promised. When I took in the transport deck, my anger grew seeing her blood splattered across the surfaces, and her diamond loh shattered like glass. Was she still bleeding?
My fist smashed into the med kit hidden in the wall and I pulled out the clotting spray. She moaned as I moved her as gently as I could. I sprayed her whole back to seal it up until I could do a more thorough patch job. Then I scooped her up, and rushed her to the med unit.
I slammed the button, and yanked the pod open to place her inside the gel bubbling up from the bottom. Closing the pod I rushed for the command chair to secure the ship.
I roared, not even caring about letting Carmen know that I was coming for her. This was my ship. She was responsible for harming my mate, and no matter how many scars I got subduing her she’d pay.
When I reached the command deck, Carmen was waiting for me with her arms folded over her chest. I didn’t stop to talk, I grabbed her neck in my grip and squeezed. My eyes wild with rage.
Shock had her padding at my arms like a defenseless swarmpel, not even bruising me with her weakening strikes. Those gray, soulless eyes widened, not expecting me to truly harm her. I wasn’t a monster. I wouldn’t kill her, but giving Carmen time, enough time to release her sharp bones from her flesh to skewer me, wasn’t an option. I had to knock her out before her exoskeleton sprung out like a vicious dagger cushion.
Gasping for air that I wouldn’t allow, she finally stabbed me in the gut with her claws before she twitched into unconsciousness. Her bones stayed where they were when she slumped, telling me that her ability to manipulate her bones was not instinctual, but a conscious effort. It might not be comfortable for her when she wakes to still have her bones protruding from her skin.
Sharp spikes were peeking out of her shoulders like she was a pin cushion, and was about to have those killer bones stab me in more than just my side.
I brought her back to the transport deck and locked her in the prison restraints, though I knew she wouldn’t wake right away. She was still breathing, but she’d be sore when she came to. If she was anything like the first necia that I choked out in my first escape attempt she’d only be out for five minutes. Three ofwhich I already used to bring her to the transport deck when the comms sounded.
Jax didn’t trust me with an upgraded AI assistance ship, or voice command. I’d have to go to the command deck to answer.
Who answered wasn’t Jax, as I expected.
