Page 74 of Master
"Any reason to check the body?" Munroe asked.
"No. He's dead." Tarook tossed the weapon to Bartholomeus, his attention turning fully in my direction.
Fury flashed over his face as his golden eyes took in my disheveled appearance and bleeding arm.
"Are you okay, darlin’?"
The gentleness of his voice brought tears to my eyes. I nodded, not trusting myself to answer without sobbing. He knelt beside me, ripping the shirt off his back to bind my arm, low, angry growls issuing from deep in his throat as he worked. I laid my head against his chest, his heavy heartbeat—a replica of my own—comforting.
"Do you think there are more Kerzak about?" Munroe asked, pulling a stumbling Parlow to his feet.
Tarook raised his head and inhaled deeply, staying quiet for a moment. I thought I saw the tips of his ears twitch.
"Not that I can detect."
"Exactly how far away is that sniffer of yours good for?" The peacekeeper held Parlow at arm's length while the mayor hocked and spit.
I hoped I'd kicked the bastard's balls into his throat.
"About five of your human miles," Tarook answered without the slightest cockiness. "The Bardaga will do a planet scan when they arrive. If there are more hiding … we'll find them."
He stood, lifting me in his arms.
"Now, I must have my mate seen by a healer."
The strength of his arms and the low timbre of his voice claiming me caused my body to tremble. Blood loss made mewoozy, but not enough that I didn't recognize the innate sense of rightness I felt in his arms. I wound my good arm around his neck and, with a sign of exhaustion, buried my face in his chest. His scent was spicier than normal, an offshoot of battle, no doubt.
"Head to Mei's." Bartholomeus appeared loaded with weapons he'd taken from the dead Kerzak. "I'll go by Doc Pritchett's house and meet you there."
Tarook gave a grunt of agreement in Bartholomeus's direction and took off into the darkness with me held tightly against his chest.
"You're safe, darlin'," Tarook murmured, pressing his lips to my temple. "I'm here."
"I know," I whispered… and burst into tears.
Chapter 18
Tarook.
I moved slowly through this forest this time. Each step carefully placed to make sure I didn't jostle Clara. Her heartbeat sounded heavy and strong, but she looked pale. Her arm bled profusely, and the side of her face appeared reddened and swollen.
I'd killed the bastards too quickly and not nearly painfully enough.
Her quiet sobbing calmed, but every so often, she would tremble, the motion accompanied by a shuddering sigh. In the moonlight, the splatter of Kerzak blood glowed a deep, eerie green, completely out of place on her pale skin and fair hair.
Behind us, Munroe led a stumbling, handcuffed Parlow. The mayor blathered constantly, his words barely registering until he made a mistake.
"Whatever that fucking bitch tells you… she's lying."
Carefully shifting to hold Clara safely with one arm, I balled my free hand and turned, driving my fist into the center of Parlow's face. The bones under my knuckles gave a satisfying crunch, a gush of hot, red blood staining my fingers beforepulling away. The mayor squealed and landed on his ass in the dirt, clutching at his face.
Cradling Clara close, I glared down at the sniveling human. "If you refer to my mate again—if you even dare to look in her direction… I will kill you. Do you understand?"
Munroe chuckled while Parlow's head moved in a jerky nod, sending droplets of blood flying.
Whether or not he agreed to my ultimatum, I still intended to kill him… slowly and painfully for his hand in what happened to Clara. I'd let Munroe interrogate him first, but after getting what information we could from Parlow, I intended to gut the bastard… slowly. For good measure, I bared my fangs at the mayor as he sopped at the blood pouring from his nose.
Clara's face lay buried in the curve of my shoulder. Faintly, so low I knew it was for my ears alone—she giggled.
