Page 51 of Master
When the low hum touched my ears, I initially mistook it as the sound of the blood rushing through my veins. A rush that grew louder, causing my heart to slam against my chest as desire built to the point of pain. When the scent hit my nostrils… an acrid mix of scorched grass and burning rubber, the only thing stronger than my desire for Clara took wing.
The need to protect her.
Panic ripped through me. Vaktaire olfactory senses were far superior to most in the galaxy; despite that, I only had seconds. Seconds to decide on a path that would either doom us or save us.
I took off at a sprint, slinging Clara over my shoulder like I’d carried sacks of sweet potatoes earlier. Her breath huffed from her lungs, making a cute squeaking noise.
“What the fuck, Tarook?” Clara demanded once she recovered enough air to speak.
I didn’t answer, not wanting the effort of speech to affect my speed.
The front door to Mei's house opened with a kick. Clara cursed my action, but I didn’t spare the time to respond. The scent grew thicker, and I heard the faint tinkle of particles falling on the leaves.
The upper basement door received the same treatment as the front door. I ignored the downward stairs and vaulted the distance in a single leap. Clara's grunt as I hit the landing sounded painful. I regretted it, but keeping her safe took precedence.
Please, Valana, let everything Mei claimed to be true.
The door entering the basement felt heavier, solid—a good sign. A kick closed the door while the hand not planted on Clara's ass slapped the black lever mounted to the left of the doorframe. A metal panel descended with a clinking roll, followed by the rather lewd sucking sound of a vacuum seal fitting into place. Another moment and the whirr of an air recycler engaging overshadowed the buzz of overhead drones.
During a tour of the cottage, Mei explained how she’d hermetically sealed her basement lab to ensure climate control for her plant research. When Craig Munroe stopped by, asking for my help to investigate the most recent creature sighting, she’d just completed showing Clara how to engage the system. At the moment, I’d been happy to escape the science talk, but regret hit me brutally.
What if I hadn’t gotten back in time?
Clara struggled against my hold. My hand cradled one plump ass cheek, but it was the most efficient way to hold her while I ran.
I felt the heat of anger pouring off her skin. The moment between us in the garden—that precious moment when I knew she wanted me as much as I wanted her—felt like a dream. As much as disappointment slammed through me for the lost moment, keeping her safe and alive took precedence.
“Put me down right now!”
Clara's voice shook with anger and worry. Bending, I sat her gently to her feet, rising to meet the ire flaming in her violet eyes.
“What the hell are you doing, Tarook?”
I intended to answer; I really did, but at that moment, the plink of particles hit the rooftop.
Fuck!
It sounded like a blizzard. I moved toward the nearest window, the moonlight dulled from a swirl of white powder.
“Tarook?” Clara’s voice held the faintest tinge of fear, which shook me.
“I’m sorry, darlin’.”
I stepped away from the vision of falling doom, still not convinced of our safety. The basement wasn’t a large space, but looked sturdily built. Metal panels covered every surface, save for four small rectangular windows looking out at ground level. The window glass appeared at least two inches thick, which should be enough.
We'd know for sure in a minute.It didn't take long.
Three tables in the center of the room sat covered in paraphernalia, reminding me of med-bay on the Bardaga when our chief medic, Hakkar, got into research mode. A small cot between two doors sat at one end of the room. One door I knew held a bathroom. Hopefully, the other door led to a storeroom. If we couldn’t find some food down here, it could be a rough few days.
The drone hovering immediately overhead drew my attention away from our surroundings.
“Will you answer me!” Clara demanded with a stomp of her tiny foot.
“Shhh.” I held my hand up, glancing at the window. White power swirled in the air, the lush greenness of Mei's garden beginning to resemble an ice planet.
“Don’t ‘shhh’me.” Clara swatted my hand away. “What the hell is up with you?”
I grabbed her shoulders and pulled her toward the nearest window. “Listen.”
