Page 24 of Protected By the Convicts
Vaughn startled at his voice, as if he hadn’t noticed Ky’Li among the injured. Then again, with all the dead and dying nearby, Vaughn was rightfully distracted.
“No, but when you get home, tell Hannah. . . Never mind.”
Ky’Li gave a short nod, a customary sign of thanks, which Vaughn returned though slower, hesitant. Then, as Ky’Li began to walk away. Vaughn reached out and gripped his arm. “When I’m gone, Ky’Li, find another for the unit. Someone who can help protect her. But make sure he’s not the type to force her.”
Ky’Li gave another nod. He wasn’t quite sure what Vaughn meant bygone, but this was not the time to ask. There were too many injured in need of the doctor’s skills.
As Ky’Li stepped out of the tent, Vaughn’s words haunted him. He’d spent hours with the doctor as they had searched for Sersie last night, only to find the man at his lab fully immersed in a project. Then they’d been ordered to stay in the lab the rest of the night as two kuvaks wandered around West Side. The teams assigned to hunt the cat-like beasts were slow, but effective, killing both beasts shortly before sunrise. Ky’Li had had just enough time to make it to first shift. He hadn’t been home to see Hannah yet. Neither had Vaughn, but it didn’t sound like Vaughn planned on returning.
“Ky!”
Ky’Li whipped around too fast, making him lose his balance and nearly his stomach contents. A man caught him as he pitched forward. Sersie.
Hannah cupped his face. Her eyes filled with panic. He’d seen her worry too many times since they met on that shuttle. She didn’t belong here, on this world where friends turned against friends and men left their peers trapped beneath a mountain. If Ky’Li had died down there, then who would protect her?
“You okay?” Sersie asked. “You look rather pale. Did the doctors clear you? I received a message saying you’d been injured, but they didn’t specify the injury.”
“Concussion,” he said, forcing himself to stand straight. He refused to appear weak out here, with all these miners still milling about, most staring at Hannah. Sersie shouldn’t have brought her, but leaving her at home alone could have been dangerous too. Krike, even with four males to protect her, it didn’t seem like enough.
“Where’s Ren?” Ky’Li asked.
“All the engineers and management are going over the emergency. There are still miners trapped down—” Sersie got yanked backward and two hulking miners took his place in front of Hannah.
“Sersie!” Hannah yelled. Ky’Li quickly locked his hand on her arm. Grigg’s unit had intended to draw her away. Wherever they’d taken Sersie, the man was on his own for the moment. Ky’Li would not leave Hannah unprotected.
Falco chuckled, but never took his eyes off Ky’Li. Smart man. Harrison, meanwhile, ran his eyes over Hannah, paying no attention to Ky’Li. Hannah stepped in toward Ky’Li, but he could not put his arm around her waist, to draw her near. And he could not push her behind him as he’d heard movement behind him. Surrounded. The first man that could, would grab her.
“You were lucky today, Ky’Li. That was your section that collapsed, wasn’t it?” Falco said.
“You mean our section, but I’d say you were lucky, considering you chose to skip this shift.”
“Ah, well, Griggs wasn’t feeling well, so I thought I’d stay back, help him out.”
“Move aside, Falco, or this will not end well for you.”
Falco waved a cocky hand in the air. “I have an offer. I hear there’s an experiment coming up. They’re taking miners as volunteers. Two weeks, no work, but the quota will be filled. I can get you on the list.”
“No.”
“Just give us a few hours with her. I promise we’ll be real gentle. No bruising even. Hell, we’ll even bathe her before returning her.”
Hannah backed into Ky’Li who slid his grip to her upper arm. He’d be less likely to snap the bone there if he had to fight while maintaining a hold on her. With his thumb, he caressed her arm, hoping to quell her shaking. It was the best he could do.
“Last chance, Falco. Leave with Harrison. My female stays with me.”
“Winter’s behind you,” Falco said with a haughty sneer.
Hannah’s head whipped around. She jumped at the sight of the massive man. Winters, with his long unkempt hair, scars across his chest, and abnormally large hands, intimidated many of the miners. Ky’Li could practically smell the fear coming off of his female.
“Let’s try this again. Four hours. I’ll even walk her to your door when we’re done.”
Ky’Li snapped his fist back, getting Winters square in the face, then he swung Hannah with him as he turned and punched the dazed Winters, felling the man. As he spun around again, he swung to where he’d last seen Falco, except he and Harrison were on the ground, out cold, with Sersie standing behind them.
“Are you okay?” Sersie asked with one hand holding a wet cloth over his mouth.
“Y-Yes!” Hannah screeched. “Th-thank you.”
Sersie held up his other hand. In it was a bulbous black root that had burst open. White granules covered the sides of the root as well as Sersie’s hand. “Voko root,” he explained. “It contains a natural anesthetic. You have to be careful not to inhale when using it. Wait here while I dispose of this.”
