Page 33 of Healer
We lay together, trembling in the aftermath, limbs entangled like vines, and our breaths coming in ragged gasps. The world faded away, leaving just the two of us lost in this blissful dance of desire.
I felt so perfectly sated that movement was out of the question. It was all I could do to remember how to breathe. This was more than just sex. This was more than just burning off the stress of the day. This was the union of two souls intertwined. This was… perfect.
The future stretched out before me with an endless sea of possibilities. A future filled with joy and bliss, a future that I longed to run towards hand in hand with Hakkar by my side. With ALS still lurking under my skin, every step forward felt like a leap of faith, but I had never felt more sure or determined in my life.
With a definite groan of regret, Hakkar slid out of me, rolling onto his back and drawing me against his chest. His fingertips tickled up and down my spine, feeling like the dance of tiny mouse feet.
“Are you okay?” His voice sounded tentative, as though he expected me to say no.
Fat chance.
“Better than okay,” I tilted my head so I could gaze at him, a satisfied, radiant smile curving my lips. “And you?”
Hakkar snorted like it was the stupidest question he’d ever heard.
“I am perfect, my beautiful Aggie,” he murmured, brushing strands of sex-mussed hair from my forehead.
He wasn’t wrong about that. There was one thing I’d like to know, though.
“Why did you call me Aggie?”
“You dislike it?” Concern flashed across his handsome face.
“No. I do like it.” I quickly soothed his worry. “It’s just that no one else ever called me that… except my father, and I wondered why you did.”
Hakkar shrugged, a glint of sheepishness crossing his features.
“I don’t know.” He shrugged again, his cheeks darkening in a way I found absolutely adorable. “I wanted to call some something... special. Something just for me.”
“I like that,” I whispered, reaching up to pull his lips to mine.
I liked it a lot.
Chapter 13 – Hakkar
The next couple of days passed with peaceful bliss.
Vienda and Talamus proved gracious hosts, and Agnes and I helped wherever needed. For me, it was assisting Talamus in fortifying his homestead’s disguise, using branches and leaves to camouflage any telltale signs of habitation. It proved a tedious task but necessary to protect them from further discovery by the Aljani. Agnes stayed close to Irsay, tending to her wound with a watchful eye. Despite her initial reluctance, Agnes finally relented and allowed Vienda to apply a thick, green, minty salve to the wound. The effects were almost immediate, and Agnes marveled at the salve’s healing powers, comparing it to something called penicillin.
My favorite moments came at night, when Agnes willingly sought my embrace, and we surrendered to each other’s touch. The hours melted away as our bodies intertwined, worshipping each other.
After returning from the hot spring, we spent the remainder of the night indulging in desire before finally succumbing to exhaustion in the early hours of dawn. Performing Irsay’s surgery transformed Agnes—her usual worries and doubts replaced by happiness and newfound confidence. It was like seeing the true essence of Agnes, unburdened by the disease that threatened to dim her spirit. And she took my breath away.
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay longer?” Vienda asked, stuffing another blanket into a fur pack.
Agnes gazed at me with hopeful, gray eyes from the side of the female Kerzak. She wore garments borrowed from Vienda, which were too big for her slender frame, which necessitated a button at the shoulder to keep the dress from pooling at her feet. Agnes laughed, comparing herself to a character namedWilma Flintstone. However, I found her to be nothing short of beautiful. The garments may have been on loan, but the boots were hers alone, meticulously handcrafted from soft fur as a token of gratitude from Talamus for saving his daughter’s life.
“It is not safe to tarry. We must rendezvous with the Bardaga.” I hated the disappointment that flashed in Agnes’ eyes. I gestured to the pack Vienda stuffed with leaf-wrapped dried meat and other foods. “We thank you for the supplies.”
“It is little compared to our daughter’s life.” Talamus bounced the child he held atop his shoulder. Irsay’s hearty and healthy laughter echoed through the air. Just as I hoped, like all warrior species, Kerzak healed quickly.
I shifted the heavy pack from Vienda onto my shoulder and glanced around the small clearing. Their home was a sanctuary, quiet and seemingly safe, yet I couldn’t shake the sense of unease that settled in my stomach. I couldn’t help but wonder if our presence put the sanctuary at further risk. The thick scent of trees and earth surrounded us, a comforting reminder of nature’s camouflage. But underneath it all, a faint hint of danger lurked.
“I fear your safety is still at risk since your help with the Aljani,” My eyes met Talamus’ dark gaze, trying to convey the depth of my concern. “Once we rejoin the Bardaga, I will send a shuttle to collect you if you wish.”
Vienda stepped closer to her mate, stroking her daughter’s hair. “And go where? With my family’s death, Kerzak is lost to us forever.”
“True,” I agreed, watching the loss flash across her face. “But there is a planet, Tau Ceti, where abducted humans and persecuted others live safely and in peace. You would be welcome there.”
