Page 19 of Healer
“Run, Agnes,” I hissed, raising my scimitars into battle position.
The Kersak swung his massive blade in a wide arc over his head. I steeled myself for battle… and death.
“Stop!”
Not Agnes, but a decidedly female voice.
A Kerzak female strode into the clearing. A beautiful creature, especially for a species where it proved sometimes difficult to tell male from female.
Slender and shorter than the male by at least a foot, pale gray fur covered her body, save for the creamy color of her face. Her eyes were a rich honey color, and hair that most Kerzak females wore short flowed over her shoulders in a deep silvery gray.
The female moved regally, putting herself between me and the male. She laid her hand in the center of his chest and that simple touch seemed to vanquish his hostility, the massive blade falling limply to his side. When she turned her gaze to me, her expression seemed serene, although calculating. I sheathed my blades in a gesture of peacefulness, knowing I could have them in my hands at a second’s notice if needed.
“Why have you intruded upon our home?” Her button eyes bounced from me to Agnes and narrowed curiously.
As if sensing some type of invitation, Agnes moved to my side. I slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her tightly against me. The protectiveness I felt for her was like a fire in my blood. It was more than doing my duty to my Chieftain and his mate... just more.
“We did not mean to trespass,” I said, giving a long, slow nod to show respect. “We travel to the eastern settlement and didn’t realize this portion of the jungle was inhabited.”
The female’s curious gaze flickered back to me and held. The male moved to stand behind her, his hands resting protectively on her shoulders.
“You are Vaktaire. I know of your kind.”
Nothing in her expression gave away what—if anything—she meant.
“What do you know?”
The female smiled, strangely beautiful and genuine. Beside me, I felt Agnes relax.
“I know your people to be warriors, but fair and good. Your kind were always friend to my family.”
Family?
The comment seemed strange and leading. I glanced at Agnes, her bright grey eyes making my heart thud faster, before returning my attention to the female.
“Who might be your family, lady?” The title fell from my lips without conscious thought. It just seemed right.
The female’s smile dimmed sadly. She leaned against the male as though needing comfort for what came next.
“My name is Vienda. I am the only surviving spawn of Ardika Vey and Paluma Oy, crowned regents of the Kerzak.”
Shock staggered me, causing Agnes to slip an arm around my waist in support. In any other circumstance, the gesture might have distracted me, but not now.
“Someone massacred the Kerzak royal family over fifty rotations ago,” I protested.
I’d served as part of an Alliance team tasked with investigating the destroyed royal vessel. I personally had closed Queen Paluma Oy’s unseeing gaze. The carnage was sickening. The attackers stabbed her over a hundred times, while they not only decapitated but also eviscerated King Ardika Vey. Her younger brother... there had been barely enough left of him to bury. Someone wanted to make very sure the regents were dead. Very dead. Many believed that the attackers took the princess as a slave… or ate her.
The female—Vienda—sighed heavily, her eyes traveling skyward. “That is what Ambassador Yaard would like everyone to believe.” She raised her hand, gesturing us forward. “Come, let us have refreshment. This is a tale that needs drink.”
We followed at a safe distance, moving through the neipta fruit trees into sight of a small home built into the hillside. The door was round like a ship’s porthole, with two small windows to let in the light on either side. Outside sat a series of rough benches around a circle of stones.
“It’s a hobbit hole,” Agnes whispered as we passed through the doorway. I nodded but made a mental note to ask her about thishobbitlater.
My arm tightened around her waist, keeping Agnes pressed close as we entered a small but cozy room filled with handmade furniture and decoration. This was not the home of warriors. This home belonged to a family.
The male motioned for us to sit on a bench beside the stone fireplace. Vienda disappeared behind a leather curtain, emerging moments later carrying a tray with a jug of pale green liquid and four wooden cups. The fruity scent of the liquid reminded me of valat, wine from my home world, although the taste proved much stronger.
Agnes took a sip, giving a small moan of pleasure that made my cock thicken. I shifted to gain some control over the errant member.
