Page 66 of Tribute
He snapped back into consciousness, aware thatUngrichtentacles both inside and outside were supporting his whole body and he was part of the floating community. Everything hurt, his body exposed and penetrated and pulsing withUngrichpower.
“Show me.”
A beat of pain zapped through his skull, and he choked on a fat tentacle. Marshaling his thoughts, he replayed the images through his mind, along with the commentary he remembered.
“Earth.”
The deeper voice joined in, and Aled was suddenly aware of the force of the two personalities entwined around him as they communicated with each other and through him.
“Seed.”
And then he had to endure the extraction of his semen all over again. This time he couldn’t fight the pain, and let them experience it with him. For some reason that seemed to excite them even more, and eventually he gave in to the darkness and let himself be used.
He wouldn’t survive this.
No one could.
He wouldn’t . . .
His family would miss him . . .
Kai Mexr would . . .
Want to die .
Please. . .
“He’s alive. Get him wired up and get him out of here.”
Lights and sound so loud he wanted to scream at them to return him to his peaceful, floating grave, but they wouldn’t leave him alone, kept touching him when he couldn’t bear it, shoving pain into his arm and . . .
“Watch out!”
He fought then and tried to scream, but his voice was gone, he was gone, lost with theUngrich. Then blessed relief from everything.
“Greez.” Kai let them take Aled Price into the medical vehicle, which set off for the military hospital.
Malke crouched down beside him. “We got them all out, sir. Well done.”
Kai nodded and forced himself to get off the floor. Seeing Price like that had stirred his worst memories. He knew how it felt to be ripped out of that strange environment that had become almost familiar. Price’s skin was super soft from immersion inUngrichspace, and he’d lost about a quarter of his weight. He’d come out fighting, though. A reluctant smile curved Kai’s lips. Getting Aled through the rest of the program wasn’t going to be easy, but Kai would handle it. He had no choice.
The brightness had dimmed, and the bed Aled lay on was soft enough to support his strangely weightless limbs without hurting him. He swallowed and there was nothing in his throat except his own saliva: no tentacles, no bitter tang ofUngrichseed, no . . .
He brought one hand up to his throat and felt the raised ridge of the scar where theUngrichhad coiled around his neck and penetrated the skin behind his ear. Now he understood how Kai Mexr had gotten the same marking. He very carefully turned his head on the pillow and saw a male sitting in a chair by the side of his bed.
Kai was sleeping, his head resting on the back of the chair, the lividUngrichscars barely visible above the neckline of his black T-shirt. As if aware of Aled’s gaze, he slowly opened his green eyes and blinked.
“Price. Welcome back.” Aled just stared as Kai rose from his seat and came closer. “Can I get you anything? Water, food?”
“Why are you here?” Aled croaked.
“It’s my duty to see you through this process until you are cleared by all personnel involved in your care, both medical and military.”
“I don’t want you.”
Kai sighed. “I get that, but you’re stuck with me.”
“No.”
