Page 16 of Double Cut

Each woman heaved deep breaths and trudged after him. They encountered no resistance or other occupants of the building. Upon reaching the roof, Sarus grinned, recognizing the weapon Horas meant him to use. He rammed his dripping sword into its scabbard and headed for the turret. Before he climbed into the cockpit, he turned to the human females and said, “Sit at the base and do not move from there.”

The women gratefully sank to the hard surface and huddled against the turret’s base as Sarus climbed in and seated himself. He closed the lid behind him. Elodie’s eyes widened as she saw the stain spreading through the fabric of the other bride’s clothes.

“You’re injured!” she hissed.

“I’ll be all right,” Evangeline replied through gritted teeth as she continued to press against the wound.Pressure is good, right?

Inside the war machine where he could not overhear the whispered conversation, Sarus’ lips peeled back to bare his pointed teeth in a ferocious smile as he flipped switches and activated the lethal machinery. With a hiss and a creak, the war machine awoke and rose on its pedestal. Articulated mechanical legs separated, straightened, propelled the mobile weapon forward. It jumped off the edge of the roof. Jets flared to ease its landing. The moment the war machine touched ground, it let loose with an ear-piercing spray of laserfire. The red spray incinerated the advancing swarm of Sivuul.

Sarus drove the war machine, aiming its lethal guns with precision as he chased the now retreating swarm. He spied a battalion of Ahn'hudi soldiers charging after the swarm. Deciding they could finish the task of defense, Sarus turned the machine around and headed back to the building. The machine’s undercarriage jets flared and lifted it off the ground. Expending a bit more power, the machine flew back to its pedestal and landed with delicate accuracy, locking its power connectors to recharge and sustain battle readiness.

Sarus climbed down from the war machine to find Horas crouching beside the females at its base. Cuts and abrasions crisscrossed the big male’s body. Some looked particularly painful, but none appeared immediately life threatening. What did concern him was the spreading red stain on Evangeline’s right side.

“She needs medical attention,” Elodie said, her reddened eyes overflowing with tears that left irregular tracks in the soot on her face. “Is there a hospital nearby?”

Once again, Horas came to their rescue. “I know where we can find a place to rest and a healer, but we must leave now.”

“I’ll carry Evie’s cat,” Elodie said as she struggled to her blistered feet and reached for the carrier.

Horas heaved himself upright, shook his head, and said, “Elodie, no. You are in no condition.”

So saying, he scooped her into his arms before her hand closed on the carrier’s handle.

“Put me down! You’re injured, too!” Elodie shrieked.

“There you are!” a new voice cried out. The four of them looked in that direction to see the healer from the bride games running toward them. His crest was pinned to his scalp as he glared at Horas. “She is not matched to you, warrior.”

Horas’ lips peeled back from his pointed teeth. “This one smells sweet with courage.”

The healer nodded and held the big warrior’s gaze without flinching. “Aye, she has great courage, as a healer’s mate should, but she is not for you.”

Horas dropped his gaze first, for it was a great dishonor to assault a healer. With a low growl, he transferred Elodie to the healer’s outstretched arms. “She would be a good match for me, too.”

The healer nodded. “Aye, she would, but she’s better matched to me.”

“Hey, I’m right here!” Elodie protested as she was settled in the other male’s arms. “How did you find us?”

“I marked you when you pressed your palm to mine at the meeting,” the healer admitted and pressed his closed lips against her head. “I will find you no matter where you go.” He then met Horas’ eyes again. “You and the commander will make a good dyad.”

“Dyad?” Sarus echoed faintly, surprised the healer mentioned openly what he had only briefly considered.

“Both of us?” Horas growled. He glanced at Sarus. “Have you heard of two unbonded males doing such a thing?”

“Not in my lifetime.”

“The human females benefit from two mates,” the healer said. “Put aside your rivalry and join with her. The triangle is the most stable structure.”

Sarus glared at the healer then at Horas who glowered back at him.

“Two?” Evangeline gasped. She started squirming in Sarus’ arms.

“It could work,” said Horas, more willing to consider sharing a mate than Sarus. “She would never be unprotected.”

A crack resounded, followed by the crash of collapsing masonry as a nearby structure crumbled. Screams and shouts reverberated below. The healer excused himself and hurried away, a wriggling, protesting Elodie securely cradled in his arms.

“We must get her to safety,” Horas urged, picking up the cat carrier.

Sarus nodded, grateful that the imperial guard had set aside the discussion of sharing a mate, the injured woman whose life seeped from the wound in her side. He nodded, shifted the woman in his arms and said, “Let’s go.”

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