Page 25 of Made For The Alien Warrior

He froze, just as he had earlier when she wrapped her arms around him.

His heras thumped even harder.

Tiegan glanced at where her brown fingers clasped his thumb. She tightened her grip, grimacing as if his presence was the only barrier between life and death.

“Just wait a minute.” She panted. “Give me a… minute.”

Concern overwhelming him, Tiegan knelt beside her bedding and locked their fingers together. “Sim-pony, if you are in pain, we must get the Healer.”

“It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?” he hissed, feeling as if he were coming apart.

“Please, Tiegan,” she whispered.

The intensity of his affection took him by surprise. Tiegan had always been cold and numb to the world. Even when his comrades became obsessed with their females, he had no such inclination. Perhaps he had only been waiting for the right person tomakehim feel. Sim-pony’s presence unlocked a side of him he had never known before.

Sucking in a sharp breath, he stared at her face. She was squeezing her eyes shut as if in deep concentration. Her brown lips were pursed, the bottom pushing out slightly further than the top.

“What is the matter?” he asked.

Rather than answer, Sim-pony folded over, groaning under her breath.

A flood of helplessness slashed against him. He could not sit here and watch her writhe in pain any longer. “Enough.” Tiegan rose to his feet while still holding her hand. “We must alert the others.”

“No, it’s nothing.”

“You call thisnothing, female?”

“I have a headache.”

“You are in a weakened state. It could be a sign that your body is rejecting the nano-tech.” Tiegan’s eyes swerved to her left arm. “We must inspect it to make sure you are not in danger.”

“I’m not. I swear. I don’t need the Healer.”

“Then explain what is going on,” he barked.

“I… hear the voice again.”

“Denizi,” Tiegan cursed.

“It’s trying to draw me out. I can feel it,” she squeezed her tunic as if she were wringing out a wet cloth, “like it’s a beacon. A magnet.” Sim-pony shook her head. “I’m trying to resist.” She met his gaze, her eyes beseeching. “You need to stop me.”

“Are you sure this voice is your mind playing tricks on you?”

She bobbed her head. “I’m sure.”

Once again, Tiegan’s instincts cried that there was more to this phenomena. The earthen doctors had been wrong about Sim-pony before. It could be so again.

However, the mystery did not matter as much as calming Sim-pony’s mind. Sweat beaded on her forehead and dripped down her temples. A vein was popping out in her neck. She strained to remain upright.

He had to distract her mind. Give her something else to focus on.

But what could he do?

Moving on instinct, Tiegan climbed into bed with Sim-pony. He felt the moment her body stiffened.

She watched him, blinking rapidly. “What are you doing?”