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Briar

Gently,IlayLacieback down, wiping the tears off her face onceIhave her settled. “Thankyou,ANDI, for sedating her.Shewas crying so hard she was having a hard time breathing.Nowthat she’s back, do you know what happened?”

“Ifear it’s not my story to tell,MistressBriar, but she will need your friendship now more than ever.Abroken heart takes time to heal.”

“Well, there’s only one personIknow she was stuck on, and he just walked out.DidMeKput her in here?Didhe hurt her?”

“NoMistress, asItold him, if he had damaged her in any way,Iwould eject him out an airlock before allowing him near her again.MasterMeKwas one of the three who found her.However,Ibelieve some of her tears are a direct result of the things that led to the near disaster of us losing her.”

“Whereis he?”

“Outside, pacing the hallway.”

Gettingup,Iease out of the bed and asItuck the blankets around her, the madderIget. “ANDI,I’llbe right back.”

MeKturns when he hears the door open.Marchingright up to him, my anger at the conditionLacie’sin overrides my common sense.Rearingback,Islap the hell out of him. “Whatthe fuck did you do to herGlowWorm?”

Hiseyes flash, then turn solid black, but he doesn’t react.Helooks through the door atLacie, now resting peacefully, then back to me. “Youask whatIdid?Ilost everything beforeIknewIhad it.”

BeforeIcan say a word, he walks off, andIstand there with my hands on my hips, clueless on how to help either one of them.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

LACIE

Iwalkoff the dropship after arguing withBriarthis morning, who thought it was too soon for me to return to work.Nomatter how many waysIput it,Icouldn’t make her understand that my mind is my worst enemy right now and that in order for me to heal,Ineed to do something.Lyingaround in our room doing nothing was driving me crazy, especially after discovering the mark on my hip.OnceIdid, the questions only doubled, andIknowMeK’sthe only one who can answer them, butIdon’t know ifI’mready to face him yet.Myheart is torn, and several times,I’vewondered ifI’dbeen too hard on him, since after all, he’s still here ...Hedidn’t leave like he was told to, but ... well, there are just too many buts.

AsIwalk off the ship, people smile, heading off to their own positions, andI’mthankful that only a handful of them know what really happened.Ifanyone asks about my wrist,I’vedecided to sayIwas simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.I’mnot lying, it’s just none of their business.

WhenJamescommed me last night asking ifIwas ready to come back to the fields,Icould’ve hugged him.Imade sure to eatbeforeIleft our rooms this morning becauseIdidn’t want to go to the pavilion and possibly bump intoMeK.AsIhead straight to the fields,Imake myself look straight ahead and not toward the houses being built, only hesitating slightly whenIdon’t hear the sound of his hammer.ThenIwonder where he is or if he even knowsI’veleft the ship.

Hethinks thatIhaven’t noticed him, but he’s been like a ghost hovering above me or a shadow watching from a corner.EverywhereI’veturned on that ship,I’vecaught a glimpse of his dark skin before it’s gone.

Briarhas asked me a dozen times about what happened, butIjust can’t … nor willIever speak of it.Itholds enough power over me in my mind now, andIsimply refuse to speak it back into existence.JustasI’mclearing the tree line,Isee movement off to my right, and beforeIcan react, a small black ball of fur pounces in front of me.

Bendingdown,Ihold my hand out as he approaches me slowly.It’slike he has to make sure it’s me.ThesecondIpass the sniff test, he bounces all around me asIrub his rough, spotted coat.Igiggle when he raises up on his back legs so that he can put his head against mine.

“Howdid you find me out here, little one?Ohmy goodness,Ithink you’ve grown sinceIsaw you last.”

“Ifound him out here in the field, holding one of your gloves in his mouth.Apparently, someone has been looking for you.Iwas just bringing him some treats whenIsaw you walking ahead of me.Iknew he would be excited.Thekits are quite cute when they are small, but he will grow up to be quite the killer unless trained.Doeshe have a name?”

MeK’srich voice flows over me, andIclose my eyes, gathering my strength to face him.Gatheringthe littleSuetup in my arms,Iturn around only for my heart to hit my throat.God, why does he have to be so handsome?Whatis it about him that makes me want him so?

“Hmm, well now that you mention it no, but let’s see if he likes any of these.Shadow? …nothing …Onyx? … nope.Maybehe’ll like this one …Kiki.”Heperks right up, looking straight at me. “Well, it’s settled then.Theyalways pick their own names.”Scratchingbehind his ear,Iact likeI’mwhispering to him, “Didyou hear thatKiki, the big, mean man, said you’re going to be a killer, but you’s just a baby, ain’t ya?Youjust want some kitty love.”

MeKhands me a couple pieces of meat, andItear them up before handingKikismaller portions as he settles on my shoulder.MeKstands there watching our every movement whileKikigently takes each piece from my fingers as he leans against my head.

“Heseems quite attached to you,Lacie.”

“Hesaved my life, soIowe him everything.”

“Then, so doI.Howare you feeling?”

“Arewe really going to do this,MeK… this small talk?”

“Iwill do whatever it takes as long as you will speak to me.”

Musteringwhat courageIhave left,Iforce the words out of my mouth. “Ineed to know something.Ifound a mark on my hip,MeK—I’mnot sure what it is, butIdidn’t get it until we ... well, you know what we did.Doyou know what it is?”