Page 52 of The Alien Warrior's Vow

“Emma, get ahold of yourself. The Healer is doing everything he can.”

“How do you know that? Because he squeezed his eyes really hard when he was waving his hands over Lans’s body?”

“I’ve seen him work before. The sacred lake has never denied us.”

“Look, I’m not hating on your traditions. I’m just…” She swallowed hard.

“I know.” He touched her shoulder. “You are worried about Lans.” Clavas’s eyes dropped to the ground. “You… care for him.”

“I just want him to wake up.” She sniffed.

“There is nothing we can do if he doesn’t want to.”

“Clavas. Emma,” a deep voice said.

She glanced up and saw the Healer standing in the doorway.

“Healer,” Clavas whispered, his eyes wide.

“Do you mind watching Lans for a moment, Clavas? Make sure he does not drown.”

“Yes.” Clavas dipped his head.

When he was gone, the Healer remained by the doorway.

Emma turned around, swiping the tears that leaked from her eyes. “If you expect an apology for calling you a quack, you’re not going to get one.”

“The Heronas energy field containedrhythmidium. It is a highly potent substance that reacts violently to Plutonian blood. It is like inhaling a viral bomb. Any Plutonian touches it and they disintegrate.”

“Thanks for the random science lesson.”

“It is strange.” The Healer stopped a few paces away. “The energy field that no Plutonian could cross suddenly came down from the inside. Would the Heronas really be that foolish?”

“Guess so.”

The Healer gave her a knowing look. “Thank you for saving us all.”

“It wasn’t me.” She kicked at a loose rock. “The other girls did most of the work.”

“You are very humble, Eema.”

“Should you be in here talking to me?” She faced him. “Shouldn’t you be doing everything you can to help him?”

“I have done all I can, but you…”

“Me?”

“You are the only one who can save him now.”

Her heart thumped. “What exactly are you trying to say?”

“He is slipping away without a fight.”

“And?”

The Healer’s eyes fastened on her. “He needs a reason to stay.”

“Me? You think he’d stay for me?”