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“I’m okay.” She nodded.

“Are you sure? You’re shaking and very pale,” the woman holding her hand asked.

“I will be.” She felt her back to assure herself she wasn’t injured when they shot her.

“You’re wearing a shell,” the man commented, pointing to her forearms and shins.

“I am, but I don’t have time to explain,” she replied to the confused Osivoire. “Would someone be kind enough to take me to the Sanctuary, please?” she begged.

“The Sanctuary? Why?” the woman who helped her inquired.

“I’m a guest of the Premiere Servant.”

“You’re that hoomin. I recognize you now.” The Osivoire woman nodded.

“Yes. Please, I need to get there quick,” she insisted urgently, her fists clenched by her sides.

The couple who’d kindly hidden her looked nervously outside as the authorities arrived. It was obvious none of them wanted to look like they were fleeing the scene of a crime.

I don’t have time to screw with their questions.She wanted to scream in frustration.

“I’ll take you. I used to be in the Paladin. They don’t worry me.” The brave man gestured to the authorities. “Let’s go out the back.”

“Thank you. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful but can we hurry, please?”

Please let me get to him in time.She prayed while trying to keep her shit together, but the adrenalin coursing through her was overwhelming and threatening to make her pass out.

Twenty-Three

A Good Talking To

Aculus

He exited the Sanctuary hangar at a break-neck pace and aimed the cruiser toward the commuter terminal. Suddenly a smaller cruiser came out of nowhere.

“Vasta,” he cursed as he pulled his vessel to an abrupt halt.

He was about to maneuver around the other vehicle when the occupant hailed him.

“Yes,” he answered curtly.

“Aculus!”

The sound of Nadzia’s voice was like a spot of light in the pitch-dark night.

“Nadzia!” Her name burst out with a relieved breath. “Are you all right?” he shouted into the ship’s comm.

“I’m better now,” she said, her voice trembling.

“Scrain, at your service, Premiere Servant. Is there someplace I can set down?” the male apparently aiding Nadzia asked.

“Follow me.”

She’s safe.His shoulders slumped.Thank you, he sent up a prayer.

He whipped around, landed, and was out of the cruiser and pacing by the time the other vessel touched down in the hangar. The cruiser opened and Nadzia raced to him then began patting him down as she frantically looked him over. It was totally unexpected since she was the one who’d been abducted.

“I am fine.” He wrapped his arms around her small trembling body.