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“Don’t.” He pulled her hand away.

A laugh burst out of her mouth, making him frown.

“I’m sorry.” She sobered. “You are so sweet. I know you don’t believe me. You’ve got that impenetrable shell, so you’re not used to being hurt, but I’m really okay.”

Nadzia patted herself down, roughly poking at her ribs. Discomfort registered on her face for a moment then she nodded as if it were nothing. It wasn’t nothing. Her injuries physically made him hurt.

“Please stop,” he insisted as she callously brushed the dirt off her skinned knees.

“Okay,” Nadzia relented and let him push her hands aside.

He was grateful his shell had receded as he gingerly applied the healing salve to her knees and various other scrapes. His shell was too hard to be jabbing at her injuries. That done, he looked again at her ribs and forehead.

“We should take you to a medic.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he knew he’d messed up.

“I am not going to a medic.” Nadzia stood abruptly.

“I know you don’t like them but…” he entreated.

“I’m fine with doctors. It’s needles I don’t like. I know it’s crazy but there’s a difference,” she corrected him, jabbing a finger in his chest.

“All right. All right.” He held up his hands and backed up. “I’d really feel better if you let someone look you over. No needles. And the injectors don’t use needles anyway,” he attempted to reason with her.

“First off, you aren’t really trustworthy in the whole shot department.” Nadzia advanced toward him, looking less than amused, her green eyes flashing.

“I deserve that.” He retreated, making a circle around the cockpit.

“Secondly, I know my body and I’m telling you I’m fine.” She tapped his chest again and he dropped into the seat behind him.

Nadzia’s expression shifted from mad to hurt.

Torment, he cursed himself. He hadn’t even let her explain what she’d been through and it was clearly a lot. Aculus wrapped his arms around Nadzia and gently pulled her into his lap.

“I’m sorry,” he sighed and held her close. “I nearly lost my mind. I found your shoes in the garden, but you were gone. Then your signal showed you here in the refuge where any number of animals could’ve…” He shook his head, unable to finish the thought. “And then to discover you were trapped underground. I can’t…”

The emotions that tore through him were indescribable. He’d never felt anything like the horror, fear and loss before he found her. Or the way relief suddenly snapped him in the opposite direction, only to be gripped by alarm again seeing her injuries. The struggles in battle came the closest, and he’d experienced some truly heinous things, yet those skirmishes paled in comparison. This was something he never wanted to go through again.

Even as the thought entered his mind it also saddened him. Because that is exactly what he’d experience when Nadzia returned home, and then he’d cease to know such intensity again.

Eighteen

It’s Not that Easy

Nadzia

It was such a relief to see Aculus after the unbelievable things she’d been through. She just wanted a minute to gather her wits, except Aculus was freaking out. The man wanted to rush her to the hospital. She was honestly fine. Yeah, she had a goose egg on her head, but growing up as an Air Force brat, she and her sisters thought getting knocked out was hilarious.

Jesus Christ, I’m fine!It seriously frustrated her that Aculus refused to listen to her.

It also hurt, way more than her scrapes and bangs. She wasn’t as tough as the Osivoire but she was far from broken, flawed or frail.

As Aculus held her and apologized, she felt the way his heart was beating. She knew he was worried but it sank in just how deeply afraid he was. Seeing the devastated expression on his face made her want to cry.

“I’m okay. I’m really okay.” She repeatedly kissed his cheek while rubbing his chest, trying to soothe his thundering heartbeat.

“How did you end up underground in the fauna refuge?” he asked, his deep raspy voice a mere whisper.

“I tried to extend Tarsus’ range but I guess I managed to turn off his leash,” she explained between gentle caresses. “The next thing I see is the little bugger climbing into the crack by the estuary.”