Page 23 of Dark Survivor (The Qaldreth Warriors #2)

Chapter Fourteen

Nenn trailed Drafe along the narrow passages, the walls touching his upper arms. He frowned, casting a glance at the too-low ceiling. For such a big ship, the Mula Pesada was too cramped for his liking.

A melodic croon snapped his gaze ahead. Over Drafe’s shoulder, Nenn caught a flash of pale purple—the color of russmar in spring. The delicate curve of a cheek led his gaze to a pointy chin on a short human female. Something squeezed his chest. Breathing became irrelevant.

He shifted between Drafe and Caah, inching closer to admire her better.

In a loose tunic over tight pants to barely covered feet was a female in full bloom, softness in every part of her body.

There wasn’t a thing about her he didn’t like.

Even her smile snagged his attention, so vivacious and joyful.

Finding out she was a medic, too, made his thoughts spin. And she was blind. How did she function without sight? Never mind, the Ivoyans would heal her.

He tried to ignore the bounce in his stride, more energized than was wise. She’d be with them when they returned to the Aroagni . Without hesitating, he tapped his implant.

“Gusin, prep the room next to mine.” His familiar face… No, his voice might put her at ease.

“Why?”

Nenn scowled, unable to explain the need to have her near. “Just do it.”

Drafe angled his head, no doubt catching Nenn’s instruction but said nothing to gainsay him. Down ladders Vic took them until she stopped in front of a door. She pushed the lever, bending it in half.

Nenn froze in disbelief. How had she… He tested the solid metal bar. With those scars, she had to have implants. Studying their placement would reveal what had been stripped from the dead female.

Vic’s scowl had Drafe laughing. “I am not trying,” he said, throwing up his hands.

Nenn squeezed her arm. “Foq, Vic, I need to take a look at you when we return to Aroagni .”

She shook off his touch and raised her chin to the ceiling. “Computer, unlock this door.”

It thunked, leaving a gap. Drafe and Caah teamed up to peel it open.

Despite the stale air, the heat pouring over Nenn made him smile.

Along the passage, Drafe sprinted from door to door until he stopped at the fourth one. He spun the wheel and yanked on the door. His expression darkened.

Nenn peered around him at the gray pods stamped with a red symbol—just like the one they’d investigated on Ceres.

At the evidence, Vic rasped, “Find the prisoners.”

Nenn hurried along the passage, Caah with him. They took turns peering through portholes to the contents in the rooms. Caah stiffened then gestured to Nenn to look. Many human faces filled his line of vision.

“Found them,” Caah said, touching his implant.

Drafe and Vic nudged them aside to peek through the circular window.

“Farg,” Vic moaned, stepping back.

Caah gripped the wheel and spun it, the whir deafening in the silence.

As soon as he swung it wide enough, someone called out, “Who are you?”

“Victorious?” a woman gasped, staggering forward to grab Vic’s hand. Her bedraggled garments hung on her, many sizes too big. “Did Carne send you to save us?”

The stench of piss and sweat burned Nenn’s nostrils, but as a medic, he’d been trained to shut off any distracting sense. He did so now. Though, his fingers twitched with the urge to remove his med-dev to heal those with obvious injuries.

“Carne?” Vic stroked the red symbol on the woman’s sleeve then sank to the floor. “No, I’m not their favorite person; neither are you. They’re using you to test augmentations on, then when they’re done with your body, they’ll jettison you into space in an explosive pod.”

“No,” a few muttered.

“I knew it,” others said.

“Pods? Explosions?” A man limped toward them.

Drafe sidled along the wall, keeping himself between the stranger and Vic, who jumped up to squeeze the older man’s arm.

“Yes,” she said. “We located the medical facility they’re taking you to. Computer, patch me through to Tiny.”

“Patched through,” the monotone feminine voice said.

Vic glanced at the ceiling. “Tiny, we found them.”

“Tiny can’t help you, bitch,” a female said, hatred in her tone.

Ice slammed into Nenn’s chest. What had she done to Tiny? Pressure built inside him until a roar consumed his hearing.

“Now I’ll get the chance to kill you,” the female snapped. “Jettisoning was too insipid for what I wanted to do to you.”

“Where’s Tiny?” Vic demanded.

Nenn lunged for the door but paused, listening and praying his female was fine.

“She’ll be dealt with soon enough.”

Relief flooded him at that promise. Tiny lived. He could work with that.

Vic nodded at him, and he bolted. “If you want me, Leah, come and get me, but then again, you never had the balls. Unable to face your weakness, you cut my tether, didn’t you?”

He sprinted from the passage, through the door, then froze at the ladder. “Computer, direct me to Tiny.” He prayed to Osnir the ship heard him.

Lights flickered in the direction he needed to go.

Some levels looked familiar, but he didn’t take the time to confirm this.

Tiny needed him. How could anyone hurt such a joyful female?

He gritted his teeth and hurried, desperate to make it in time.

To save her. Everything in him, including his symbiotes, urged him on.

He burst onto the bridge but found it empty.

Back along the passage he went, pausing to peer into the first room on the left.

There, sprawled on the floor, was Tiny. Bright red blood poured down the side of her bruised temple.

Ripping his med-dev out of his pants, he kneeled beside her and ran it over her wound.

The results flickered and beeped, listing her blindness, bruising, bleeding, swelling, and unconsciousness. All he already knew.

He cupped her cheek to angle her head, granting him easier access. “Please, Tiny, hirihadie , wake up.”

Minutes passed, his ears honed for any approaching footsteps. He was vulnerable on the floor, but more than that, he didn’t want this Leah female to take him by surprise.

Tiny’s moan was the sweetest he’d ever heard.

When her eyelashes fluttered, he pocketed his med-dev and slipped his arm under her neck to lift her onto his lap.

The cold, hard floor would be harsh on her soft body.

He shouldn’t have noticed, but the way she filled his arms was unlike anything he’d experienced before.

Peace consumed him while his malehood stirred with an eagerness he hadn’t expected.

She raised her hand to her wound. “What…happened?”

“I do not know. Leah—”

“Nenn?” Tiny gasped.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

“Um…good,” she said then struggled to sit up.

He let her with some reluctance.

“Leah hit me, didn’t she?” She rubbed her fingers together, smearing her blood across the tips.

“I think so. Come, let us clean you.” In one smooth movement, he had her on her feet.

She threw out a hand and caught his arm, holding on tight. “Where am I? My med bay?”

“Yes,” he said and ushered her to a bed. He released her to hoist her onto it.

“Quit lifting me,” she muttered. “I need to get my bearings.”

“You are on the bed.”

“I can tell,” she said and gestured to a drawer. “Antiseptic wipes are in there.”

He fetched a few thin pockets, set them beside her, and placed one in her hand. She tore it open, pulled out a white sheet then dabbed her face.

He smiled, took the cloth from her, and nudged her fingers aside.

She clasped her hands on her lap, her eyes wide and her gaze distant. “Where is she now?”

“Vic is dealing with her.”

Tiny shivered with bumps forming across her skin. “I don’t want to know how.” She dipped her chin. “And I do.” She glanced at Nenn. “Is that awful of me?”

“No, the female attacked you. It is right to be hurt and angry.” He inched closer, settling between her parted knees to share his body heat with her.

“Computer…who’s dead?” She held her breath, her concern in the paleness of her face.

“In order: Leah, Dieter, Nikko.”

A smile teased her lips. “Trent and Grunt are alive?”

“Yes.”

She kicked out her feet in a little wiggle, laughter tumbling from her.

But her joy dwindled too quickly. “Things are messed up,” she said.

“I was hoping Mula Pesada would be my home, but with my crewmates trying to kill Vic and keeping prisoners for whatever reason… I need off this ship.” She gestured to the corner of the room. “I’m almost packed.”

“Good, I would love to show you my home.” Nenn paused, caught her chin, and tipped her face to his. His chest expanded at the thought of showing her Erasril, sharing roast banaari, or a hot pool… “I have prepped a room for you onboard my ship.”

He ran the now-pink cloth over the blood staining her purple hair, marveling at her smooth skin and how small she seemed to him.

“Thanks, I think,” she said, offering him a tentative smile.

His strokes slowed. What he wanted to do was cup her cheeks, to lower his head, and press his lips to hers. He didn’t, though, despite the urge driving him. “May I scan your eyes?”

She stiffened, and against his thumb under her jaw, her pulse leaped. “With?”

“My med-dev. It encourages healing and records information.”

She angled her head, her brow furrowing in thought. “What do you hope it will find?”

“The extent of the damage. I would prefer to know upfront whether the Ivoyans can heal you. Giving you a false hope…angers me.” He growled the last two words, unable to calm the volatile emotion burning through his veins. To be this outraged over something so simple was illogical.

She touched his forearms then slid her hands to his elbows. His symbiotes exploded in a hive of activity, peeling away his armor to grant her access to his unprotected skin.

“Will you share your med-dev’s findings?” she asked, unaware of how much her caress shattered his control.

“Of course,” he managed through gritted teeth.