Page 39 of Dark Survivor (The Qaldreth Warriors #2)

Chapter Twenty-Four

Three Weeks Later

Approaching Certorth, Ivoy

Onboard the Aroagni.

Nenn kept Tiny busy, whether in bed, learning to dance, playing chess, or sitting through the audiobook, and she couldn’t recall a happier time.

Despite the impending arrival and what she suspected would be a showdown, she cherished every moment with him.

Within an hour, they’d land. After that, she could die, have her sight restored, or say goodbye to Nenn forever.

With fake smiles and laughter, she hid her worry. Not to mention that for some strange reason, she could see more. His outline had detail. The darkness of his skin against his bright red hair, for one thing. The exact shape and color of his eyes—no, that wasn’t clear. Not yet.

How this was possible was a mystery. The doctors had assured her that she wouldn’t heal over time. So praying for a miracle was stupid. She was the idiot for hoping. Soon, she’d find out if she’d taken a leap of faith off the wrong cliff.

“Are you ready?” Nenn asked, grabbing her hand where she rested it on the galley’s table.

She pulled the anbru closer, needing the chill from the condensation to ground her. “I don’t know. We’re hiding here?”

“You are. I must be in the Q.C.C. chambers as a member of the crew.”

She squeaked, squeezed his hand, then shuffled to the side. “I’ll be alone?” Hiding her horror was a struggle, so she buried her face in her glass, taking a long gulp.

“For a little while.”

She set the juice on the table and clasped her hands on her lap. Being on her own wasn’t new, but on an alien planet?

“You may stay, Giniiri aac Nenn Maed.” Aehort glided past.

Hope exploded like fireworks inside her chest, filling her with heat and relief.

“He is right, Nenn. It is better you guard Tiny,” Drafe said, his tone matter of fact.

Nenn threw his arm across her shoulders and tucked her against his body. “As you command.”

The silence that fell after the mass exodus threatened to crush her spirit. She patted Nenn’s knee, loving the muscle beneath her fingers even as their time together was ending.

“Whatever happens, Nenn, know that I’m so grateful to you.” She dipped her head, hoping the tears burning her eyes wouldn’t slip free.

“Tiny, I—” He leaped to his feet and bolted out of the galley. “What is the meaning of this?” he demanded.

She angled her head to listen, picking up the gentle cadence of Ivoyan steps.

“It is procedure to clear a ship post-journey,” a man said.

She inched to the doorway, many tall orange blurs coming into view.

“Including taking the human.” A man stepped forward, acting very much like the leader of this group.

“No,” Nenn growled. “She stays with me.”

“You have no authority here, Maed,” the man snapped.

Tiny narrowed on the Ivoyans, willing her eyes to pick up details. Pain pinged in her temple at her futile efforts, forcing her to duck behind Nenn. One moment, he was before her, the next his shadow and warmth was gone. She gasped when something heavy rested on her foot.

“Nenn,” she cried out, dropping beside him on the floor.

She ran her hands over his body as familiar as her own. He didn’t respond to her nudges and pleas, but his breathing was regular like he slept. No part of him was wet or sticky, so no wounds needed immediate attention, but unconsciousness could hide a life-threatening injury.

“What did you do?” she screamed at the leader. “Give me a med-thingy.” She wiggled her fingers, praying the idiot listened.

“He is well, death dealer,” he spat.

Death dealer? She stilled, ice sliding over her and sending a shiver across her body.

Aehort had said there might be some resistance.

He’d also said she had allies. But with him not on the ship and Nenn knocked out, she was alone.

She stroked his face and pressed a kiss to his slack jaw.

He’d tried to shield her, the sweet man.

Tears slipped free. Whatever happens, right?

“I love you,” she whispered, resting her temple on his right pec.

With a deep breath, she pushed to her feet, locking them in place when her knees trembled. ‘Just stand,’ Ulvus had said.

“Come with me,” the leader said.

She snorted. “When I can’t see?”

“Your species is weak,” he snapped.

She wanted to remind the asshat that one human corpse killed his people, but self-preservation prevailed.

So, she stood there, unmoving. Maybe if he grew impatient, he’d abandon her and Nenn.

With a bruising grip on her upper arm, he dragged her across Nenn’s sprawled body, forcing her to jump.

She stumbled then caught her balance. He didn’t release her, making her jog behind him—his stride too long and fast for her.

Bright light made her flinch, but being in their sunlight was short-lived. He escorted her onto a smaller ship, then shoved her into a seat.

“What do you want with her?” Ulvus demanded.

She slumped. His presence brought her some relief though why he was there had her frowning.

“She is not of your concern,” the Ivoyan man said.

“If your intention is to harm her, then yes, I will concern myself.”

“You would die for this…shit?” The man lowered his voice, now filled with malice.

Ulvus’s silence summoned a fresh wave of tears. She wanted to rail at him to find honor in the moment, but the lump in her throat burned so much, she struggled to speak.

The door shut, and the ship took off, slamming her back.

Ulvus clasped her hand and gave it a squeeze.

Her breath hitched. What does that mean?

He’s sorry? Not to worry? She stared at his hand warming hers and swallowed a gasp.

His skin was orange, his veins raised. She could see them.

Am I hallucinating? Have I finally lost my mind?

She swallowed hard and focused on their companions.

Tall, long-limbed, and long-fingered aliens held odd-looking weapons.

They wore blue overalls, and some sort of a visor hid their eyes.

“Aehort?” she whispered, hoping his influence lingered in her mind. That would explain her ‘restored’ eyesight.

“He is not here, Tiny,” Ulvus said. “He cannot help you.”

She shook her head, unable to accept that her sight was back when it made no sense.

To do so would set her up for heartbreak when this was fleeting, at best. She nibbled her lip and scanned the ship, marking where everyone stood.

Two men at the door, another near the pilot, and the leader, pacing from the front console to the rear of the compartment.

They thought her blind. That gave her some advantage.

But even if she managed to steal a gun, she didn’t know how to use it.

Never mind that it went against everything she stood for to not harm a living soul.

She gaped at the scene through the windscreen, or whatever it was called: lilac-gray skies, pale sunlight, and deep green mists hiding the ground below high mushroom-shaped towers. Tiny ships flowed between buildings. It was surreal, slamming it home where she was.

She rubbed her eyes, blinked them open, then narrowed on the farthest Ivoyan, testing her limits. Holy farg. Excitement and sheer joy exploded through her, bouncing her on the seat. She snuck a glance at the scowling leader and stilled.

“Ulvus?” She smiled at him, admiring his amber-colored eyes against his obsidian skin. He was handsome, too, with his wide forehead, sharp cheekbones, and pointed chin.

“Yes?” He gazed at her.

“Do not let them know…but I can see.” She smothered a laugh.

His brow furrowed. “I do not understand.”

She flicked a dismissive hand at him. “Think they plan to kill me?” On a gulp, she twisted in the seat to face him. “What are you doing here?”

He bowed his head. “I am viewed as a failure when all I did was force Vic to show the Q.C.C. her skills. It is true; my reports do smack of resentment.” Sadness darkened his expression.

“I did as you suggested: chose honor…” He leaned back and stared at the door.

“I also revealed where Nenn was and with whom, believing the udaps needed to know all to make informed decisions. I am sorry if you being here is my fault.”

His logic was sound; she’d give him that. “They said they were clearing the ship as procedure.” Though, why she wanted to ease his guilt, she didn’t know. They’d known she was onboard, and maybe that was because of him. She couldn’t say for sure. “Any ideas on how to escape?”

His jaw dropped. “No,” he rasped.

“If I steal a gun, can you use it?”

His eyes bulged. “Tiny, what are you saying? This is madness.”

“Ulvus, I’m standing.” And she did, drawing everyone’s attention to her. “I need to pee,” she said, staring ahead. “I don’t want to wet the floor like an untrained pet.”

The leader recoiled. “Escort her to the waste closet,” he said to another man.

She held out a hand and waited.

“I will take her,” Ulvus said, clasping her elbow.

“No.” The leader shoved Ulvus into his seat, then yanked her forward.

She scowled. “Quit pushing me around. I have legs.”

That got her almost dragged across the floor to a narrow door. She stepped inside and tried to seal herself in.

“You do not need privacy,” the new man said, his tone bored.

“I refuse to pee with you watching,” she gritted out.

He nudged her in and hit a button. Three beams swept over her, making her skin tingle. And out she was pulled. “Now sit.”

She ran her hand along the wall to settle beside Ulvus. Well, that was pointless. “That got us nowhere,” she whispered.

“What did you think would happen?”

“Really? Do I have to spell it out? I was to be a distraction.” She folded her arms across her chest. “I assume you watched me instead of stealing a gun?”

“And do what with a weapon, Tiny?” He chuckled. “Even as a sava, I cannot take on three Ivoyans with phasers.”

“Of course you can if you have the element of surprise.”

He scoffed. “I could take one, maybe two, but by then, we would be dead.”