Page 18 of Healer (The Outlander Book Club… in Space! #4)

The next couple of days passed with peaceful bliss.

Vienda and Talamus proved gracious hosts, and Agnes and I helped wherever needed.

For me, it was assisting Talamus in fortifying his homestead’s disguise, using branches and leaves to camouflage any telltale signs of habitation.

It proved a tedious task but necessary to protect them from further discovery by the Aljani.

Agnes stayed close to Irsay, tending to her wound with a watchful eye.

Despite her initial reluctance, Agnes finally relented and allowed Vienda to apply a thick, green, minty salve to the wound.

The effects were almost immediate, and Agnes marveled at the salve’s healing powers, comparing it to something called penicillin.

My favorite moments came at night, when Agnes willingly sought my embrace, and we surrendered to each other’s touch. The hours melted away as our bodies intertwined, worshipping each other.

After returning from the hot spring, we spent the remainder of the night indulging in desire before finally succumbing to exhaustion in the early hours of dawn.

Performing Irsay’s surgery transformed Agnes—her usual worries and doubts replaced by happiness and newfound confidence.

It was like seeing the true essence of Agnes, unburdened by the disease that threatened to dim her spirit. And she took my breath away.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay longer?” Vienda asked, stuffing another blanket into a fur pack.

Agnes gazed at me with hopeful, gray eyes from the side of the female Kerzak.

She wore garments borrowed from Vienda, which were too big for her slender frame, which necessitated a button at the shoulder to keep the dress from pooling at her feet.

Agnes laughed, comparing herself to a character named Wilma Flintstone .

However, I found her to be nothing short of beautiful.

The garments may have been on loan, but the boots were hers alone, meticulously handcrafted from soft fur as a token of gratitude from Talamus for saving his daughter’s life.

“It is not safe to tarry. We must rendezvous with the Bardaga.” I hated the disappointment that flashed in Agnes’ eyes. I gestured to the pack Vienda stuffed with leaf-wrapped dried meat and other foods. “We thank you for the supplies.”

“It is little compared to our daughter’s life.” Talamus bounced the child he held atop his shoulder. Irsay’s hearty and healthy laughter echoed through the air. Just as I hoped, like all warrior species, Kerzak healed quickly.

I shifted the heavy pack from Vienda onto my shoulder and glanced around the small clearing.

Their home was a sanctuary, quiet and seemingly safe, yet I couldn’t shake the sense of unease that settled in my stomach.

I couldn’t help but wonder if our presence put the sanctuary at further risk.

The thick scent of trees and earth surrounded us, a comforting reminder of nature’s camouflage.

But underneath it all, a faint hint of danger lurked.

“I fear your safety is still at risk since your help with the Aljani,” My eyes met Talamus’ dark gaze, trying to convey the depth of my concern. “Once we rejoin the Bardaga, I will send a shuttle to collect you if you wish.”

Vienda stepped closer to her mate, stroking her daughter’s hair. “And go where? With my family’s death, Kerzak is lost to us forever.”

“True,” I agreed, watching the loss flash across her face. “But there is a planet, Tau Ceti, where abducted humans and persecuted others live safely and in peace. You would be welcome there.”

Vienda and Talamus shared a glance.

“We are Kerzak,” Vienda shook her head sadly. “Despite my father’s hopes of peace, the universe sees us only as vicious warriors.”

“That’s because they don’t know you,” Agnes said, stepping to Vienda’s side and placing a hand on her arm. “Please think about it. It would break my heart if anything happened to you.”

Vienda’s thoughtful gaze passed over us.

“We will think about it.”

“We’ll miss you,” Anges moaned, throwing her arms around Vienda’s thick neck. The female Kerzak’s arms went around the human, hugging her tightly.

“We shall miss you as well,” Vienda muttered, blinking rapidly. Did Kerzak females cry like humans?

“You are an excellent warrior, Vaktaire,” Talamus said, bringing me out of my thoughts. “I am proud to count you as a friend.”

“As am I.” My hand reached out, and Talamus answered, sharing with me a forearm grasp reserved for brothers in arms. Before stepping away, I tousled Irsay’s hair, earning myself a delighted giggle.

“Don’t you go around getting shot anymore,” Agnes teased the child, going up on tiptoe to kiss the girl’s furry cheek.

“I won’t,” Irsay promised, returning the gesture with a loud smack.

It took a while to walk away. Agnes turned back to wave every few steps, only stopping when she didn’t want the small family to notice her tears.

Slowly, the ache of goodbye subsided as we moved further and further into the jungle.

While I couldn’t help but feel bittersweet about leaving our new friends behind, I relished having Agnes all to myself.

I stole kisses from her along the path, savoring the sweet sound of her laughter as I pulled her into my arms.

Mine.

The concept shocked me to my core. I was almost afraid to admit it, but deep in the depths of my soul, I knew it to be true.

I belonged with Agnes. She was unlike any other female I had ever known, with her fierce determination and unwavering strength.

Her piercing gaze held a thousand secrets I would gladly spend a lifetime learning, and her touch ignited a fire within me that I could not resist. Even now, as we walked along, it was all I could do to prevent myself from sweeping her into my arms.

She would need to remain by my side until I removed the disease from her DNA, but afterward?

The Alliance had strict rules that prohibited humans altered by the Garoot Healer from returning to Earth.

She might prefer the settlement on Tau Ceti, but perhaps, like her friend Emmy, she would choose to stay on the Bardaga instead.

As much as I loved my life as a healer, I would willingly give it if it meant I could keep her by my side.

The thought of losing Agnes caused an unbearable clench deep in my gut—a pain I hoped never to feel in entirety.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

I turned to find her watching me, realizing I’d been staring at her as we walked.

“What is a penny?”

Shock flickered across Agnes’ beautiful face for a moment, then she laughed. The sound floated along the breeze like a gentle melody.

“A penny is a form of currency on Earth. You use it to buy things… well, not many things with a penny, but you get the gist.”

“Ah, it is like a credit.” I chuckled, reaching out to catch her hand.

“Okay then, credit for your thoughts.”

“You pay people for their thoughts on Earth?”

“Stop it,” Agnes giggled, playfully swatting my shoulder. “It’s a human way of asking what you’re thinking about.”

I decided to show instead of tell, letting my actions speak louder than words.

I wrapped my arms around Agnes’ waist, lifting her until our faces were level and pressed my lips to hers.

A soft moan escaped her throat as she responded with equal fervor, her arms wrapping around my neck and her legs locking around my waist. Her taste was intoxicating, a blend of sweetness and spice.

The velvety texture of her lips and the way her tongue playfully danced with mine was pure bliss, and I lost myself to it. I could spend an eternity kissing her.

As the faint growl reached my ears, I responded with a low snarl of warning.

Talamus assured me the larger predators didn’t frequent this part of the jumble.

But then, I recognized the source of the sound.

With a gentle chuckle, I broke our kiss and looked down at her, smiling at the adorable rumbling coming from her belly.

“Hungry?”

Her cheeks flushed a lovely deep pink as she smiled. “Very.”

Vienda had packed a week’s worth of dried meat and neita fruit for us, but my ears picked up something I thought Agnes might find more appetizing.

“Come. I hear some of those things you call chic-en up ahead. I will hunt for you.”

Wrapping her fingers with mine, we moved further along the path until I found a tree with low branches that would suffice as a hunting blind.

I settled into a crouch, Agnes at my side, and waited.

It took only a few minutes for one of the ugly feathered creatures to waddle nearby.

I dispatched it easily with a flick of my blade.

“You’re pretty good at this warrior-hunter thing,” Agnes observed, as I retrieved our prey.

“It’s in my blood.”

I carried the bird to where she waited, proud when she seemed pleased by the prize. “Vaktaire are bred to be warriors and protectors.”

I settled on the ground and began to skin and gut our meal. We would need a fire to cook the bird, but the nearer dark we waited, the better. Smoke from a fire would reveal our position, even with the heavy canopy overhead.

Agnes settled beside me, her soft breasts pressing against me as she watched.

“So, if being a warrior is in your DNA, how did you become a healer?” She asked as I fileted the meat from the bone.

“It’s a long story.”

Agnes issued a playful snort, gesturing around at the jungle, her message clear.

We had all the time in the world. Yet eternity didn’t seem long enough to keep the memories buried.

I met her gaze, the gray eyes full of affection and acceptance.

If I held hope that she might truly be mine, she deserved to know all of me, even my shame.