Page 26 of Healer (The Outlander Book Club… in Space! #4)

The moment Hakkar’s hand released mine, I took a subtle step back to allow him room to retrieve his money pouch.

Tilting my head, I discreetly glanced at the merchant standing before us, puffed with satisfaction from his sale and thankfully paying me no mind.

Before my eyes could move from a being who resembled a scorched, melted candle, darkness engulfed me.

The world faded into an inky void, leaving me disoriented and vulnerable.

It took a minute for my senses to register that I wasn’t unconscious.

My hands thrashed about, trying to find the reason for my sudden blindness.

A thick tarp like fabric swathed my head, held tight at my throat by an unyielding grip.

A surge of panic rose in my chest as I screamed, straining to hear Hakkar’s answering roar or attack.

Only deafening silence greeted me.

An iron bar encircled my waist, raising my feet off the ground, and I felt the jostle of movement.

Whoever held me ran, their footsteps pounding against the cobblestone street.

With a growing state of terror, I let out another piercing scream, only to have the sound captured within the confines of the fabric encircling my head, causing an odd echo that made my ears hurt.

I let out another scream, this time fueled by frustration, straining my ears for any sign that someone had heard me.

Nothing.

No sound.

Whatever this thing over my head, it obviously possessed some sort of sound barrier. I heard nothing, but more importantly, nobody heard me.

Dammit it all to hell!

I screamed again, just out of spite. A piercing sound fueled by a fierce sense of defiance. Whoever grabbed me had been swift and cunning. I couldn’t help but wonder who and what they wanted, but another question loomed larger and more urgent.

Where was Hakkar?

He should have noticed me missing by now. He’d come after me. I knew it.

Unless....

My screams devolved into silent, fervent prayers filled with desperation and fear as a horrifying consideration dawned on me, weighing like lead on my heart.

Please, God, don’t let anyone hurt Hakkar.

Whoever had me—whatever their plan—I’d endure it if Hakkar escaped unscathed. My mind spun with desperate promises to whatever higher power might keep him safe.

As my abductor’s gait slowed, my attention shifted to my immediate surroundings.

I still heard nothing, but the air seemed to shift, and the once gentle breeze dissipated, and the air grew still and stale.

With a few more steps, my captor dropped me onto a cold, unforgiving surface.

Chill seeped into my bones, sending shivers down my spine.

I scrambled onto my knees, jerking the cloth from around my head just in time to see the rusty door of the cage slam shut behind me.

Heart pounding, I took in my confined surroundings—the cramped space was barely big enough for me to move or sit comfortably.

Normally, small spaces didn’t bother me, but I no one likes being locked in a fucking cage.

My prison sat in the center of a dimly lit warehouse, its metal bars casting long shadows across a dusty floor, highlighted by a lone beam of light from overhead.

Mustiness and decay hung heavily in the air, mixing with the pungent aroma of rotting vegetables.

My knees ached from kneeling on the hard metal surface as I frantically scanned my surroundings, searching for a way to escape.

“Let me out of here!” I screeched. With the bag off my head, hopefully, someone would hear me.

Hopefully Hakkar.

Please, God, let him be alright.

“Did you kill him?” A voice asked from the din, a cadence of grunts and clicks that my translator turned into familiar words.

My gaze snapped in the speaker's direction, my stomach churning with fear and disgust as the creature emerged from the shadows. The alien stood at least seven feet tall and gaunt, a sickly gray color that seemed to blend into the darkness. Hakkar called them Ulkommanian, and the one standing before me wore a bright yellow cloak which contrasted sharply against the pale skin. In one hand, it held a walking staff. The other hand hung free, and I couldn’t shake the memory of that same hand reaching for my leg, eager to amputate it without a second thought.

The Ulkommanian came to a stop in the center of the room as two more aliens moved to his side.

These males wore sleek navy and teal uniforms, proffering an air of authority and elegance.

Their alabaster skin was smooth, almost ethereal, giving them an otherworldly beauty.

Both had vibrant green eyes, ranging from emerald to forest hues, and thick white lashes that fluttered like delicate wings.

But the horns truly caught my attention—shimmering pearlescent protrusions peeking through luscious thick white hair.

If I wasn’t so pissed, I might have found them handsome.

I suspected these guys were the same species as those who attacked Vienda and Talamus home. Unfortunately, what remained of those guys hadn’t been enough to allow more than just a cursory resemblance to pale skin and white hair. Aljani, I think Hakkar called them.

The taller of the two smiled broadly, adjusting a long sword hanging at his hip. My stomach clenched, a moan gurgling in my throat as I anticipated his words to convey the worst news imaginable. I’d never felt this afraid... not even when my future with ALS seemed unescapable.

“No, we grabbed her stealthily,” he said with cocky pride, then added, “Picking a fight with a Vaktaire isn’t a smart move.”

A wave of relief caused me to slump against the cell bars. Hakkar was alive... and unharmed. He would have noticed me missing by now and be searching for me—a thought that sent shivers of anticipation down my spine and made my heart race with a curious audacity.

“That’s because he would have kicked your asses!

” I yelled at them. Vaktaire hearing was much better than that of humans.

I’d seen the proof several times during our jaunt through the jungle.

From what I observed of the building that held us, it appeared as haphazardly built as the others. .. and hopefully not soundproof.

“You better let me out of here,” I yelled, sliding to the edge of the cage and rattling the bars.

“Silence, female.” The ugly gray alien hissed.

“Kiss my ass,” I shot back, adopting a sly smile. “Hakkar is going to kill you for this... all of you.”

The smaller of the pearl-horned aliens shifted uncomfortably.

“What?” The taller Aljani glared at his cohort.

“Is she...?” His bright green eyes traveled over me nervously. “Could she be his mate?”

“Who cares?” The Ulkommanian snorted, moving closer to the cage. His black eyes regarded me unemotionally... clinically assessing without the faintest hint of feeling. I hoped Hakkar killed him first.

“I’ve seen a Vaktaire defending his mate during my service rotation on the Korfu moon.” The shorter Aljani shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t want to deal with that... ever again.”

Bingo!

“Yes, I’m his mate,” I yelled, seizing the opportunity. “It’s why he rescued me in the first place, you stupid fuckers. And he’s going to kill you when he finds me.”

“We should not linger here.” The smaller man said, his bright green eyes darting about. “The Vaktaire will search for her.”

The Ulkommanian bowed up, poking out what he must have considered an imposing chest—it wasn’t—toward the Aljani while waving his staff.

“I’ve told you....”

A loud ruckus silenced him, giving all three aliens a start.

“Ha!” I yelled. “I told you he’d find me. Prepare to die!” I cringed a little, knowing I sounded like Inigo Montoya from the Princess Bride, but as long as it proved true.

The two Aljani unsheathed their swords, instinctively settling into a balanced fighting stance. But before either could make a move, Hakkar burst into the room.

God, he was glorious!

With powerful muscles rippling beneath his taut skin and a fierce determination in his eyes, he made a formidable sight.

He radiated an aura of unbridled power from his chiseled jawline to his broad shoulders and down to his hardened fists, oozing with intensity and ferocity.

And yet, despite the raw strength emanating from him, his form held a certain grace and elegance, making him all the more mesmerizing to behold.

Blades met blades as the Aljani attacked.

Hakkar moved like Baryshnikov, spinning through the battle with such deadly grace it made me slightly dizzy.

Amidst the chaos and violence, our gazes locked for a split second and the golden eyes that held such fury a second before softened as they met mine.

Blades clashed again, and he turned his attention back to battle, his expression shifting into murderous fury.

The strength and grace displayed by Hakkar were both beautiful and terrifying to behold—and incredibly arousing.

The tantalizing idea that Aljani’s suggestion might hold truth crept into my mind, causing a tickling surge of hope and longing.

Could Hakkar see me as his mate? Granted we couldn’t keep our hands off each other.

But it wasn’t just sex. There had been more than just primal lust from the moment he rescued me.

The mere thought made my heart race with excitement and hope.

I’d fallen so hard for Hakkar that the viciousness he displayed to avenge me seemed an expression of affection.

I’d been a physician all my life, completely opposed to senseless violence, yet I didn’t balk watching Hakkar slice the arm from one of the Aljani. My mate fought to protect me.

Completely engrossed in the violent dance, a yank on my cloak pulled a sputtered yelp of surprise from my lips. I turned my attention from the battle to catch sight of the Ulkommanian crouched beside the cage, his hands grasping at my cloak like a determined fisherman reeling in a prize catch.

“I must complete the research.” His dark eyes shot a fearful glance toward the melee.

“Let me go, you ugly gray piece of shit!” I twisted, trying to kick his hand away, but my foot hit the bars, reverberating through my bones with a painful throb.

The Ulkommanian took advantage of the momentary lull to grab my left ankle, pulling the lower portion of my leg through the bars.

“Let me go!” I tried kicking him again, but he dodged, tucking my ankle under one skinny arm. At the same time, his other hand reached beneath his cloak, only to reemerge holding a nasty-looking metal syringe.

“Hakkar!” I screamed. Shifting onto my back, I shoved my right foot through the bars, kicking at the gray bastard, trying to hit the syringe and knock it from his hand.

“I must complete the research,” the alien muttered again, smirking as he jabbed the needle into my calf.

The syringe slid into my muscle, releasing liquid fire as his thick, gray fingers pushed down on the plunger. After the first burst of discomfort, the pain subsided, leaving me hopeful that whatever concoction this bastard gave me wouldn’t be too impactful.

The gray face twisted into an expression of ghastly triumph as he pulled the syringe from my leg, holding it above his head like a trophy.

The Ulkommanian celebrated only a second before Hakkar appeared at his side, a large hand spanning the gray neck and giving a jerk.

A loud snap preceded the alien’s slump to the floor, black eyes lifeless.

“Thank Valana,” Hakkar breathed a sigh of relief, yanking open the cage door with little effort.

I dove into his arms.

“Are you hurt?” He whispered, his large hands roaming over my body, assessing for damage.

I started to tell him no.

I wanted to tell him no.

But hell arrived.

A searing fire erupted in my veins, flowing like lava, leaving behind a trail of pain and stiffness as it moved through my body.

The arms with which I held my mate faltered, muscles turning to jelly, and I slumped weakly against Hakkar, unable to hold myself upright.

A bitterness rose in my throat, and I struggled to swallow it back, choking in the process.

My mind seemed to be the only thing functioning properly, frantically compiling a list of my current symptoms. Things I had foolishly allowed myself the hope to forget.

Muscle twitches or weakness in the arm, leg, shoulder, or tongue.

Muscle cramps, tightness, and spasticity.

Slurred and nasal speech.

Difficulty chewing or swallowing

Every single symptom assailing me.

The advanced symptoms of ALS.

Hakkar’s golden eyes bore into mine, his worried emotions clear and unmasked.

His hand touched my cheek, attempting to calm the involuntary twitching taking over my body.

I noticed the strands of my hair caught in his grasp were not the same blonde-brown shade from my revisited youth, but a silvery gray that shimmered in the light.

My lips parted in anticipation of words, but only a strangled cry escaped as the turbulent sea of agonizing blackness overtook me.