Page 19 of Healing Creek (Arena Dogs #3)

Chapter Fourteen

They’d all spent time at the med-bay. Creek had stoically tolerated being patched up by Shawber while the others talked around him.

The two mercenaries were already back in their cells and would be getting a house call from the medic.

Grace had been the only human to suffer nose and ear bleeds.

Even the Arena Dogs with their more acute senses hadn’t experienced the bleeding.

Grace was inherently fragile, always had been, but she also healed fast. By the time the other humans had been loaded onto the Neella and the shuttle was underway to the space station, Grace was already beginning to heal from the head injury.

Now she sat quietly at the table in the Arena Dogs’ makeshift command center as the pack talked around her once again.

Cold fury stormed in Mercury’s eyes. “Where did they get sonic grenades?”

The question wasn’t directed at her, but Grace answered. “I think I have an idea.”

All eyes snapped to her.

“I’m sorry I didn’t think of it last time we talked.”

Creek touched her hand. “What is it, Grace?”

“When you found Patel, did he have a backpack? Because he was wearing one when he came to my room.”

“No,” answered Carn. “No pack. No weapons. He was thoroughly searched, just like all the others.”

“He must have hidden it, before we found him.” Mercury’s mouth tightened in a grim frown.

“Probably somewhere near the landing bay,” added Creek. “The Dreat they killed in the hall was down before the sonic blast. The two men must have held back and when everyone else moved on they must have attacked him. They could have retrieved the pack after he was down.”

“I suppose two well trained men could have taken down a Dreat. Even shackled.” Mercury growled, probably thinking of the male’s death. The Dreat’s throat had been slashed. Likely after he was already down since they wouldn’t have had the knife until then.

Sorrow knotted in Grace’s gut. The male had been killed because of her. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

Mercury shook his head. “This is not your fault. I should have foreseen the possibility.”

She didn’t speak, but she couldn’t see it that way.

They had done everything possible to help her.

Knock had even been willing to leave the relative safety of his friends to follow the two mercenaries—a dangerous task she’d argued against, even when she was desperate to learn where they were keeping her sister.

St. Germain had allowed her to talk with Jennifer twice after his men had brought Grace onboard.

Their contacts had been brief and with the purpose of allowing Jennifer to see that Grace was being held prisoner, but unharmed.

Now what would Jennifer do? She had no way of knowing if Grace was alive or dead.

With the mercenaries not reporting in, it was more likely she’d think her dead.

She would have no reason to cooperate with Roma any longer, which was good…

and bad. Good for the future of Arena Dogs, bad for Jennifer’s life expectancy.

Creek leaned over and spoke softly. “Your sister is a smart woman, right?” When she made a hum of agreement, he continued. “She’ll find a way to survive.”

Nausea pulsed in her gut. Jenny—the sister who sat with her through treatment after treatment when she was a child. The sister who snuck her sweets when she was between treatments but still under strict medical supervision. Jenny could die…because of her.

Creek’s chair screeched as he pushed back away from the table and stood. “If you no longer need us, I think Grace should rest now.”

Mercury studied him a moment then nodded.

Grace stood and allowed Creek to walk her out of the room. The moment the door slid closed behind them, she stopped. Tears flooded her eyes, and she wiped them away.

Creek met her gaze with raised eyebrows, as if to say see, you need rest .

“I don’t want to keep you away from the pack.” He was an Arena Dog. He needed a pack. She’d seen the loneliness in his eyes. And this pack seemed willing to count him as one of them. She didn’t want to get in the way of that.

“There is nothing more I can say that will be of any use to them. They will come to the right conclusion, and it is best to leave them to come to it on their own.”

“The right conclusion?”

“They must locate and help your sister.”

“What if Patel and Santos don’t know where she’s being kept. Maybe they were going to contact Roma to find out where to take me?”

“That’s a likely possibility. It just means we’ll find another way. The future of all Arena Dogs depends on it.”

Grace wasn’t so sure. What about Samantha’s baby?

But she knew from Jennifer’s research that the genetic defect that prevented Arena Dog pregnancies should be as effective when only one of the potential parents were Arena Dogs.

If it had been as simple as pairing human females with male Arena Dogs, surely Roma would have figured that out after all these years.

“Come.” Creek put a hand on the small of her back and led her forward. “Time for you to rest.”

***

Creek didn’t lead Grace to her own room.

Creek led her to his. If he left her alone in her room, she wouldn’t sleep.

That mind of hers would chase around in circles of guilt and worry.

Besides, he fully intended to sleep with her in his arms and his bed was larger.

He’d tried to keep an emotional distance, but she drew him in.

She looked at him with respect. She had never feared him, not for a single moment.

She was content to spend time with him in the garden where they could just be.

She was his butterfly, beautiful and fragile but also strong.

When they reached the door to the room where he’d been staying, he announced, “We’re here.”

“Where? This isn’t my room. But you know that. You know this ship like…” Her voice lost strength as she spoke.

The door opened and he urged her into the room.

“You need rest, but you should not be alone after being attacked.”

The door closed behind them, and Grace stopped a few steps inside. What did she see? The room was large, and the bed was soft, but the room was bare by human standards. Not unlike the room that had been her prison. There was nothing of him here.

She wrapped her arms around herself and rubbed them as if she were cold. The ship’s temperature was controlled so it wasn’t really a chill that had her shivering. “I felt so helpless.”

Ah. Her mind was mired in memories of the attack. Creek stepped up behind her and wrapped her in his arms to give her his warmth. “They can’t hurt you now.”

“I know.” She relaxed into his embrace leaning back against his chest. “It just reminded me of the first time. I was really scared then. I guess I should feel lucky that after two kidnappings, I walked away from both without being seriously hurt.” She turned in his arms, putting space between them but staying close enough her scent filled his lungs.

“I should have protected you better. They should never have gotten close to you.”

“I knew you’d stop them. This time. But what about next time. You might not be there to save me.”

He wanted to tell her he would always save her, but she was right. His life was uncertain. Once they reached Haven everything could change. And her path would not be safe so long as Roma thought her valuable.

“I guess my family was right. I can’t be trusted to look after myself.”

He sat on the edge of the bed and patted the mattress next to him. “You were smaller than your attacker and had far less training. There was little you could do. But maybe we can change that.”

Grace sat beside him. “What do you mean?”

“I can teach you some simple techniques that will give you options if you are attacked again.”

“You think I could fight off a mercenary?” Disbelief laced through her voice.

“Odds would not be in your favor in a brawl, but you would have the advantage of surprise. Often it is only a matter of gaining the moments you need to run away or for help to reach you. Surprise and a few tricks could gain you those moments.”

“And I wouldn’t feel so helpless,” she whispered. He nodded and her heavy mood lightened. “You would teach me?”

He nodded again. “We’ll begin tomorrow. Now you need to rest.” Creek reached down to remove his boots and Grace did the same.

He was glad he’d chosen a room with a large bed. He wanted to hold her but more than that, he didn’t want to crowd her or make her uncomfortable with his size. She was tall for a human female but less than half his weight.

Together they stretched out on the bed, facing each other. His shoulder ached, but his heart rejoiced when she reached for his hand and laced their fingers together.

“I almost lost you today,” he said.

Grace shook her head. “No. You were the one in danger. They wanted me alive.”

“I don’t just want you alive, Butterfly. I want you close.” He needed her close. He leaned in and rubbed his nose along her cheek. Her cookie scent reassured him she was unharmed. “You can’t leave me yet. I won’t allow it.” The thought of her leaving now made him growl.

She laughed and punched his shoulder softly. As if she instantly regretted it, her warm palm pressed against the joint and massaged the muscle. It was too much like being stroked. A chuff of pleasure built in the back of his throat until he could no longer contain it.

He stroked down the length of her arm then back to her shoulder. He wanted this woman, but for now he was content with having her beside him.

Her hand slid to his neck and then she cupped his cheek. “I’m here, Creek. Right here.”

He moved close enough to press his lips to her forehead. “Sleep, Butterfly.”