Page 43 of Healing Creek (Arena Dogs #3)

Chapter Thirty-Five

Creek stared out of the observation port at the stretch of the ship-to-ship spanner between the Abundance and the Spark .

“It is an impressive vessel.” Jupiter stood at his side.

David Hobbs-Venter’s ship was a sleek work of art in comparison to the heavily fortified Abundance . Apart from the two ships, the space around them was empty. “I’m more impressed at how quickly they convinced the Alliance to leave the area despite my presence.”

“You were over there a long time. Is she doing better?”

Grace. His world. He’d sat at her bedside while her family tended her, despite their protests that it wasn’t necessary. “They put her in a medical coma while they accelerated the replication of her medi-bots. They said it would be easier on her.”

“But she’s better now?”

“I left before she woke, but they said she would be back to normal as long as she did not give up her blood again.”

“That is good then.” Jupiter folded his arms across his chest then cocked his head to the side as he studied Creek. “You’re going to bring her back before the spanner is removed, right?”

“I’m going over to check on her one last time. I need to see for myself that she’s well.”

Jupiter frowned. “If you don’t bring her back to the pack, how will you be assured she is always safe?”

Creek’s heart screamed to agree, but his brain slammed shut a door on the shouts inside him. “She has a pack of her own. A very powerful one.”

“So do you.”

Jupiter’s words echoed in his ears as he walked toward the opening to the spanner. It pained him that she would no longer be his to protect, but she did not belong in his world. Danger lurked at every turn, every port, every battle in the war they would one day win.

He crossed the spanner with more fear than he’d had going into any battle. He’d been injured, he’d suffered pain, even his own death, but he’d never suffered a loss like the one he now faced. He stepped onto the Spark and walked among the uniformed crew until he arrived at the med-bay.

She was on her feet, packing folded clothes into a travel bag.

Amid the white and blue of the room she wore matching pants and blouse in sunshine yellow.

By the way it clung to her slender form it was clear it had been made expressly for her.

He wanted to skim her body with his hands. Hold her slight curves in his palms.

Since she’d told him she’d lost weight on the Abundance , the clothes were something they had made for her in the last forty-eight hours. Her blond hair brushed midway down her back and he realized it had already grown in length in the short time he’d known her.

There was no point hovering in the doorway. He couldn’t avoid this moment. He had to see it through. He strode forward. Her smile when she noticed him could have lit an entire world.

“Creek.” She threw herself into his arms and for a long moment he let her scent envelop him. Let her body imprint its shape on his.

Then he set her down and away. “The Abundance is ready to leave.”

“I’m almost ready.” She turned back to her packing. Her smile didn’t dim, but it would. She would not take his decision easily.

He put a hand over hers to still her movements. “You don’t need to do that.”

“What?” She didn’t understand. He would have to say the words. He would have to crush her spirit.

“You’re not coming.” He made it a certainty. Absolute. Unquestionable.

Her eyes flashed with a spark of anger then dimmed to an ember, warm and knowing. “Don’t you even think that. We belong together.” Her hands caressed his chest up and across his shoulders. “I love you.”

Her words were soft and sure, and they cut like a knife in his gut. She loved him. And he loved her. That was the very reason he couldn’t allow her to return to the Abundance .

He wrapped his clawed hands around her forearms and moved away from her tempting grasp. “You belong with your family.”

Her eyes closed then she looked up at him through her lashes. “I belong with you.” Tears rimmed her eyes.

“War is no place for you, Butterfly.”

She shook her head. “So, now I’m weak and not worthy to be your mate.”

“Never that.”

“And if we’re not mates, what gives you the right to decide where my place is?”

He opened his mouth to say…no doubt, something foolish but he was saved when she didn’t wait for his answer. She twisted her arms free of his grasp, scratching herself in the process. Bright crimson beads of blood welled up along the trail of his claws passing.

“I never took you for a coward,” she hissed at him.

His gut knotted so tight, spewing his insides on the floor might be the only thing to bring relief.

She spun on her heel, presenting him with her narrow back. He reached out, longing for one last touch. If he turned her to face him, would her cheeks be wet? Would her eyes be red and puffy? He’d never wanted to hurt her.

His hand hovered in the air then returned to his side.

Every step toward the door and through the ship to the spanner was heavier than the last. When he shook off the weight to go and find some damned thing he ought to be doing, somehow his heart still beat.