Page 21 of Taming the Alien Outlaw (Brides of the Bohnari #2)

Olivia

The days have started to bleed together. Has it been two or three since the trade ships were destroyed and Janik was thrown in the pit? I can’t be sure. Nearly every waking moment has consisted of Quinn, Lindsey, and me doing exactly what I’m doing at this moment.

“Drink.” I assist the injured Bohnari in leaning forward to sip the foul-smelling concoction Vornak prescribed to help manage pain.

The healing center is only equipped with five healing pods and each one is currently occupied with the most grievously injured from the attacks.

The second the machine notifies Vornak the Bohnari’s life-threatening injuries have been stabilized, he’s moved to a regular sick bed and is replaced with a more severely injured male.

The capabilities of the hand-held healing devices like what Janik used to cure my hangover are not scaled for large-mass injuries, so old-fashioned medicine is also having to be used on the incredible number of wounded people. Which is where my friends and I come in.

“How’s it going?” Johnna asks from where she nurses a nearby patient. She recruited us as volunteers after that first day.

“I think everyone’s past the most worrisome stages.” Of course, I could be wrong since I’m no nurse, but there are more alert—albeit still in some pain—males today than yesterday, so I’ll consider that progress.

Johnna nods. “I think you’re right.”

Once I’m satisfied the Bohnari has drank enough of the medicine, I move to the next bed. Mak follows me over and lays at my feet. She’s become a stage five clinger ever since Janik was taken away. Not that I’m complaining. We’re both keeping the other sane, I think.

The room we’re in has been set up like a large open-floor plan triage.

The still most seriously wounded are all grouped together on one side, whereas the lesser wounded are grouped together on the other.

Lindsey and Quinn are in the neighboring triage room that’s set up the exact same as this one.

Devon is at the palace assisting Queen Veroneek.

Considering she’d nearly passed out playing nursemaid, it’s for the best.

The queen has kept me apprised as best she can of how Janik’s doing, but between her now active-duty role as the ruling member of Bohna and trying to take care of Alik, she’s been extremely busy. Quinn said Horek has barely been home either.

He and his guards have been doing everything they can to maintain order in the city.

There’s been looting and rioting by the rebels and the streets are becoming a dangerous place to be.

Whatever chaos and destruction the person responsible for the early trade ship attacks wanted to achieve, they got it.

I still refuse to believe it was Janik. Even the queen pointed out the kind of shock and horror he displayed at the announcement is almost impossible to fake.

Cold-blooded killer also just doesn’t fit the male I spent that short time with.

Of course, I’m a shit judge of character so what do I know?

Once I’m satisfied the male has gotten enough medicine, I straighten and—with hands to hips—twist at my waist side to side, arching my spine to ease some of the stiffness.

“Knock, knock,” Quinn calls from the doorway. She and Lindsey step inside. “We just finished up next door. Do you guys need any help?”

Johnna shakes her head and rises from her seat to join them. “Unless Olivia still has patients, I think we’re done as well.”

“I’ve made my rounds and everyone should be fine until their next dose is needed.”

“Good, because I’m starving,” Lindsey says. “There’s a couple of guards waiting to escort us back to the dorm when we’re ready.”

My growling stomach tells me I’m definitely ready. I’m not sure of the time, but I’m certain it’s been hours since I last ate. I glance at Johnna.

“Are you sure you don’t need anything else?”

“Go. I’ll clean up here and then go find my husband. You three get some rest.”

Fatigue permeates every cell of my body so I don’t argue. “We’ll be back later.”

Johnna waves us off and we head out.

Sure enough, there are now four guards who wait. Two lead us toward the exit while the other two take up the rear, essentially boxing us in.

“I’m not sure I’ve ever been this exhausted,” Lindsey says as we’re escorted home.

“Not even after our worst day rifling through garbage and shit?”

“That always felt a little like treasure hunting.” She chuckles.

“Not the shit part, but the rest of it. I’d make a game of it and try to guess what new and exciting thing I might discover that the upper tier discarded.

It always made the day go by easier. I’d craft some tale about where the item came from and what led to it being tossed away. ”

Lindsey ducks her head and her cheeks darken. Her shrug is a bit self-deprecating.

“Hey, whatever got you through the day. I’m not one to judge.” At least not my friends. Strangers? Sure. But my friends? Nope.

I’m exhausted as well. It doesn’t help that I haven’t slept worth shit.

Between the nightmares and the panic attacks that have assaulted me, it’s a wonder I’m not rocking myself in a corner somewhere.

The most bizarre part of this whole experience is that I would still choose to come to Bohna over remaining on Earth. How fucked up is that?

Quinn nudges me. “Everything okay? I mean, I know they’re not okay . I just want to make sure you’re all right. At least as much as you can be.”

“I’m struggling, but I’ll make it.”

“Of course you will. You, Olivia Jean, are one of the strongest people I know.”

My nose wrinkles at Quinn’s use of my middle name. I’ve never liked it, a fact she’s well aware of. Which means she did it to annoy me. I can’t be mopey and melancholy when I’m irritated.

We make it to our building without issue. Already we had six guards assigned to the dormitory, but that number’s been doubled. Queen Veroneek said she’s not taking any chances with our safety. Not after Janik kidnapped me. She’s worried the other rebels will start getting ideas.

The atmosphere once we’re inside is heavy. Unlike before the attacks, the atrium sits empty. Cadence and Molly could almost always be found out here, but they’ve been keeping to their rooms. Even the other women have made themselves scarce.

“Thanks for the escort,” Quinn tells the guards. She’s been staying in her old room since Horek has been so busy.

They salute her and disperse to return to their previous duties.

“I’m heading to the kitchen for food if anyone wants to join me,” Lindsey says.

Quinn declines. “I’m going to crash, but I’ll see you both in the morning.”

“I’m just going to have something delivered.”

“Okay, have a good night.” She separates from us and heads in the opposite direction of the lift.

“When this is over, Horek and I are planning a trip somewhere for a belated honeymoon,” she tells me as we step inside it.

“That’s exciting. I’m sorry you guys are having to spend the beginning of your marriage apart like this.”

Quinn raises and lowers a shoulder. “It’s not your fault. Besides, we have the rest of our lives to spend together. I know how important the safety of the city is to him. Plus, it’s tearing him apart to see Alik like he is and not be able to do anything about it.”

“He’s still not coming out of the fever?”

Quinn shakes her head. “No. They’ve even pumped kanet powder into the air in his cell so he breathes it in that way, but it’s not doing anything. He’s still attacking anyone who enters.”

How awful. Not only for Alik and Horek, but also for the queen.

I suspect even Janik might be feeling a certain way.

He was baiting his brother when the attack happened according to Horek.

I saw the way Janik talked about having to ease the suffering of the rebels who succumbed.

It deeply affected him. It had to be worse watching the same thing happen to Alik and not being able to do anything about it.

“What a nightmare.” I scratch Mak’s head and I’m not sure if it’s more for me than her.

“Would you change anything?” Olivia asks with a small head tilt.

“People dying? Janik in prison? I’d definitely change that.” I pause. “But the rest? I don’t think I would.”

We stop outside Quinn’s door. “It’s not going to be easy, but eventually, when this is all over, you’re going to be as happy as I am.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Since when are you the optimist?”

“It’s not optimism. It’s a logical conclusion. No other outcome is acceptable.”

“I think maybe some of your commander is rubbing off on you. Whatever demands you both make will be met, no matter what.”

Quinn’s cheeks darken. “Maybe a little.”

I hug her. “Don’t ever stop becoming the person I always knew you were meant to be, Quinn.”

She tightens her hold on me. “I love you, Liv.”

“Love you, too, babe. Sleep well.”

“You do the same.” She enters her room and with a short wave, closes the door behind her.

I head to my own room and step inside. The second I close the door, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

A glance around shows nothing out of place.

Mak is as relaxed as always, so if there’s any kind of threat, she hasn’t caught wind of it.

She’d know if someone was in here—someone who’s not supposed to be—wouldn’t she?

Just then, my eye catches on a small, black box sitting on the counter that wasn’t there before and definitely doesn’t belong to me.

Carefully, I approach it, keeping my ears and eyes peeled for anything else out of the ordinary.

I stare down at the object and realize it’s a communicator of some sort.

There’s a button, and my first instinct is to press it.

When a blinding light shoots out, I jump back.

Mak growls and lowers herself into a defensive position.

The light shifts and changes form until within the beam a person appears. Janik’s mother.

Her image flickers in and out and then her voice sounds.

“Human female,” she says and I can hear the disgust in the words. Beside me, Mak growls. “You will free my son by the end of tomorrow or more trade ships will be targeted and more lives lost. If he is not returned to our camp, Bohna and all of its citizens will suffer the consequences.”

As suddenly as the light appeared, it’s sucked back into the device and whatever just happened is over.

“Fuck.”