Wray (Tornians #3)

Chapter Two

Wray leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. It had been two long days since they had crashed on Pontus, an old mining planet in the Kaliszian Empire and the female had yet to wake.

He had barely gotten them out of the shuttle before it exploded. His original plan had been to stay close to the wreckage making it easier for Veron to retrieve them, but a storm had been brewing on the horizon and he had barely made it to this cave before it hit.

At first , he had been at a loss as to how to care for the female, never having done it before. If Adana had needed care, she went to the Healer, not to him. Quickly realizing he had to do something or she would perish, he had lifted her into his lap and carefully wrapped his arms around her, sharing his warmth. She had immediately responded to his touch by burrowing in closer, just as she had on the Ganglian ship.

When morning had dawned, the storm still raged and the female was still unconscious. Knowing he needed to get nourishment into her, he’d opened the survival pack he’d managed to grab upon leaving the shuttle and had been shocked to discover it contained only two liquid nutrition packets. There should have been five along with a portable repair unit. He assumed the unit was missing because they had used it on the Ganglian ship; the bags were another story. They should have been there, they were meant to sustain a severely wounded Warrior until help arrived.

Knowing he could do nothing about it , he had slowly tried to feed her the first packet but instead of swallowing, the fluid had flowed out of her mouth. He growled, his frustration and she’d responded by swallowing. He quickly discovered that the more he talked to her the more she would allow him to care for her.

So Wray talked... and talked... until he was nearly hoarse. He told her about the infection that had changed his world. About how they were searching all the known Universes for compatible females. He told her how enraged he was at what the Ganglians had done to her. Told her that if she had been his, it never would have happened, she would have been protected, cherished.

Wray was amazed at the sense of freedom he found in telling her these things, things he had told no other living creature, not even Grim. It mattered not that she wouldn’t remember what he said, it only mattered that he told her. He told her about the guilt he’d always felt knowing that every Tornian female wanted to Join with him, all because of a chance of birth when there were others, like his brother, that were just as worthy. He told her how it ate at him that he hadn’t been able to give his brother the justice he deserved after his attack. How he might actually have to strip him of his title if no female gave him offspring.

He admitted to her that it had been the real reason he had refused to take another Empress. He had hoped one would choose Grim instead. He told her how he feared he would be unable to save his people. They were dying faster than anyone truly knew and he worried what would happen when they found out. Would they sacrifice their honor for survival, as the Ganglians had? Through it all, she had remained silent, her only response was snuggling closer to him as the temperatures dropped.

When Wray had given her all the water the pack contained he’d been forced to wrap her in the thin survival blanket and laid her on the hard ground, to retrieve more. Following the luciferins clinging to the walls, he went deeper into the cave, using their light to find the water that had to be there to support them. He was amazed when he found not one, but two pools, one with steam gently rising from it and one that ran clear and cool. It explained the multitude of luciferins that flourished here.

When he returned , he found that despite the survival blanket, she was curled up in a ball, shivering and crying. Wray swept her up into his arms and she immediately calmed.

It was then that he discovered her true color. Her tears had left white paths running down her face. Wray immediately carried her back to the pool of heated water and cleansed her.

What the water revealed had shocked him. Her skin was as pale as the petals of the Moonflower and so fragile looking that he feared his touch would damage her. His hand had trembled when he carefully rubbed the pool’s fine sand on her skin, removing the dirt and grime from her soft, full breasts, where he lingered longer than he should have, but they had been so soft. They filled his hand as nothing ever had, her dusty nipples tightening at his touch begging him to suckle. His head had actually lowered before he managed to stop himself a hair's breath away from tasting the tempting morsel. Forcing himself away, he continued to cleanse her.

Her waist … his hands easily spanned it, his fingers touching she was so tiny. Her thighs, healed by the repair unit, were long and firm but still soft and giving. Adana’s had been longer, but much firmer, there was no doubt which he found more appealing. He wondered what it would feel like to settle between them, to embed himself inside her. Would she be soft and giving inside too?

He forced himself not to linger when he cleansed her female’s nub, not allowing himself to pinch or rub it. He wanted to just see if it would swell with need. She moved in his arms then, as if his mere touch excited her, which was impossible, no female was aroused merely by a male’s touch.

He hadn’t been able to stop himself from testing her female’s opening, though, just to find out how small and tight she really was. He only allowed the tip of his smallest finger to enter her, but it had been enough. She was soft and warm and oh so small and tight. How had she survived the Ganglians? At that thought, Wray tensed, his rage returning and as if sensing it, she whimpered. Immediately he regained his control.

Cleansing her hair , he watched in amazement as the dull, lifeless brown drifted away, revealing hair the color of living fire. Was that why the Ganglians had taken her? Because of its color? He had never seen hair like it before. He had read about it in the stories of the ancient ones, but he had always believed it to be a myth.

Every known species had some trait that revealed their species. For Tornians, it was their hair color, for while their skin tone could vary, their hair was always black. The Ganglians were always completely covered with hair and had an offensive odor. While the Kaliszians were similar to Tornians, they only had a thick strip of hair that ran along the center of their heads. Their position in their society displayed by the beads they wove into it. Was it the same for her species, did they all have hair of flame and eyes of green or did something else unite them?

After making sure her hair was clean, he removed every speck of Ganglian grime. Wray had removed them from the warm pool of water, quickly drying her and covering her again with his shirt before he did something that would be unforgivable.

Returning to the outer room, he sat holding her securely in his lap and tried to ignore the throbbing of his shaft tried to ignore his desire to Join with her, to release inside her and have it take root.

Would it? Would she be compatible with him? Her size said no but he discovered nothing truly different between her and Tornian females when he cleansed her. In fact, if her survival was any indication, she was more resilient than a Tornian female. Could she be what saved his people or would she be what finally broke them?

Disgusted with himself , Wray let his head fall back, thumping it against the wall. Goddess, he was a selfish bastard. Not two days ago, this female was being abused by the Ganglians and here he was wondering if she would be able Join with one of his warriors... no… not with one of his warriors, but with him ! He truly was selfish for he had offspring so others would need her more.

Wray forced himself to relax when she began to whimper. How she seemed to sense when he was upset he did not know. Maybe it was the tensing of his muscles, or the low growl, he had been unable to contain, maybe it was just the way of her species. He wished he could talk to her and find out.

Talk to her... Wray shook his head in disbelief. Tornian males didn’t talk to their female, not as they did to males. They conversed with a female. She told the male what she wanted and the male told her she would have it. That was as far as it went.

Yes, he and Adana had ‘talked’ more, but that was only because she was his Empress and would never leave him. Something told him this female would demand more. This time when Wray leaned his head back, it was to rest, all the while making sure the female was secure in his arms.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Kim didn’t want to leave. She didn’t know where she was, but she knew it was better than where she had been. This darkness was different… it was warm and comforting, she felt safe here. The other had been… no... she wouldn’t go back there. She would stay here, where every touch was gentle, every word was soft and every sound was... a snore?

Frowning , she tried to ignore the sound, but it kept getting louder. What was that? Why wouldn’t it stop? It jarred her from the security of the darkness, reawakening her mind and senses, so she realized she was lying on something that while hard was still warm and giving. It moved, it vibrated, it smelled… nice, nothing like stinky... Kim instantly jerked awake and froze as it all came rushing back to her. She didn’t want stinky bastard to know she was awake. If he knew, he would hurt her again. Suddenly it dawned on her that it wasn’t stinky bastard holding her, he never held her, he'd just raped her.

Carefully, she lifted her head and saw... what… who... who... was this.... The rumbling sound that had woken her was coming from a massive chest that was covered with so many muscles that they bulged even though the guy was asleep. Looking up further, she found broad shoulders and thickly muscled arms that were currently wrapped around her, holding her securely in his lap.

Trying not to panic , her eyes continued their journey upward and discovered the unusual features of a man. His head was tipped back against the wall, his eyes were closed and his mouth was slightly open, revealing long white teeth, and he was snoring.

He seemed familiar to her for some reason. Why? Shaking the impossibility away, she carefully shifted away from him ever so slightly and his arms instantly tightened around her as his snoring turned into a low growl.

S he screamed.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Wray jerked awake hearing the female's scream. What was wrong? His arms immediately tightened protectively around her as he stood, his eyes flying around the cave, searching for the threat. Suddenly it was as if he was holding a wild termagant in his arms as she kicked, bit and scratched at him.

Stunned by her attack, Wray instantly released her then cringed as she landed on her ass, hard. Reaching down to help her, she screamed again and crawled backwards away from him, her eyes never leaving him. She didn’t stop until she ran into a wall where she quickly sprang to her feet.

"Easy , little one." He said softly and raised his hands in a non-threatening manner as he prayed to the Goddess that the educator had worked.

"You stay away from me!" The female ordered.

"I mean you no harm." He told her, grateful they could understand each other.

"Yeah , right." She said sarcastically, her eyes moving quickly around the cave, searching for more threats.

"I tell you truth ." Wray frowned when she didn’t immediately believe him. "We are alone here, no one will harm you." He saw her eyes move once again to the opening of the cave, then back to him, when she tensed, he knew exactly what she was going to do.

"No!" He bellowed moving to intercept her.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Kim's eyes never left the huge man as she crab-crawled away from him. When she ran into a wall, she jumped to her feet, frantically taking in her surroundings. She seemed to be in some type of cave.

' How the hell had she gotten here?' She wondered as her eyes flew back to the man who was frowning at her. To his right there seemed to be an entrance. She didn’t know what was outside, but she knew she had to get out, had to get away, it was the only way she would ever survive and she wanted to. Stinky bastard might have been bigger and stronger than her, but this guy... this guy made stinky bastard look puny... she would never survive him raping her. Outside was her only hope. Decision made, she sprinted for freedom.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Wray was surprised by her speed and caught her just a few feet from the entrance, pulling her tightly back against his chest.

“No! ” He yelled again. “You will perish if you leave.”

“Let me go!” She cried out, struggling against his hold, but found her arms pinned against her sides so she couldn’t scratch him and with her back against his chest, she couldn’t bite him.

“No! I will not allow you to harm yourself.” When she continued to struggle, he shook her slightly. “Calm yourself! Look!” He turned so she could see through the opening.

Kim still ed, her eyes widening at what she saw. Outside, there was an eerie yellowish brown light, that seemed to be filled with what looked like blowing dust that sparkled.

“It is a Pontus ground storm.” He told her softly, his deep voice rumbling against her back. “Here on Pontus it contains alme. It can be deadly if too much is inhaled. It has been raging for two days.”

“T wo days?” Kim whispered, looking up at him.

“Yes. I was barely able to get us here before it hit.” Wray found himself caught up in her green gaze.

“It’s just us?”

“Yes.” He watched her look back at the storm and wondered what she was thinking.

Kim watched the blowing dust for several more moments, trying to decide if she could believe him. It didn’t look that bad, but there was a lot of it. Then there were those larger pieces that would fly by occasionally, those would really hurt if they hit her and she could see how breathing could be a problem. He was right. She wouldn’t survive out there long.

“You can let go.” She said quietly, wriggling in his arms.

Wray frown ed down at her. He didn’t want to let her go. He liked how she felt in his arms, against his body. He didn’t want her to try to flee again for if she did, she would be harmed and he couldn’t allow that. Turning so he was between her and the entrance, he let her slowly slide down his body, releasing her only when she was steady on her feet.

Kim quickly took several steps away from him and found she instantly missed his warmth. Turning, she watched him closely and realized he was doing the same thing to her. She could also see he was concerned that she would flee into the storm. Why?

“Who are you? Where am I? And how the hell did I get here?” Kim started firing questions at him.

“I am Wray. You are on Pontus and I brought you to this cave after we crashed.”

Kim’s mouth opened, then closed as she tried to process what he was saying. Finally, she settled on the one thing she immediately understood. “We crashed?”

“Yes. Our shuttle was attacked when we were transporting you from the Ganglian ship to the Searcher. ”

“We! You said it was just us!” Her eyes immediately flew behind her, bracing for an attack.

“He is not here. My warrior was killed in the attack.”

“He’s dead?”

“Yes. I had to leave him in the shuttle.”

Kim looked at h im for several moments and was shocked to realize she believed him. Someone he had known had died while he was saving her. “I’m sorry.”

Wray was shocked that she would concern herself with a warrior’s death. Males were expendable. Females were not. “He died an honorable death,” he informed her, “protecting a female. The Goddess will welcome him with loving arms.”

“You said you were transporting me.”

“Yes, our portable repair unit was able to heal most of your injuries, but I wanted to make sure, so I was taking you to the deep repair unit on the Searcher.”

“Who are you?” She asked again.

“I am Wray Vasteri. I am a Tornian Warrior.” He didn’t tell her he was also the Emperor. It would make things easier if he did, but for some reason he wanted to see how she would react to Wray , not the Emperor.

“ Tornian…”

“Yes. What are you?” Wray finally got to ask the question he’d wanted answered since he’d first seen her.

“I… generally we call ourselves humans.”

“Humans?” Wray had never heard of them. “What do you mean generally?”

“I… well, we are all humans, but since we live in different countries, we usually identify ourselves by that.”

Wray just looked at her , while he understood what she was saying it wasn’t the Tornian way. Yes, they would describe the specific area they were from but first and foremost, they were Tornian.

“You are called Wray?”

“Yes and you are?” he asked the next question he’d wanted to know.

“My name is Kim, Kim Te el.”

“ Kimkimteel.” He repeated.

“No!” The strength of her denial surprise d him. “Listen. My name, first name is Kim, like yours is Wray. My last name is Teel, like yours, is Vasteri. Understand?”

Wray didn’t appreciate her talki ng to him as if he were an untrained Warrior and growled his displeasure.

“Don’t growl at me !” Kim stomped her foot. “It’s not my fault you were wrong!”

Wray looked at her in shock. No one spoke to the Emperor like that… but wait, she didn’t know he was the Emperor. Isn’t that what he wanted? To discover how she would see him ?

“ I apologize… Kim.” The foreign name somehow felt right crossing his lips. “I did not mean to upset you. I have never met a… human before."

" You haven’t?” She asked, not knowing if she should be happy or sad about that.

“No. What planet do you c laim?”

“Claim?” It took her a moment to realize what he was asking. “Earth. We call our planet Earth.”

“Earth….” Wray thought about the name, searched his memory and could find nothing that was even close. He was about to question her further when an especially strong gust of wind blew into the chamber. “We need to move back to where we were. It will protect us from the storm.” He stepped towards her, gesturing to where they had been.

Kim quickly stepped back, keeping her distance and tried to decide what she should do. Did she believe him? Trust him?

“Please , Kim.” Wray was surprised at how much it hurt to have her step away from him and found he wasn’t above begging, not if it kept her safe. “It is why I chose this spot. It protects us from the worst of the storm. I would never harm you.”

Slowly , Kim realized she had no other choice but to trust him… at least for now and backed into the other room.

“There is food in the bag next to the rock." Wray’s deep voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Food?" Kim's eyes immediately flew to the bag hungrily. She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten; neither could her stomach as it rumbled loudly.

"Yes, it’s just nutrient bars, but it is something." Wray heard her stomach rumble and knew she had to be starving, he was.

Watching him closely, Kim slowly moved towards t he bag, still unsure just how far she could trust him. The cramping in her stomach had her quickly reaching down into the bag, pulling out a foil wrapped package.

"Sit , Kim." Wray gestured to the rock and watched as the bar slipped from her hand when he took a step towards her. "I will not harm you." He tried to reassure her. "Please sit, you are still recovering from the Ganglian attack and are weak from hunger.” Slowly he picked up the bar, handed it back to her then took several steps back.

"Ganglian?" She questioned, but slowly sat, her knuckles white around the bar. “You said that word before.”

"Yes, they are the species we found you with. Tear it at the top." Wray gestured to the bar, she held so tightly and watched silently as she struggled with it. "Let me help." He said softly and stretched out his hand, but moved no closer, knowing she needed to come to him.

Kim looked at him, her mind racing. Would he give it back?

He had before.

She didn't really know him.

But she trusted him.

Why?

Wray watched every thought as it passed across her face. Goddess she had such an expressive face. He could tell she was afraid, knew she had to be confused and yet she didn’t break. It made him want to pull her close, made him want to comfort and protect her even more, but he knew he couldn't, not yet.

"It will be alright Kim." He said softly. "I promise I will give it back and while you eat, I will tell what I know." He saw when she reached her decision and ever so slowly, she put the bar in his outstretched hand before quickly jerking hers back.

"These can be tricky sometimes." He said, trying to ease her fear while hiding his relief that she would allow him to help her. Quickly he tore open the wrapper and the smell had his own stomach rumbling, reminding him that he hadn't taken any nourishment since they crashed. Ignoring it, he handed the bar back to her. He was male. His needs would always come second to that of a female.

Kim silently watched as he easily ripped open the package , heard his stomach rumble before he handed it back. Slowly she took the now unwrapped bar from him. "When did you last eat?" She found herself asking.

"That is unimportant." Wray said dismissively. “Eat.” He gestured to the bar, but to his shock instead of doing as he ordered, she broke the bar in two, holding half of it out to him. Why would she do that? "That is for you." He told her gruffly.

"We'll share." She said and for the first time Wray glimpsed what had helped her survive the Ganglians... stubbornness. Slowly, making sure not to startle her, he took the bar.

“Thank you.”

Nodding, Kim forced herself to take only a small bite of her half, ignoring the urge to stuff the whole thing in at once. It was a little dry, a little salty, but also a little sweet in a maple bacon sort of way. Nothing had ever tasted so good.

"Ganglian is the name of the species that we found you with." He told her as they ate.

"Those stinky, hairy bastards are called Ganglians?" Kim asked after she swallowed, a rule her mother had drilled into her about not talking with your mouth full still worked, even here.

"Yes." Wray couldn’t help but grin at her accurate description of the Ganglians. It faded quickly when he remembered why she was so accurate. "There is water in the container next to you." He gestured to the other side of the rock and the pouch he had refilled. Wray watched her closely as she ate; worried she would be unable to tolerate Tornian food. Nutrient bars weren't known for their tastiness, they were meant for a warrior's survival in extreme conditions. He had never heard of a female eating one.

Green eyes looked from him to the container on the floor before she leaned down and picked it up. It reminded her of those refillable water pouches runners used back on Earth.

He was about to tell her how to open it when she figured it by herself and took a cautious drink. After several small sips of the cool liquid, she handed it to him.

“Do you want more to eat?” he asked after he drank, handing it back to her .

“There’s enough?” she asked hopefully and saw Wray hesitate.

“For you there is.” he told her.

Kim gave him a considering look. “Why just for me?”

“You are female. I am male.” he stated as if that explained it all.

“How many were there?” she asked , gesturing to the bag that held the bars.

“Six.”

Kim looked into the bag and counted five remaining bars. “You said we have been here two days.”

“That is correct .”

“You haven’t eaten since we arrived?”

“You were going to need the nutrition when you woke.”

“But so do you.”

Wray gave her a confused look. “You are female, you come first.”

“But…”

“Have another.” he ordered.

“Only if you do.” Kim argued back.

“No.” he shook his head. “You need it more.”

“How much longer will we be here?”

Wray looked towards the cave’s entrance and while he couldn’t see the storm, he could hear it and frowned. “Storms this large have been known to last up to a week.”

“But someone will come?”

“Yes.” He nodded confidently. “My people will come for us.”

Kim looked to the bars and thought about what he said. In another lifetime, she would have eaten her fill and not worr ied about the future, or him, but that was before she lost her family, before the Ganglians.

They could be here for another five days and there were only five bars left. Her gaze traveled to Wray; he would let her eat them all if she wanted, taking none for himself. Why? He was just as important as she was. Actually, he was more important because she had no idea how to survive here.

“I can wait.”

“Kim….”

“You said you would tell me what you knew.”

Wray saw the stubbornness return to her eyes and sighed heavily, somehow knowing she wouldn’t budge.

“We were just leaving the Kalis zian space when we intercepted a Ganglian ship leaving Tornian space. When we boarded the ship, they resisted.” He saw her confusion. “Ganglians never resist. They are cowards with no honor. They thrive on the pain of others.”

“Yeah, I figured that out.” Kim said quietly, remembering how stinky bastard seem ed to hiss happily whenever she would scream. Shivering at the memory, she pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.

“Are you well?” Wray asked , not missing her shiver.

“Just… please just keep talking.”

Wray nodded. “They weren’t always like that, the Ganglians.” He saw her look at him in surprise. “They were once a proud and honorable race, committed to protecting those weaker than themselves. They were good friends of the Tornians.”

“What changed them?” Kim couldn’t stop herself from asking.

“The great infection affected their minds, warping them to the point that everything they once despised became what they most desired. They began to prey on the weaker species in the universes, capturing them so they could enjoy the pain they inflicted until they sold them. It is why their ships are banned from the Tornian Empire.”

“They were going to sell me? Make me a slave?”

“Yes. It is how they survive now. They sell the males they capture to the mines and the females to pleasure houses.”

“Pleasure houses. ..” she whispered.

“ Yes. They knew it would be an automatic death sentence if we found you. It is why they hid you away.”

“Why me?” Kim asked, her eyes filling with the remembered horror of what she had survived as she looked at Wray. “Why did they take me ?”

“Because you are beautiful.” Wray said before he could stop himself.

“Beautiful?” Kim shook her head in denial; maybe once she had been vain enough to think she was pretty but beautiful… never. Jen was the beauty of the family. She’d received her father’s height, her mother’s white blond hair and stunning blue eyes. Kim had received her father’s unruly red hair, his green eyes and her mother’s compact frame. No, she would never be considered beautiful, especially not after the damage the Ganglians had caused.

“Yes,” Wray told her firmly, “beautiful and rare, to have hair the color of fire….” His voice trailed off as his eyes ran over the amazing locks.

“It’s just red.” Kim whispered in denial.

“It is alive with fire . Your skin is as pale and soft as the Moonflower and your eyes….” Wray looked deep into them seeing her shock at his words. “Your eyes are the color of the rarest gaspeite. You would have brought a great deal at a slave auction.”

“I wouldn’t have lived that long.” She whispered.

Kim’ s barely uttered words brought Wray up short. No, she wouldn’t have, she would have died on that stinking Ganglian ship and he never would have known such an exquisite creature existed. He surged to his feet, growling.

Kim screamed, falling off the rock as Wray surged to his feet, growling fiercely and knew she was about to die. There was no way she could defend herself against him.

Wray froze when Kim screamed and watched her fall off the rock, her eyes full of terror. Oh, Goddess, what had he done? Where was his legendary control? He never revealed his emotions, never allowed others to know when he was upset, but with this female… from the moment he discovered her crammed in that compartment, he was unable to control his emotions. Sucking in a deep breath, he tried to reassure her.

“ I am sorry, Kim,” unfortunately his voice came out rough and still full of rage, “please do not be afraid of me. I would release my own life before I would ever harm you.”

“You… you… " she stuttered, trying to sink into the wall, ignoring the rocks jabbing her in the back.

“I was angry . Not at you,” he quickly injected, “at the Ganglians, for what they did to you. It should never have been allowed.” Wray forced himself to take a step back, giving her the room she needed when all he wanted to do was bring her close.

“Can they find us here?” Kim asked finding she could breathe easier once he stepped back. “Before your people do?”

“Who? The Ganglians?” Wray frowned and saw her nod. “Kim…” his voice finally gentled as his rage left him , replaced by disgust, at himself, for not explaining things better to her. “The Ganglians that captured you are dead. They will never harm you again.”

“D… Dead?”

“Yes. I should have explained this better to you.”

“But we crashed ... you said we were attacked.”

“We were, I don’t know by who m yet, but it wasn’t the Ganglians who took you, you have my vow. You have nothing to fear from them. I will protect you.”

“But…” Kim winced when a rock poked her in the back again.

“Are you hurt?” Wray step ped towards her. “Have my actions harmed you?”

“No , I did this.”

“Because o f me. Please Kim, let me help you. I do not have a portable repair unit here, but perhaps there is something I can do.”

“It’s just a bruise, I have lots of them.” Looking at the hands she knew were damaged fending off the Ganglian, she was shocked to discover them healed, the bruises and cuts barely visible. “What?” she looked at Wray confused.

“The portable repair unit was able to heal the worst of your injuries.” Wray told her again.

“Portable repair unit… you told me that before, I just didn’t realize…” she looked at her hands then silently took inventory of her body. The terrible pain that had been with her since the first attack was gone. She hadn’t realized it when she’d been trying to escape or when she’d been eating, she almost felt… normal. Was that really possible?

Rising to her knees she slowly pulled up the hem of the shirt she was wearing, bracing herself for the damage she would find on her thighs; instead, she found pale skin with just the faintest network of scars revealing the trauma she had sustained.

“That's amazing …” she trailed off, frowning at the black material in her hand, then looked at Wray, who was dressed only in pants and boots and realized she was wearing his shirt. He literally had given her the shirt off his back. He saved her from the Ganglians. Saved her from running into the storm. He had healed her injuries shared his food and what had she done in return? She ran from him, attacked him, screamed at him. “I’m sorry…” she whispered, tears filling her eyes.

“For what? ” Wray choked out. He had barely been able to stop his groan at the sight of her lush pale thighs, but the sight of her tears had his throat tightening. “You have nothing to be sorry for, little one. I am the one that caused this.”

“You gave me your shirt.”

“You had no coverings when I found you, you were chilled.” He watched another shiver run through her small frame and cautiously stepped closer. “You are again. Please, Kim,” he held out a hand and prayed to the Goddess that she would take it. “I do not want you to become ill.”

Kim looked up into Wray’s gray eyes that reminded her so much of Warrior's. They were pleading with her to trust him, to take his hand. Could she?

Was thi s what Warrior had felt like when she held out her hand? Was that why it had taken him so long to come to her? To trust her? She hadn’t understood how much courage it had taken him to reach out to her, to trust her not to hurt him. Could she be that brave?

“Please , Kim.” Wray whispered so softly that she had to strain to hear him, but she did and in those quiet words she heard his concern, his worry, and his desperation… he thought she was beautiful… reaching out she slipped a small hand into his.

Wray had never been as relieved as when she took his hand. Slowly he held out his other one and waited. When she gave him the other hand too, he carefully pulled her up. “Did you injure yourself? When you fell?” he asked quietly.

“No. It was just hard.” Her eyes never left his.

“And you are soft.”

“Thank you for the shirt.” She whispered.

“I would give you everything I have , Kim.” Wray vowed and saw her eyes widen. “But first, I need to get you warm. Will you let me hold you again?” he asked and held his breath, unsure how far her trust would extend.

Kim frowned slightly as a foggy memory surfaced from the dark. She had felt so safe when she was there, had known nothing could harm her. Now she realized it was because Wray had been holding her, keeping her warm and safe while she slept. “I’d like that very much.” She said softly and stepped closer to his warmth.

Slowly Wray moved backwards, keeping her hands in his as he sat. Kim moved to his side and then hesitated. “Kim?” he asked

“I….” Her pale skin started to turn rosy. “I’ve never sat in a man’s lap before, I’m not sure how….” Her voice trailed off.

Wray closed his eyes, relieved to hear her say she didn’t know what to do. He refused to allow himself to dwell on how comfortable she had seemed in his arms, as if she were used to being held by a male. The thought of another male holding her had troubled him deeply for some reason, but to know he was the only one… slowly, making sure not to frighten her, he slipped his hands around her waist and settled her across his thighs as his arms enfolded her.

Kim immediately felt like she was ho me as his arms surrounded her in warmth and she burrowed deeper into his chest. “Will you tell me more?”

“What would you like to know?” he asked softly, looking down at her.

“I don’t know.” Yawning, she discovered she was suddenly exhausted and laid her head on his chest, listening to the strong beat of his heart, for some reason it comforted her. “How can you understand all those hissing and clicking sounds the Ganglians make?”

“I know the language of every species in the known Universes. You will also , now that I have placed the educator on you.”

“You did what?” Kim asked, raising tired eyes to his.

“While the repair unit worked I placed what we call an educator over your eyes. It causes no harm.” He quickly reassured her. “It only teaches you so you can understand and speak to other species.”

“Speak to them?”

“Yes, right now you are speaking Tornian, but if you were speaking to a Ganglian you would speak Ganglian.”

“I…” Kim’s voice trailed off as she realized what was coming out of her mouth were growls, not words.

“It is commonly don e throughout the Universes and allows different species to communicate.”

“But you said you learned the languages.”

“I have learned many of them, but there are still some that I needed the educator for.” Wray didn’t tell her he’d only used it once, for educators could be corrupted, making the person who used them do things they never would otherwise. It was against Tornian law, but that didn’t mean there weren’t those who would attempt it. It was why Wray trusted only Grim to program his when it was needed. He knew Grim would never harm him.

“But… “ before she could ask her next question, another yawn caught her off guard.

“Rest , Kim.” Wray told her gently. “We will talk more once you are rested."

Nodding sleepily , Kim closed her eyes.