Chapter 5 #2
“This is all my fault,” Sazzie murmured.
“Please, we have to hurry and warn Elder Chen. Bitter Storm is not supposed to know about this place!” Her fear and panic were very real, and it was very obvious that she blamed herself for this development—the watery glint in her eyes and the rapid pulse at her throat betrayed her feelings.
Why would she think that? What did Bitter Storm want with my angel?
I felt a surge of energy go through my body, strength concentrating in my core muscles as I prepared for a confrontation.
If those warriors wanted my woman, they were in for one hell of a fight.
Nobody was taking Sazzie anywhere—nobody but me.
“I count a dozen, including a scrawny fellow missing his front teeth. How odd.” I also saw that they were more interested in the plumes of smoke from the Shaman camp and the single campfire from the Thunder Rock females.
They had not noticed us, and I wasn’t going to let them.
The Naga had a strong sense of smell, though, and Sazzie’s wounds were severe and still dripping blood.
We were leaving an obvious trail, and if the wind turned and blew their way, they’d know we were there in a heartbeat.
Backing away, I made my footsteps quiet against the moss.
Without shoes, it was far easier to sneak around than when wearing my combat boots.
To be sure they did not track us, I looped back once, then circled around several large boulders so there was cover between us and the enemy force.
When I crossed with my angel into the perimeter of the camp, I felt the tingle of the sensors and knew we’d have a greeting committee soon.
They came rushing around one of the smaller shuttles parked at the edge of the large clearing.
Chen was in the lead, but several of the younger camp residents surrounded him.
They weren’t taking any chances, and several of the males held weapons—guns, if I wasn’t mistaken.
“Ah, Reid!” Chen said with obvious relief.
“Bring her here, quickly now.” I was only too happy to follow the older Shaman back into the camp, but an odd wash of trepidation came over me when I caught sight of the large medical ship.
Obviously, that’s where I needed to take my angel, but that place felt like a trap—one I could not escape.
It was a fanciful, stupid thought. A trap?
Why would I think that when Erish and his healing hands had been the only things saving me from death this time around?
The medical ship and its abilities had been my salvation, and the cure had made me stronger—more powerful than I’d ever been: the super soldier that the UAR had only been able to dream of.
“Bitter Storm warriors,” I said to Chen as I made myself walk up the gangplank behind him.
The metal had heated in the sunlight and warmed the soles of my feet, which had gotten wet and cold from the trek through the marshy woods.
The warmth soaking into me made all the muscles in my legs feel heavy, and suddenly, they started trembling with fatigue.
Oh no, that wasn’t good. “A dozen of them in the woods.”
Sazzie had been quiet so far, and her voice sounded thready and thin when she spoke up now.
Her head was lying limply against my chest; she was fading and in pain.
“They must have followed the Thunder Rock challengers. I’m so sorry, Elder Chen.
This is all my fault.” I rumbled a shushing noise at her.
She was not responsible for the choices others made; she had not asked to be challenged.
I still did not know what exactly those Naga females were challenging her for, but Sazzie had made her choice, and I was going to make sure they respected that.
Chen said nothing, but from his expression, I gathered that he did not disagree with my angel’s statement.
Screw him; he was wrong, wise man or not.
Sazzie didn’t want to bring danger to anyone.
She was kind and sweet. She was not to blame for seeking sanctuary where she could find it.
Serant was harsh and cruel, especially their women.
Sazzie was too tender-hearted for all of that.
But I was here now, and I was going to fix this.
I was going to protect her—right after I took a nice, long nap.
It was an effort to take the final steps into the primary med bay on the ship, and by the time I started to gently lower my angel onto her belly on a cot, she no longer felt as light as a feather.
Not that I’d ever dare to call her heavy, but…
my arms didn’t want to obey; they couldn’t carry on much longer.
The trembling in my legs had spread, and as soon as Sazzie was safely in the nest, they gave out.
“Erish,” I said, and my words sounded oddly fuzzy, slurred.
“Take good care of my angel, will you?” This felt like I was drunk, in the not-so-fun passing-out stage of drinking.
My vision was as blurry as my voice was fuzzy, the world spinning.
The deck was approaching awfully fast. I hit it hard and then didn’t recall how I’d gotten there. No pain—just sheer exhaustion as it dragged me down. A void came up, darkness wrapped around my mind, and I was out like a light.