Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Cameron

She allowed the sky-blue man—he said his name was Reb—to help her sit up. He efficiently turned off the machines that were connected to her, unhooked her heart monitor and what she assumed was an IV. Although it differed from any IV she'd ever seen.

Cammy enjoyed watching him move. The muscles in his body were well-developed, and he was all strength and fluid motion.

Looking away from him, she took a deep breath. The air had a medicinal smell—something she was familiar with. In an odd way, it was comforting. She frowned at the dark curtains on the wall. They were out of place.

"I hid in those curtains and under your bed the entire time you've been here." Reb kept up a brief dialogue while he moved around her. "You've been in this medical facility for four days now and I've been in the room with you for all but a few moments of that time. I don't know if you remember being captured by the Siloth, the furry red aliens?"

She grimaced, thinking about having someone watch her sleep. That thought wasn't as bad as the memory of running into those horrible red things. Cammy nodded. Whispered, "I got up in the middle of the night. There were several of those red apes in my sister's apartment."

He turned and met her eyes. "I overheard the doctor assigned to treat you. He said they healed the worst of the bleeding in your brain. Evidently, that was from a Siloth beating. Do you remember being hit?" he asked gently.

Cammy frowned. He was being careful with her. Did she need that? Had they hurt her bad enough that he had to be so careful? Reaching up, she rubbed her cheekbone. It was no longer sore. Then she lifted her hand to her head... and felt slick flesh. With a bandage covering what had to be surgical scars. They shaved off all her hair! She must have made a sound of distress because the blue man stepped closer.

"It's okay. They shaved off your hair because the head injury required surgery. They said you need to avoid stress, and not get hit or fall for several weeks... hopefully never again... but for the most part, you are healed."

Closing her eyes, she dropped her hand into her lap. She kept her voice low. "One of them hit me when I screamed for Casey. He struck my cheek, and I fell back and whacked my head on the rock fireplace. That's the last thing I remember."

"It's alright. The head injury is why you were brought here... but they couldn't figure out why you wouldn't wake up." Reb lowered the bed and helped her turn, so Cammy's legs dangled off the side. "Stay. Don't try to stand up yet. For now, you can leave on the medical garment. Let's just slip this hooded robe over your head. When we walk out of here, we will both be completely covered and unrecognizable. The locals on this planet often wear these long, dark blue robes. So, no one will look twice at us. I hope."

The hospital gown was thin and small. She was happy to put on the much thicker robe. It was big on her, but that was okay, too. He moved slowly, easily. Helping her put her hands in the sleeves and arranging the material around her body. Just listening to his voice helped her relax a bit. Being bald didn't matter.

It wasn't the first time. When Casey had cancer and went through treatments, she lost all her hair. Cammy shaved hers off to support her sister.

Reb squeezed her hand. Helping her focus on what was important. "In a little bit, you can stand. There is a bathroom right here if you need to use it. We have a few moments before we need to leave. I don't have shoes for you, but I do have some thick socks. They are the same color as the robe. If we're seen, I don't think anyone will notice you don't have shoes." He knelt and put on the warm socks.

She didn't realize she was so cold. But the robe and socks helped her stop shivering. Cammy opened her hand and settled her palm on his arm. He was warm. Alive! And she was awake and, thankfully, not alone. Reb was with her.

Covering her icy fingers with his other hand, Reb continued to explain why she was here, "The doctor treating you discovered that an Iceactic spider bit you when you were on the Siloth spaceship. It's a tiny spider, but its venom is deadly. Your internal organs began to shut down. Luckily, this facility has a machine that treats poisons and could reverse the damage. You had your final treatment last night. They brought you back to the room about an hour ago. We're leaving now because the man who bought your sister plans to collect you later this morning. He thinks he can use you to force Casey to return to him."

Cammy reached out her hands. "Help me stand. I need to use the bathroom, please. Then let's get out of here. You can tell me the rest when we're safe. Will you take me to Casey?"

Reb sighed and helped her stand. "Casey and the others had to take the DoMicile and leave the docking station. They are in orbit, waiting for us."

She couldn't help but tighten her hands in his. Her legs felt weak. "The DoMicile is your ship?"

He nodded. "Two of my brothers are here, ready to help us escape tonight. My Captain and two additional brothers are still on the planet. We need to leave and find a place to hide. Then, as soon as it's safe, I'll take you to your sister. I promise."

Frowning, she carefully shuffled her way to the bathroom, never letting go of his arm. "How many brothers do you have?"

ReBOrB

Reb took a deep breath when Cammy went into the bathroom and closed the door. Her scent was driving him crazy. He hadn't noticed it all these days when he was stuck under her medical bed. Probably because the cleaning supplies had such a strong odor.

Nor had he caught even a hint of her unique fragrance when he hid behind the thick curtains and studied her face. Reb had positioned himself just so—where one of the ceiling penlights highlighted her freckles. He was… captivated by her high cheekbones, her oval face, her shaved head… and those freckles.

Cammy had touched him. She just lightly put her hand on his arm… yet that touch reverberated through his body. He frowned at the bathroom door.

Reaching up, he scratched his right shoulder. His mating links itched. Drove him crazy. They'd never done that before. Reb stilled. Took in another deep breath and tried not to panic.

BrOdByc made sure all his brothers were aware of everything that happened to his body when he met his mate. He knew the marking-tats moved when he heard Casey scream, and that Brode's mating bands separated into smaller pieces and entered his mate.

His brother said nothing about the bands itching. Burning. Driving him nuts. Brode never said that his mate's touch was cataclysmic. When he got to safety, he'd ask. But he could hear the woman washing her hands. She'd be out in a moment and Reb needed to concentrate on getting them out of the building without being noticed.

He definitely didn't want to think about what his brother's mate had gone through when the living tattoos had tried to heal Cammy's sister. The woman had been in excruciating pain. They'd been on the ship, where the Father could guide Brode's actions. They hadn't been on a hostile planet where they were going to have to run and hide for several days.

Brode's mate, Casey, needed healing in her lungs and stomach. Cameron was recovering from a head injury and all of her internal organs were affected by the poisonous spider bite. Technically, her injuries had been treated. But he wouldn't want to bet on it.

Now was not the time for his mating bands to touch that woman. She couldn't be his. Absolutely not. At least not until he got her on the ship. Where she'd be safe and surrounded by his brothers. And where there was a fully functioning med bay. BrOdByc said the tattoos moved into his mate's body when she touched him. When they were skin to skin.

That was the answer then . Reb planned to keep his damned shirt on. He slipped on the Viant robe. Maybe he'd keep wearing this, too. The more layers, the better so the little Earther couldn't touch his flesh.

Cammy opened the bathroom door and waited for ReBOrB to offer his arm. "I'm pretty unsteady. I'll hold on to you and squeeze your arm if I get faint."

Reb flipped up his hood and situated Cammy's over her head. "This won't take more than a few moments. We are going to walk out of the room and turn to the left. We don't need to run. There are only about fifty steps to the elevator. My brother, BeOBard, should be the only one you see in the hall. He is dressed just like you and me. Bard is the Master of Sound and has incredible hearing. He will watch the breakroom. All the medical personnel are inside, taking their midnight break and going over patient status. He will alert me if anyone moves.

"Another brother, JayBOrB, is wearing a maintenance worker uniform. He will hold the elevator. Jay will get us down to the hover and you and I will leave. If Bard hears anyone coming from any direction, he will alert me and I'll warn you. We will stop and stay quiet. Jay is the Master of Illusion. He will create an illusion, so the hall appears empty. The security cameras won't see us leaving the room, nor standing still if anyone shows up. If someone comes and we stop walking, I will let you know when it is safe to move."

Cammy nodded and grinned at him. "You never told me how many brothers you have."

"I have nineteen brothers." He opened the door and guided her out. "Hang on to me, keep your head down, and walk as quickly as you can. I am right beside you," he whispered.

Cameron

Nineteen brothers? Wow! That was certainly something to think about. She'd had a friend in high school who had eleven siblings. Their house was always in a state of controlled chaos. Cammy loved going over there. But nineteen took having a big family to another level.

When Reb pulled open the door, Cammy's heart went wild. She clutched his arm with both hands. He was her lifeline, and she was terrified she would collapse. She felt weak. A little dizzy. She didn't walk so much as shuffle out of the room.

Once Reb closed the door behind them, he put one arm around Cam's waist and held her other arm under the elbow. Propping her up as she slid one foot in front of the other. He knew she felt faint.

If he said anything, she couldn't hear it. Her heartbeat was too loud. Pulling air into her lungs, the only thing she could smell was cleaning products. She knew Reb had a spicy, old forest aroma coming off his flesh. She wanted to get somewhere she could inhale his scent again.

A man stood between them and the elevators. He dressed just as they were in the Viant robes. Her body clenched in fear, but Reb didn't hesitate. His brother then. The one who was listening to the medical personnel in the break room.

Cameron knew the nursing staff on Earth had little opportunity to sit and rest. Shift change and patient status reports would keep them all in that room. Unless an alarm sounded. Cam refused to worry about their escape. She couldn't do anything but hold on to Reb's arm and put one foot in front of the other.

She wanted to see if this alien had the same color skin as Reb. Daydreaming about twenty sky-blue men linking arms and dancing—entertained her until they neared the elevator. In the back of her mind, Cam realized having blue guys dancing down the hall was a bad sign. She shut her eyes for just a moment. Yep. Dizzy and seeing tie-dye colors on the back of her eyelids. She took a deep breath—hoping more oxygen would help.

Cam didn't dare look at Reb, or it would take her attention away from walking. She just kept one foot in front of the other and let him guide her down the hall. Part of her was worried that she couldn't see another man in front of the elevator. She saw a silver stand holding a sign in front of one door. Then remembered Reb said something about his other brother doing maintenance on the elevator. She hoped it worked. She didn't think she could walk much further. And she certainly couldn't handle stairs.

Swallowing, Cammy realized her mouth was dry. Her stomach growled. Long and loud. The sound made Reb chuckle. He turned her into the elevator, where a bright purple alien wore an outfit that reminded her of overalls. He used a rag to rub a spot on the wall. The other brother slipped in behind them. Cammy grinned when she got a glimpse of his cherry-red face when the hood fanned open.

Not sky-blue. So, were all twenty of them different colors?

She must have asked out loud because all three said, "Yes."

She laughed as she sagged against Reb. Before she could even attempt to straighten, he scooped her into his arms. Then whispered, "It's okay. We've got you. The hover isn't far."

Cammy smiled. She let her body rest, but kept her eyes open. The elevator stopped in what she assumed was the basement. The halls were dark, but her rescuers didn't seem to care. She couldn't see a damn thing, but evidently, they knew where they were going.

In just a few moments, they were in front of another door. The purple maintenance brother went first, slipping out for just a moment. Then the red brother opened the door and Reb took her into the night air. She took a deep breath. The air was sweet. Like they were standing in a field of flowers.

Alien flowers. She wanted to see that, but she couldn't keep her eyelids up. "Tired," she whispered. Hearing a soft slide and a snick, she assumed they were at the hover and another door.

Reb tightened his hold for a moment and said, "Sleep. We're safe right now. I'll find something for you to eat."

Grinning, Cammy turned her face into his neck and sighed when his spicy scent replaced the flowers.