17. Tan

17

Tan

My heart thunders as the healers run toward me with instruments and scanners in hand. I do not know why Skylar had objected to one of the healers, or which one, but her reaction to the sedative had been immediate and severe.

Sabotage?

"Away!" I order. "All except Ehan Healer Dah'rausen."

"But—"

I growl, baring my teeth as my wings come forward, shielding my mate. Skylar is so fragile in my arms. So still.

"Go," Ehan Healer Dah'rausen says, and the others stream out. Whatever injection the Ehan Healer gave Skylar seems to have steadied her breathing, and the horrid red flush over her skin is fading.

"What has happened? Why was she poisoned?"

"The gel is designed to not cause irritation. There is no record of a human having an adverse reaction to it, but we have not had contact with her kind in five generations. It is possible our records are wrong. Or it is a quirk of this human's physiology." He calls up another platform. "This is clear. Lay her down. We will need to monitor her vitals closely."

The scanner forms around Skylar as I lay her in the hollowed out platform. She looks so frail, her blond hair a mess, and her lips pale. "Will she survive?"

"Her condition is stabilizing," the Healer says, looking at the schematics. "It does not appear as though the gel affected her lungs, and her brain activity is normal."

"For a human, or an Asheraah?"

The Healer hesitates, and the rage re-ignites within me. He steps back, raising his hands. "As close to what is standard for her kind as I can understand."

Her breathing has evened out and she seems calm. There are no physical signs of pain, or distress, and her vitals are solid.

"Why did she have such a violent reaction?"

"The effects are unclear. It could have been the substance, or it could have been the mix of medicines we gave her. We will need to do more tests.

"Understood. But we will not be—"

The door chime sounds, and a group of my senior officers, led by Subcommander Quayl stride in. "Raiva," he says with only the barest nod of courtesy. "They informed me that the human had an irregular reaction to the test." He glares at Skylar on the bed. "And yet there is no guard on her. No—"

"Skylar did not fail the test. She had an allergic reaction to the sedative."

"Allergic reaction is it?" Quayl hisses, his eye ridge lifting. His nostrils flare, and his hand drops to his knife. "Or has the human tricked us all. "

"Skylar tricked no one." I step between my third and my mate. "She had an allergic reaction."

"A convenient allergic reaction."

"Enough, Quayl. The test is inconclusive. The healers are going to do a more thorough examination to discover the cause of her reaction. Once it is safe, we will move forward."

"In the meantime, she will remain free amongst us?"

"In the meantime, the healers will determine the cause, and she will remain here, with me, under guard."

"With all due respect, Raiva," Quayl says, stepping toward me. He is tall enough, his head level with my shoulder, and a lean mass of corded muscle. While I train more, he is said to be more cunning. Were we to come to blows, either of us could walk away victorious, though I do not doubt his intention is not just to win but to kill. I will have to keep an eye on him.

"We cannot permit a Gice Kohath aboard our vessel, under any pretense."

"Skylar is not a Gice Kohath. "

"We do not know that for certain. She is the ship's bounty, and as Raiva, you claim authority over her. But she is not your mate—"

"She is mine," I growl, my temper a frayed thread.

"This human has poisoned you," Quayl says, and though his eyes are black as the void, there is no emotion in his voice, his expression is flat, cold. "She is manipulating you. Surely, even you, Raiva, can see this."

I am done with Quayl's insinuations. His near insubordination.

"Step down, Quayl," I whisper. "You will not harm her."

"I do not intend to harm her." His voice silky smooth, and his expression mild, he asks, "Is not the safety of our ship and crew most important to you?"

It should be. I would not put my crew in danger, but with Skylar, my judgement has been clouded. Everything about her feels right, and it would be too easy to lose myself in her. To risk everything.

I feel, in my soul, the rightness between us. Just as I know Quayl's assertions he speaks only to protect the crew is not the full story. He's always wanted power, though he keeps it under a veil of good intentions.

And he is playing his hand well today. I note the other officers behind him, the Ehan Masg, the Ehan Communications and Ehan Environmental. My Second, Ano, is not here.

Yes, Quayl is playing his hand well.

"Until the human has proven herself innocent, better we keep her under guard. One who has not been… influenced by her." Quayl's lips twitch. "I have a suggestion, Raiva."

My scales feel tight as the rage burns inside. "Make it," I growl, forcing myself not to tear his head off.

"You will continue your command of the ship," Quayl says. "You have the confidence and trust of its crew, and the ship needs its commander. You must not allow yourself to be distracted. But I will watch the human and see that she does no harm to any of our people."

"No."

"Excuse me? "

"I will assign a pair of Masg, but I will not have her alone with anyone." Especially Quayl. He had frightened Skylar. I remember the scent of fear on her, and I refuse to have her alone with him, even with Masg present. "It would be, in your words, problematic."

"Then best to administer the test quickly so we know for certain." Quayl turns to the healer. "Ehan Healer, your patient looks stable. Can we test her now?"

A low growl rises in my throat. "You will not."

"Your over protectiveness of the human is unseemly, Raiva. Until and if this human is cleared, she poses a danger to us all. If you refuse to see that, then perhaps it is time for a new Raiva to take your place."

"Are you offering me an official challenge, SubCommander?"

"If you refuse to see reason, then I have no choice."

"Be certain, Quayl."

"Oh, I am."

"Very well," I hiss, rising to my full height. "So witnessed?"

The Ehan Healer glances at me as the Ehan Masg and our Ehan Environment officer. "So witnessed," they all reply.

"I accept your challenge, Subcommander," I hiss. "You have dishonored me. You have challenged my judgement, my honor, and my command. I will not allow this to stand."

"That's what I was hoping for," Quayl hisses back, his wings extending, a gleam of pleasure in his eye. "The next cycle will begin in six hourmarks. That should be sufficient time for us to purify ourselves in the eyes of the Five Deities."

I dislike the barely masked delight on his face, the scent of anticipation on him. Quayl has always been ambitious, but now, he seems bloodthirsty in a way he was not before.

My gaze narrows, and for the first time, I wonder if, somehow, I've underestimated him. Or missed something else critical. But it is too late now. Quayl has always depended more on cunning than strength. He has neither the skill nor the instinct to defeat me in this .

I turn to the Ehan Healer. "Please, see to her recovery."

The Ehan Healer taps his fist to his chest. "I will, Raiva."

And with that, I take her hand in mine once, giving it a light squeeze before I step away. The priests will be here soon to take us to the cleansing pools, and the preparations for my duel are already consuming my thoughts.

I will return for her, as soon as I have dealt with Quayl. And then, no more waiting. I will ask Skylar to be my mate in truth, and I will bind her fate to mine as mine is already irrevocably bound to hers.