Chapter 3

Chapter Three

Vennkor

I drift in and out of consciousness, my body heavy with exhaustion like I have never felt before. When I try to sit up, my muscles do not respond to my command. I cannot open my eyes. I cannot smell anything but my own blood. I cannot hear anything but my own labored breaths.

And then suddenly, Nina's cooling hand is on my forehead, brushing a lock of hair off my clammy face.

"You're going to be okay," she tells me, her voice soft. Her breath tickles my ear, and this time when I pull air into my lungs, I catch the faintest trace of her feminine scent intermingled with the smell of my blood.

"Nina—" I try speaking, but my voice is cracked and dry, and I do not know if she even hears.

I think she is holding one of my hands, her fingers laced together with mine. Or maybe that is just the memory of her touch. It is impossible to tell the difference.

When next I try to open my eyes, I think I might succeed, until I realize all I can see is darkness.

Everything is blurry, but at least there is some light now. I turn my head to see Nina sitting beside me. She catches me watching her and leans forward. Her eyes are red and swollen. Her lips are cracked. She is the most beautiful Female I have ever seen.

"Don't try to get up. Not yet."

Her gentle hand on my shoulder is enough to halt my attempts, and I sink back against the hard floor, my head swimming.

"It's okay, Venn." She kisses my cheek. "Take all the time you need to heal. Reke and I won't leave you."

"But … " I do not know what I am planning on saying. All I know is that when I am usually injured, the Hov expect me to be well enough to fight the next day. Surely I have already slept through one night. Surely the lists for today's fights have already been broadcast.

I cannot just lie here. If the floor of my cell is lifted into the Arena and I cannot even stand, how can I possibly fight? And I must fight because I must keep Nina safe.

"Please, Venn. I promise, you have time. Close your eyes and rest again."

I must fall asleep, because when I next surface into consciousness Reke is settling Nina against my side. He is cradling her head in one hand, his claws combing her pale and knotted hair.

"I can get up."

"She is asleep," is all Reke says as he places Nina's head on my arm. He looks worse than I have ever seen him, and his hands shake as he releases Nina into my care.

"Reke—"

"No," he growls. "I will protect her. I will protect her."

"For how long?" I demand, my voice weak. "For how much longer can you keep this up?"

But he refuses to answer me.