Chapter 6

Brexl

“Ugh! Brexl.” I woke to the sound of my name being muttered like a curse. Taylor was not pleased with my actions, that much was clear.

I kept my eyes closed as she stomped toward me and laid the fur gently onto my sleeping form.

“You’re awake, aren’t you?” There was a clear tone of annoyance in her voice.

I opened one eye to find Taylor looking beautiful in the morning light. Her dark hair was tousled, her lips pursed, and her hands on her hips.

“Only if you wish for me to be awake.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.

“I wished for you to stay put and sleep with the blanket last night.”

I sat up and leaned against the wall. When Taylor kept staring at me expectantly, I just shrugged my shoulders.

I would not apologize for my actions. Taylor’s safety was my number one priority. It was an honor to protect her, and an honor I took very seriously whether she liked it or not.

“You’re impossible,” she sighed again. “Well, did you at least get a good night’s sleep?”

“It was good enough.”

“Would you like to get some more sleep?”

“No,” I grunted. If Taylor was awake, I would like to be awake as well.

“Well, then let’s eat breakfast, then start making our way to the caves on the beach.”

I nodded my head. That sounded like a good enough plan to me.

Later that morning, Taylor’s plan proved easier said than done. The pain in my side had not diminished as much as I had hoped. Every movement I made while climbing down the rock face sent pain shooting up and down entire body.

By the time we’d made it to the shallow water, I was panting and holding my side.

“You’re looking pale. We should take a break.”

I shook my head and stood up, trying not to wince as I did so.

“I’ll be fine.”

“For fuck’s sake, Brexl. Can you let yourself relax for one second? It’s okay to rest when you need it, and you need it.”

Taylor looked so small as she stood before me with her hands on her hips and her black hair whipping around her face in the wind.

“Sit!” She pointed to a nearby boulder, and I did as I was told.

Taylor sat next to me and looked out at the horizon.

“Have you ever been injured like this before?”

“Yes.”

“And what did you do then? Did you rest while you healed?”

She turned to face me, expecting an answer. She was stunningly terrifying. I should not fear anything on this planet. I was the fiercest hunter on all of Valo Prime, and yet Taylor’s piercing gaze stared me down like a storm wishing to remove me from its path.

“I did what I had to do.”

“So the answer is no. I’m assuming you pushed yourself too hard, just like you’re doing now.”

I said nothing. She wasn’t wrong.

“Why, Brexl? You deserve to rest. You saved me yesterday. You put your life on the line for mine.”

“I can’t.” I grunted as I stood up from the boulder.

Taylor was in front of me in a flash, pressing her small pointer finger to my chest. “Why?”

“My ability to protect the dekes is all I have to offer. What good am I, if I can’t do that?” I bit out and she flinched.

I gently pushed her finger off my chest and started to limp toward the beach.

Taylor silently came up beside me and looped my arm over her shoulders. Walking became much easier with her support.

“You have much more to offer than your strength and protection.” Her words were barely above a whisper, but they were loud enough to pierce my heart.

“I disagree.” I replied in a soft tone to match her own.

It made me uncomfortable that Taylor saw me as more than a monster. I wanted to correct her. I wanted to explain that not even my sire wanted to be with me. But I enjoyed the light in her eyes when she looked up at me, and I didn’t want to diminish her joy by convincing her she was mated to a beast. I wanted to be more. I wanted to be everything Taylor thought I was.

After a slow, painful walk through the dry sand, we made it to the back of the beach where there was a set of three caves nestled at the bottom of a small mountain.

I suggested we stay in the far cave, which is where Taylor helped me walk, and I slumped against the wall as soon as we were inside.

Taylor sat next to me and set the pack on the floor.

“Let’s just rest here for a minute,” she sighed, clearly not wanting to get up again. I had no argument against that.

After a short time, Taylor got up again and announced, “I’m going to go looking for some forage-able food. You stay here.” She emphasized her statement with a pointed glare.

“I won’t be gone long. We’re close to the forest, so I should be able to make quick work of gathering some mushrooms and nuts.”

She stood up and closed her eyes against the cool breeze of the fall air. After taking a deep breath, she nodded to herself and set off toward the tree line, and when I was sure she wouldn’t be able to see me, I set off after her.