4. Runar

4

Runar

Bringing her to our training room, grunts fill the air as beings fight with each other. Constantly sharpening our skills for the promise of future battles, this room is never empty.

If one wants a challenge, someone will always be here to accept.

Now and then, I’ll find myself in this part of the ship. Sometimes, I sit back and watch while waiting to point out weaknesses. Other times, I put use to my fists to make sure I’m not falling behind.

This room is also a way to help pass the time—those feeling a little stir-crazy use sparing to burn off some steam and frustration from being trapped on this small vessel.

Before our home planet no longer became habitual, my kind thrived in the wild. From hunting for our meals to plucking herbs for healing, we never had to depend on all of this high-tech equipment surrounding us. We lived free without any threats holding us back.

While generations have passed for my kind since abandoning our old lifestyle, the need to be free runs deep in our blood.

As comfortable as our new home is, there’s no denying the itch to get out of this metal box.

Jax takes in the room with an impressed nod. Her mouth curves into a smile when she sees the different weapons lined up along the wall. All made for close combat.

“I do not think so.” Before she can even ask to get one, I lead her over to the corner of the room. Far away from anything sharp. She may be distracting me with that glint of excitement of hers, but I’m not stupid.

She’s skillful with a gun, but I don’t have a clue about where her talents are when it comes to knives and swords. This woman will slit my throat without hesitation. She’ll grin while doing so too.

Painting too vivid of a picture in my mind, I run a hand down my face to keep my face blank. I don’t acknowledge the stir forming deep in my chest.

I will not allow a female human to make me feel anything but disgust.

Deflating, she rolls her eyes and ignores the attention our arrival has garnered. Hitting the mat, she does a stretch. Her hands lift high and the edge of her shirt teases pale skin beneath. It’s a different tone compared to her arms and legs.

All too naturally, my eyes follow the flutter of her clothes. Catching myself before I take in the dip of her navel, I search for something more interesting while cursing under my breath.

“Will you be sore when you lose again?” Clearing my throat, I ask the taunting question as I wait for her to be ready. Knowing this is going to run very similar to her attacks in the interrogation room, I plan for this match to end quickly.

My fingers curl at my sides. I don’t want to hurt her, not even in a sparring match she’s encouraged. She’s so soft, so easy to break. I hardly trust myself to take this match seriously.

In the back of my mind, there’s this pesky little voice encouraging me to humor her. To flatten her small weak body against the mat and make her admit her defeat.

“Your confidence will be your downfall.” Hissing the words, she positions herself in a stance and pulls me away from my disturbed thoughts.

“Your determination to be victorious will be the very same.” My lips curve at her glare. “Come at me with everything you’ve got, Human.”

She’s not the type to beat around the bush either. The moment the words leave my lips, she’s throwing herself in my direction. Quick as a predator in the wild, I struggle to follow her movement.

However, her method is useless. She’s like a mere pebble being tossed at a solid brick wall.

Dodging most of her hits, I’m surprised by the few that land. As much as I want to tease her about the light sting of her hits, I keep the taunts on the inside.

This is meant to be a way to let off some steam. I don’t want her to believe we’re truly fighting. If she holds this loss against me, I’d hate to consider what murderous thoughts will be roaming her thoughts as she continues planning my downfall.

Catching her boot in an attempt for a swift kick, I tug at her body so gravity is no longer in her favor. She’s weightless, crumpling toward the mat beneath us the moment she loses balance.

Tackling her to the ground, her growl fuels me. Even now, she refuses to cave and admit this battle is mine. All because she hates losing.

I take one hit to the shoulder but I hardly feel the sting. Snatching one hand at a time, each of her gasps fills me even more.

“Give up before I accidentally hurt you.” Pinning her wrists above her head, the order comes through my teeth. Leaning toward her, I bare my fangs. It’s a natural reflex.

Most creatures would be smart to submit and call it quits. Not this one. Her will to fight burns hot in her blood. Rather than feeling irritated, I feel the same fire burning hot inside my body.

Despite wanting to warn her, my words only fuel her anger. Even though she can’t free her wrists, she tries to lift her knee and hit me where I’m weakest. With a swoop of my leg, she growls out in frustration when another one of her limbs becomes pinned.

I’m smirking even though I shouldn’t. There’s nothing better than being victorious in a fight, even in a sparring match.

Leaning down, my chest rumbles in delight as she curses me. I’m starting to familiarize myself with the phrase motherfucker . She likes to call me the term more often than not, and it’s hardly coming out politely. I’ll have to ask her what it means when she’s not ready to spit fire.

I’ll have a long while before that chance comes my way.

“Are you ready to admit defeat?” Leaning forward, I watch the way her brows come together in frustration.

She tries to free her hands but my grip on them is too tight.

“Fuck!” Declaring her anger, her chest rises and falls with every rushed breath. She’s exhausted herself in a matter of minutes.

So weak, I want to laugh.

However, once I’m getting a closer look at her flushed body, any hint of amusement dries up on my tongue.

Her skin is glossy with sweat. I can practically hear her pulse racing. Pupils dilated, she returns my stare with a glare of her own.

Her lips move, threats coming out. I don’t hear a word. I’m too focused on each swallow of her throat.

The voice in the back of my mind grows louder, demanding to take this woman.

This human.

I don’t think. I lean dangerously low, enough where she could easily headbutt me if she pleased. I can’t think.

Breathing in her sweetness, the rumbling in my chest grows deeper. When she curls, my golden gaze rests on her throat once more.

Temptation .

There’s a thump in my chest, heavy and quick. I realize it’s my heart picking up in speed. Jax’s scent makes my mouth water and every inhale brings me closer and closer to losing myself. Taking in her flushed skin with a dazed blink, an unfamiliar growl falls from my lips.

I don’t recognize myself. I can hardly even hear my thoughts now. One word is louder than the rest.

Mine. Mine.

It’s not until my fangs are about to graze her throat that I realize what I’m doing. When I pull back in surprise, one moment of weakness is all it takes before a fist comes crashing against my cheekbone.

Falling back on my ass, the sting is hardly registered. I’m left staring at Jax, watching the way she shakes her hand as she fights to catch her breath. Her knuckles are pink from the contact.

What just happened?

I’ve never experienced something like this before. For a short moment, I lost control of myself.

This human. I wanted to taste her. Not like some predator who wants to enjoy a meal after a fight. Rather, like a being discovering a delicious fruit for the first time.

I wanted to sink my teeth into her and claim her as only mine to taste.

“Don’t tell me you can only handle one good hit.” She scoffs from offense as she curls her hand for another punch. The anger from her expression soon slips away when she notices my lack of fight. Shifting to stand, her brows lower. “Runar?”

Looking down at my glistening dark skin, I scowl when I discover how quickly my body has responded with my mind.

My cock is not only stiff beneath my pants, but it’s throbbing. Aching for something I never want.

For a brisk moment, an answer crosses my mind. An explanation to the invitation of my downfall.

It’s too impossible to entertain. A human woman couldn’t possibly be my Rhis . Even if she can throw a punch when I’m caught off guard, she’s weak in comparison. My opposite in more ways than one.

“Oh my god, I actually knocked the sense out of you, didn’t I?” She walks over to me and offers a slim hand. “I’ll accept this loss. Next round, we need guns to see who can best who.”

I’m tempted to grab her hand, pluck her down onto my lap and continue what I stopped only moments ago. However, with so many others inside the room, I don’t know if I can stop myself a second time if I get my hands on her.

Even if she takes it as an insult, I swat her hand away and move to my feet. Clearing my throat, I shift a few steps away. I can’t think when her scent is wafting through the air.

“I only use my fists.” Hardly recognizing my voice, I look elsewhere.

Jax nods, taking in my hands. “I assumed as much. You can tell a lot about someone’s hands. Seeing as yours are covered in scars, you must use them a lot.” Much to my dismay, she steps closer and grabs one of my hands. “Despite your healing ability, you are marked. Why is that?”

Nostrils flaring, I snatch my hand back much to her dismay. The warmth radiating from her touch is hot enough to leave me burned. “You can ask your sister when you see her.”

The confusion in her eyes is like a punch to the gut. Just when I get to see an emotion that isn’t associated with anger and the intent to kill, I fuck it up by losing myself a bit and acting like an ass right after.

I need to take Jax to the medbay so she can understand where I’m coming from. Show her what her kind has done to my people.

Grunting, I jerk my chin toward the door. Putting my arousal to the back of my mind in hopes it’ll go away unnoticed, I’m moving toward the door. “Let’s take a walk. We can spar again in the future.”

Probably somewhere with less of an audience. I can feel eyes pointed in our direction. Too many curious pairs. Somehow, I forgot that we weren’t alone in here.

I almost gave everyone a show. Big mistake on my part. That’s not something I should risk letting happen again.

I can’t help but shake my head at the thought.

If I get Jax beneath me again in an empty room, what is going to stop me from continuing what I started earlier? The temptation to taste her continues to pick and poke at my willpower even now. I’m a danger to this female and she doesn’t even have the slightest clue.

Jax doesn’t put up a fight in changing locations, but she does give an odd look. If she thinks I’m going to leave her alone with all these different alien species who may want her dead, the thought is all it takes to make her rush to catch up with my steps.

Leading her toward another new part of the ship, I keep three feet between us. Anything less is unacceptable.

At the arrival of the medbay, the stench of death makes me grimace. It’s the perfect distraction I need, even if it’s an unwelcome sight before us. While I’m not one to ever turn down a fight, the sight of my men meeting their makers is a different story.

Jax takes in the beds. While there are rooms attached, too many bodies are suffering. We need as much space as we can get.

Brushing my side on accident as she takes a step forward, her body feels stiff. Her eyes search and I can see the confusion forming a mile a minute. She has questions and I have an idea of which she wants to ask first.

“This doesn’t make sense.” She’s taking in the groans of pain, seeing the outcome of our fights in person. Repeating the words softer, she looks at me. “Your kind can heal. Why are they dying? I’ve wounded your kind before and they heal instantly. This is…”

Her words fall as she looks back toward the sight.

My brows lower as I take in her foreign expression. Expecting some false act of ignorance, I’m surprised to see the pure confusion. Even as our enemy, she doesn’t like the view either.

“You really don’t know?” My frown grows as she shakes her head. “Your healer, your sister, has poisoned us. We need her to undo what damage she’s caused. Every poison has an antidote and she is the one who knows how to reverse this damage before we lose even more of our kind.”

She jerks as she looks away. Denying my words, she shakes her head. “My sister is a doctor. She has a whole code to live by about healing people. She’d never purposely cause harm.” Her frown reappears. “Flora isn’t to be blamed for this.”

There’s no point in pointing the finger. No matter who made the poison, people continue to die. This fight will continue as long as more lives are taken.

With every death is a promised casualty for humankind. Blood for blood. This fight will never end unless this poison is taken care of.

Walking in deeper, a distraction pulls us away from an approaching argument. Our head healer rushes about to free up a room.

“Shinara.” Gaining her attention, I see how antsy she’s become. “What is happening?”

“We’re making space.” The pink-skinned healer clears a table. “Reports came from Varrum. The human-”

Jax stiffens up at my side. For a brisk moment, I see it. Hell, anyone can sense the fear on her face if they look close enough.

I want to silence her before she can finish her sentence. It doesn’t take a genius to piece together an assumption here.

“Is she alive?” Jax asks, her voice strangely calm. I feel her fingers snake around my wrist. Her nails pierce my skin and I’m not sure if she knows she’s doing it or not.

Shinara glances in my direction before she looks at Jax when I give her a nod. Taking us both in, her mouth curves into a small smile. “She is breathing, yes. For now, anyway. However…”

I feel the sting of her hold. From the stillness of her body, I don’t believe she’s breathing.

“You could help,” Shinara offers. “We don’t know much about humans. If you were to help fill our database even slightly-”

Jax is abandoning my side without a second thought. It’s impossible to not notice the lack of heat stolen away.

“I’ll do anything for her.” Her brows lower and her jaw tightens. “However, if this is a ploy to look for our weaknesses-”

Shinara tilts her head, curious when I step forward and clamp a hand over her mouth to stop another threat of death from leaving her lips.

Jax is fond of making such threats. Just as she’s not afraid to bite me for touching her without asking.

“Don’t do that again,” she hisses under her breath.

For a moment, I’ve distracted her enough to make the fear leave her eyes. I have to say, it’s not a good look. I prefer the rage.

“We should get started. They can arrive any time now, and I want to be ready when the time comes.” Pulling some equipment into the room, Shinara urges Jax to take a seat on the table.

Pulling myself away from her side, I decide the best thing to do is give both women some space.

Jax may try to take advantage and take our head healer as a hostage if it means getting off the ship.

However, after seeing the way she reacted to the update on her sister, I don’t think I have much to worry about. Not when she’s more worried about seeing the other human again than seeking her escape.

Heading toward the door to wait on the other side, Jax calls out for me.

“Stay.”

Surprised by the command, my body listens to her demand before I realize I’ve stopped.

“No offense, but you’re the only one in here I know is in no rush to kill me.” Scoffing under her breath, she eyes the healer. “I don’t want her to get scalpel-happy.”

Something inside me shifts, something pleasant. “You trust me?”

As if she hadn’t realized it herself, her skin growls flushed. Twisting around, she sits down on the table Shinara prompts her toward. “I don’t want to kill you as much as I did before.”

The healer says nothing, working on gathering her machines. However, I feel her curious glances. She’s not used to people talking with such loose tongues when I am near.

To think this woman wants me around. I’m unfamiliar with such a satisfying sensation.

Moving so I’m out of the way, I rest against the wall. Crossing my arms against my chest, I watch as Jax peels away her jacket. Resting it at her side, I’m too focused on the exposed skin.

Her sister, though our meeting was brief, she looked quite different. Unmarked.

Jax is damaged. Scars litter her skin from many battles. Both pink and white lines wrap around her arms, some looking fresher than others.

They remind me of the very same scars that stain my skin. White lines that should not be etched into my flesh.

Hard to think about my curse when Jax is getting poked and prodded by the healer.

I snort when fear forms at the sight of needles. Earning myself a glare, I keep my commentary to myself.

Beneath my humor is this itch to stop what is happening. Her fear is something I feel deep in my chest. There’s this need to protect, even in the matter of being poked with a needle or two.

Back and forth, Shinara gets whatever results she needs. She’s terrible at hiding her thoughts on her expression. Each time she types away, she shoots one of us a look.

Jax hardly notices. She’s picking at her nails, her attention on the ground.

“We share the same blood type,” she brings up after a few minutes. “If Flora needs blood, take as much as you need. Something tells me you don’t keep human blood on board. My crew, I’m sure some of them could help as well.”

Even now, she only thinks of her sister. If humans had our healing abilities, then things would be different. She wouldn’t have to be worried about wounds.

Shinara asks to do a more thorough examination. Her curiosity about learning about different species is starting to poke through.

“Flora,” Shinara repeats as she looks into Jax’s mouth, “ingested Varrum’s blood on her way here.”

I was not made aware of the fact. Stiffening up at the deadly action, I’m surprised by our healer’s calmness.

“She was not poisoned, interesting enough.” Murmuring to herself, she moves on. “I’m starting to believe humans are more compatible with Medarians.”

Jax snorts, nearly choking on the stick resting against her tongue.

So humans can poison us all they want, but we can’t do the same in return. How cruel.

“If they aren’t infected by blood, it leaves me curious about how their bodies would respond in other matters.” Shinara pulls back. “Tell me, Human, how do humans reproduce?”

Jax does choke on the stick this time and I stiffen up. Hissing the healer’s name, she looks at me confused.

“Your kind is dying and we’ve yet to find a species who are compatible enough to help the inevitability of your species being wiped from the universe. With your abilities, it would be a waste to not entertain all-”

“ Shinara. ” Practically growling her name, it’s enough to stop the words from coming.

Jax is flushed, refusing to look in my direction. “This hardly sounds like a question that will help my sister’s survival.”

Shinara sighs, nodding her head. “I apologize. Call me curious. When it comes to Flora, I believe I have everything I need. If we do need more of your blood, I will signal for you.”

Once she’s clear of equipment, Jax quickly scoops her jacket up and joins my side. Her cheeks remain stained pink. Why won’t she look at me?

I don’t know where to lead her. More endless walking leads us out of the medbay. She’s the one to stop us this time around. With the view of the stars beckoning her closer, her lips purse.

“You’re not just fighting us, but time as well.” Her nose scrunches. “All we’d have to do is wait for your downfall.”

Rather than mocking me with the truth, she states it hollowly. With a similar thrill for battle, I’m sure she doesn’t like any form of shortcuts to win.

“No one has ever mentioned a poison. Someone in my position would know. If Flora was involved, she would’ve told me.” Her brows come together. “There were kids in there, Runar. Kids .”

War is ugly. No one is protected from the harshness of it.

Seeing her in pain, seeing Jax upset, I feel it deep in my veins. Deep enough that it catches me off guard. Almost like I can feel it brush against my very soul.

My thoughts go back to that sparring match. How I lost myself for a moment.

Shinara’s concerns of compatibility cross my mind and I curse myself for even thinking of entertaining the idea. A human . Could a weakling even try to keep up with one of us?

“Flora will fix this,” Jax promises, “she’ll make this right.”

Humming my agreement, I keep my eyes on her. As if the answers to all of my questions can be found somewhere on her body, I take in every inch.

Jax isn’t like the rest of her kind. She’s the sort to put up a fight and challenge me every step of the way.

She’d be able to keep up with me. There wouldn’t be another of her kind to come close.

“What?” Feeling my stare, she snaps her agitation.

“I grow more and more curious about you, that is all.” Admitting the truth, I fight the urge to touch her, to satisfy my curiosities.

From her sweet, intoxicating scent, to the lack of wanting to see her meet her demise, I have too many questions to ask.

What if we are compatible enough for this one in particular to be my Rhis, my mate?

That healer has done nothing but put ideas in my head. Ones that sound too good to be true.

Ones I don’t want to catch myself entertaining.