53. Drasuk

53

Drasuk

I'm bleeding from multiple wounds, but so is Xar'Ar'ax, despite his better levels of protection. Armor only protects you so much and it also slows you down.

I've fought him hundreds of times in mock battles, so I know he has lost his edge. Whatever he's been doing out in the universe, it hasn't been a challenge.

I thought he couldn't sicken me more, but living a soft life after killing Nkisa and all the others of our clan somehow seems like the ultimate betrayal.

I realize I've been dragging the fight out for my own revenge when I hear Ree scream out Kira's name, terror infusing her voice.

A moment later, I use the latest of the dozen openings Xar'Ar'ax has given me to dart my spear forward into the small space left between his armor and his throat. I don't even bother to let any satisfaction flow through me to see his life blood pumping out of his heart or the surprise in his eyes.

I turn and sprint toward Ree's screaming. Thivoll is still trying to dart his tail at the belly of the large green drak, having to pull it back hastily to avoid the swings of the drak's giant axe. I push aside all thoughts of fair fighting and grab onto his green arms just long enough for Thivoll to envenomate him.

I leave the screaming drak to Thivoll's sharp claws, panicking when I see Ree pushing at Mar'cte's dead body. It only takes a moment to realize Kira must be underneath of him and my heart skips a beat as I speed toward them.

"Move!" I bellow out at Ree, giving her a moment to scramble away before I shift to where she was and lift the drak up and fling his body away.

The ragged breath Kira drags in, followed by coughing and pained keening, are the sweetest sounds I have ever heard.

Her throat is bleeding, and I would guess by the way she is simply laying there crying out in pain that she has broken bones, but she is alive.

Ree is back over, pushing against me to get by. "Oh my diety, Kira. I thought you were dead."

Ree's voice sounds broken, but her movements are practiced and her hands are steady as she checks Kira over. I move forward again, sure I can better care for Kira, but Thivoll's hand on my shoulder stops me.

"She's a healer. Let her do her work."

I look back to Ree and notice she already has wound spray in her hands, misting it across Kira's throat, and then is working to slow the terrifying flow of red blood pumping out of Kira's neck.

"Sit down, Drasuk," she barks out at me, and my body instantly complies.

The pool of blood continues to grow. Surely someone so small can't afford to lose so much?

"Fucking nanites!" Ree yells out, using her weight to push down on Kira's neck so hard I'm concerned she might kill her. "Work!"

With the fear rises the self-loathing. I was playing in my fight with Xar'Ar'ax while she lay here dying?

Never again, I vow to myself.

If she lives, I will never again let my inattention put her at risk. If I continue to run straight into fights, she will run into them with me. Always by my side, no matter the stupidity of the risk.

No more.

All these years, wanting my revenge, and it is simply a cold weight on my chest. Empty and useless.

An image of Kira's eyes empty of life makes me bellow out my grief. I feel a furred limb reach across my back, then Thivoll's mane and side are pushing up against me as he sits next to me and embraces me from the side.

This is why drakonids do not bond, but I have no regrets.

"Do not lose hope yet, Maj'Ra," he rumbles. "Your mate is strong."

Ree sits back and for a moment I am convinced it is because she has given up.

"She is, and the nanites have apparently healed her jugular . She'll be weak, but I think she's going to live."

Thivoll is purring now, and I don't feel the least bit embarrassed when I return his embrace, the surge of hope making me fling off any last vestige of pride.

"What happened?" Thivoll asks Ree. "I notice you are not in a tree, as promised."

Ree turns to him, her lighter colored face flaming a bright red. Nothing like the beautiful flush that spreads across Kira's darker skin.

"He launched her off the rock and was about to kill her. I jumped out of the tree."

Thivoll makes a hacking sound. "You are terrified of heights, which is why I thought you would actually listen. Foolish of me."

She's looking at the blood on her hands now, then moves her gaze over to Mar'cte's body. Her control instantly crumples, and I recognize the look on her face as grief and horror.

"I-I used my venom on him, Thivoll. It gave her just enough time to kill him, but then I couldn't get him off."

She's shaking now and Thivoll leaves me to go embrace her instead. "You did well, Ree, no matter what your body is telling you right now."

She looks up at him. "This lust pumping through me isn't right, Thivoll. It's sickening, considering what I just did."

I'm confused for a moment, then I remember that Ree has a softer heart. She is mourning that traitor, not that he deserves it.

I shake off the thought as I move over to Kira, needing desperately to touch her and feel the steady rise and fall of her chest. Her eyes are closed, and I need them to open again and pin me with one of her looks that promise murder.

I ignore their murmuring for quite some time, just watching her breathe, thankful she is still with me.

Someone speaking my name pulls me out of my trance. "We will patrol the area so nothing can reach you," Thivoll is saying. "There are supplies in that pack."

I look over to where he is pointing and nod dimly, once again no longer concerned to suddenly be acting far too human.

Why would using one of their expressions diminish me?

I have been foolish.

Ree speaks. "Once her manticorid scales shift to cover the wound, you should move her into a hot spring, but pick one that is only a little hotter than her body temperature. I don't know if he damaged her back, but there isn't much I can do about it anyway if he did. Just lift her carefully to keep it as straight as possible."

"I will," I tell her.

She comes over and places a small hand on my arm, and it helps pull me out of my daze. I look over at her, seeing her in a new light.

She's even smaller than Kira, with no evident training as a warrior, but she risked her own life to save my bond mate.

Now I see what Kira knew from the moment they met. She has the sort of focus a leader needs, and I lack.

"Thank you," I tell the two of them. "We brought this threat to you, and you did not flinch. I am honored to offer what help a Maj'Ra can, if you will take me."

She grins. "Of course we helped, Drasuk, and I'll take all the help I can get in return. It'll take everyone we can get to find the other women and protect ourselves."

I return to staring at Kira as they move away for their patrol. This time my eyes are trained on the slow shifting of her black scales. Urging them to close faster so I can do something useful.