Drasus

Idid not mean to hurt her. The veil between asleep and awake is far too close and while I was battling the Belek, Coral was there.

My reactions were entirely wrong, and before I could stop myself, I struck her square in the chest. I don't feel anything as I leap across to her, unable quite to catch her, but I'm by her side just as her head hits the floor and her beautiful eyes close.

It's then the pain hits me, searing through my body like I've been injured all over again. It rips my chest, my heart, my abdomen, and there is nothing I can do other than curl around Coral and hope I haven't killed her. I try to listen for her heartbeat, but blood roars in my ears. I try to feel her warmth, but I'm burning up.

At least until there's something cool on my brow and at my lips. I suck at the moisture like a Sarkarnii starved.

"Slow down, you're okay. You're okay." Coral's sweet voice makes me pry my eyes open.

"You're here!" My voice is hoarse.

"I am. Thank you for your help." She gives me a slow, easy smile.

Somehow I'm back in my bed and the place looks just the same as it did before…

"What happened?" I rasp, my throat raw.

"Yes, you did kick the shit out of me, which was my own fault, and you did come to my rescue, at the detriment of your own health," Coral says shaking her head, refilling the goblet from a pitcher.

"I…what?" I'm staring around, attempting to remember what happened, hating how my brain is slow.

"Drink." Coral tips the goblet up to my mouth and crisp water flows past my lips.

I take the container and swallow all of it down, spilling a little but not so much I care. I gasp for breath when I finish, and my flight lungs burn at me.

"Maybe not so much," she says with a wry smile. "Too late now, I guess."

I put the goblet down and reach for her face, tracing my finger down her cheek which is smooth and silky under my touch.

"Did I hurt you, little flame?"

Coral's eyes don't leave mine, but her hand rubs at her chest.

"A little, but not as much as you might have hurt yourself by coming over to me. You're thirsty because you were burning up for a bit once I got you back in bed."

Immediately anger rolls through me like the winds back on the plains of Kaeh-Leks.

I hurt my female! I injured her because I am weak.

My hand drops away. I close my eyes, hating every aspect of myself.

"I'm sorry," I hear myself mutter. As if it can mend anything. As if an honorable warrior would ever hurt a female and use such mealy words.

"It's fine. Just a bruise, nothing broken." Coral is attempting to placate the volcano inside me. "And you managed to shift your tail, so it's not all bad."

Her refusal to berate me, to envenomate me for failing to be the male I should be, is entirely wrong. I should be cowering before her, begging to be allowed back into her den, begging her to let me tend her wounds, to fill her, to make this right.

"It is all bad," I snarl. "All of this."

Coral puts her hand on my chest. I feel warmth blooming where her fingers touch me. My neck pulses as she gently strokes my scales.

"It will get better, Drasus," she says softly. "I know Sarkarnii warriors are rarely sick or badly injured, and I understand why, but I'm absolutely sure you're not the first to be in this position, and you won't be the last. You're a survivor. Drega told me warriors with injuries such as yours don't often make it. You have to hold on to what you are."

I open my mouth. I close it again. Exhaustion is overwhelming me, and all I've done is drink water, feel the pain from my destroyed body, and revel in Coral's touch. She says I'll get better, but it doesn't feel like it.

And I have to be strong for my female. I clench my teeth.

"So, if you'll let me, I want to be here to see you return to full health," Coral says. "To be the warrior I know you are."

Inside, a tiny spark tells me this is good, it's right. She knows what I can be, and it won't take long once I can shift for the healing to be complete. Then I can claim her.

But the spark is tiny, too tiny.

"You should go. I'll only hurt you again." I brush her hand away with some effort. "Get Drega or Drelix to see to me. I don't deserve any other assistance."

Coral raises bright, bright eyes to my face. Eyes which seem to glow, a halo of light around her head. My blood is singing in my veins, my tail is lashing with the need to be with her.

"We'll see," she says, something akin to a smile on her face as her hand with the cool cloth returns and strokes over my brow.

I growl but she doesn't recoil.

"You should not be here…" I try to say, but my body is giving up on me once again.

"Too bad. You're not getting rid of me now," she replies as her pretty face winks out of sight.