by S. E. Smith
Ben’s face hardened as he stared down into the pain-filled eyes of his younger brother. They had been through so much together. He refused to believe he could lose him now that they had a chance at freedom.
“I promise, but you better listen to me,” Ben ordered in a low voice. “We are going to get through this just like we’ve gotten through everything else that has happened to us. I can’t…” He stopped to breathe deeply when his throat tightened in fear before forcing himself to continue. “I won’t lose you, Aaron. I won’t.”
Aaron’s eyes closed. “I love you, Ben. I haven’t told you that in a long time, but I want you to know,” he whispered before his head fell to the side as he lost consciousness.
Ben looked up at Evetta. She was holding tightly onto the grip bar with one hand. Her other hand held an emergency medical kit. Tears glittered brightly in her eyes, but none fell. Instead, a look of determination crossed her face.
“Hanine says several fighters were deployed,” she informed him. “She told me to tell you to hang on. She is taking us through the remains of an asteroid that Behr’s starship must have shattered. There are many large fragments from it. The fighters will not be able to maneuver as well as the transport through the debris. Is he dead?”
Ben barely heard the strained question she asked at the end. He shook his head before he nodded toward the medic kit. He needed to stop the bleeding. He was applying pressure, but could feel the blood still seeping out of the wound.
“No, give me the kit. I’ll take care of him and make sure he is safe while you help Hanine. Don’t tell her yet,” he advised. “She needs to stay focused on getting us the hell out of here.”
“Of course,” she replied and handed him the kit. “Please… do not let him die, Ben. Hanine acts tough, but this would kill her. I cannot lose her.”
“He isn’t going to die,” he said in a fierce voice. “Go help your sister.”
Evetta nodded and turned, almost falling when the shuttle jerked sideways. Hanine yelled out from the front for Evetta. Ben gazed after Evetta as she hurried to help her sister before focusing his attention back to Aaron.
He silently cursed when he saw the deep cut to Aaron’s side. He hoped it hadn’t cut any major arteries or organs. Pulling the medical kit toward him, he worked frantically to save his brother’s life.
*.*.*
Aaron floated in and out of consciousness. He vaguely heard Ben’s curses. Pain exploded through him, sweeping him back into the darkness.
Images floated through his mind. He rushed the large warrior that he was stalking when the male heard Ben’s attack on his partner. His blade struck true, slicing across the male’s arm as he raised his pistol to fire at Ben’s unprotected back during his struggle with the other warrior.
What he didn’t expect was for the warrior to recover so quickly. The man had dropped his pistol, but he swung around with a long blade in his other hand that Aaron did not see until it was too late.
They struggled, gripping each other’s arms in a battle for survival. The large male shoved Aaron backwards, causing him to trip. As he fell, he kept his grip on the man’s arms, pulling him forward with him. The warrior’s blade sank deep into his side as his knife pierced the man’s chest.
It was only his determination to get to Hanine that gave him the strength to pull the blade from his flesh. He had clamped his hand over the wound and staggered to his feet.
Now, he tried to focus on Ben’s voice. He knew they were still in danger. He wanted to stay conscious in case Hanine needed him, but the pain was too much. After a few feeble attempts to remain conscious, he felt the cold press of an injector against his neck. Ben was determined to shield him from the pain. A small smile curved his lips as the medication swept through his body.
Always the protective big brother, Aaron thought before giving into the sedative.
Chapter 10
“He’s getting worse,” Hanine whispered in despair, looking up at Ben and Evetta.
It had been almost two weeks since they escaped from the Disappearance. They had spent almost a week hiding in the asteroid belt. It took another four days to reach the Kardosa Spaceport. Evetta had secured a rundown apartment in one of the lower decks. It was the best they could do since they were short on credits. Evetta was working with one of the local ‘traders’ to sell the stolen battle transport.
“He needs a doctor,” Ben said in frustration. “We have no more medicine and his wound is infected. If we don’t get help soon, he won’t make it. I am going to see if I can find one.”
“No, it is too dangerous for you to go out,” Evetta said with a worried frown. “I have not seen any others like you before on this Spaceport. You will draw too much attention.”
Hanine glanced up briefly from where she was sitting on a battered chair next to the bed before turning her gaze back to Aaron. She brushed the damp cloth across his burning forehead. Fear, sorrow and exhaustion swept across her face before determination set in.
“I will find a healer for him. I will not let him die,” Hanine vowed. “Evetta and I will go,” she said, rising from the chair. “We will return with a healer, even if we have to kidnap him. I am the only one who knows how to use the teleporter to return here. I’ve had to do some modifications to the program so it is not detected by the Spaceport’s security grid. I may have to tweak it some more in case they have updated their codes.”
Ben growled in frustration. “I don’t want either of you out there! What if someone from the Marastin Dow sees you? They are still looking for you. They don’t know about me,” he insisted.
“You are too unusual and you do not know what to look for, we do,” Hanine said stubbornly. “I need you to care for Aaron until I return. Do not let him die! We will be back shortly.”
Evetta gently placed her hand on Ben’s arm when he opened his mouth to argue. She waited until he looked down at her before speaking. She smiled up at him reassuringly. Hanine was right; only they knew what to look for. They had been to Kardosa several times over the last six years. It was one of the few times they left the warships they were assigned to.
“She is right, Ben. You would attract the attention of slavers. We have been here before. We have a good idea where to find a healer and can return in a short time,” Evetta murmured.
*.*.*
Ben pulled Evetta into his arms and tightly held her against his body. Despair washed through him; fear of being captured and using most of the credits they had to secure a room left little for food. They were starving. The little they had was spent on medication for Aaron. They fed him the few nutrient drinks that remained from the survival gear recovered from the transport.
“Promise me you’ll be careful,” Ben muttered, rubbing his cheek against the top of Evetta’s head. “Please. I don’t think I could stand to lose you and my brother.”
He sighed heavily when he felt Evetta’s arms wrap tightly around his waist. She squeezed him to her before pressing a kiss against his neck. Leaning back, she stared up at him.
“We will return. I promise. Let us go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we return.” She sighed as his arms reluctantly fell away at her promise.
“Hanine, do what you can,” Ben said, taking a step back. “Just… be careful… both of you.”
“We will,” Hanine murmured. “I will mark the other room for our return. It is best not to use the teleport unless it is absolutely necessary. The security on the station will be able to pick up the disruption to the energy grid if I use the program. I do not want to use it if possible.”
Ben nodded as both women pulled on dark cloaks. He knew from looking out the small, dirty window that they would blend in with the other residents of the Spaceport. Evetta checked the outer corridor before whispering to her sister.
Once they were outside the door, Ben walked over and touched the panel to lock it. A low moan from the other room drew his attention to the dire situation they were in. He wasn’t sure if Aaron would make it t
hrough another day if the women didn’t find a healer.
*.*.*
“Evetta, look!” Hanine hissed out frantically from the narrow entrance between two stalls in the crowded marketplace.
Evetta’s eyes widened when she saw what Hanine was pointing to. A slender woman with very unusual coloring was walking down the overflowing corridor of the Spaceport.
“She is just like our husbands,” Evetta muttered in an excited voice. “She will know how to heal Aaron.”
“Wait!” Hanine bit out. “Look at her! Look at who walks by her side.”
Evetta studied the pale female for a brief moment before letting her eyes move to her companions. She grimaced when she saw the two huge Valdier warriors. Not only were they dragon-shifters, these two were identical, making them a lethal opponent. Twin dragons were known to be virtually impossible to defeat in battle. On top of that, if the warriors and their dragons didn’t kill you, their symbiots would.
Evetta’s eyes moved to the three large golden creatures that walked near her. Frustration and despair fought with each other as she saw their one chance of saving Aaron’s life slipping away.
“What are we going to do?” Evetta asked.
“We follow them and wait for a chance to take the female,” Hanine responded in a hard voice. “I will not lose this chance to save my mate’s life. It is a sign from the Goddess that she is here. She has the healing gold on her. It is not enough to attack us, but it may be enough to heal Aaron. She is like him and it has not killed her. She can make it heal him.”
“What of the others that are with her? They will kill us the moment we approach her,” Evetta replied with a worried frown.
“We will teleport back to the apartment before they can. Let’s go, they are moving again,” Hanine said, moving without waiting to see if her sister followed her.
She refused to lose this chance to save Aaron. She would do whatever was necessary, take any chance, if it meant saving his life. If she didn’t and he died… her mind shied away from the thought.
The Goddess would not give me this sign if she did not want my Aaron to live, she thought as she weaved between the other pedestrians looking for items in the teeming marketplace.
*.*.*
Hanine stepped into the bar first. She and Evetta decided it would be less noticeable if they split up. She stepped through the front entrance of the tavern a few minutes after the small group entered while Evetta went around and came in through the back. They would take separate seats as well. Most species knew that Marastin Dow traveled in groups; not so much for their own safety as they were not usually safe with each other, but because they would not attack a stronger species without the support of numbers.
Hanine shook her head when the tall, red-skinned waitress started her way. She ignored the sneer on the creature’s face as she shrugged and turned instead to wait on two Tiliquas. These small two headed reptilian species were known for their business skills.
She glanced at Evetta who took a spot in the far back corner near the lavatory. Her eyes turned back to the two large warriors. She refused to think of the other three males that had joined the small group. She ignored the old male and the young boy who also looked like her mate. They did not have the same appearance of power as the woman.
She worried her bottom lip. Three Valdier warriors and their symbiots would be impossible to defeat. If the males and their symbiots didn’t kill her and her sister, once they shifted to their dragon form there would be no stopping them.
“What are we going to do?” Evetta’s voice echoed in the small communication earpiece she was wearing.
“I don’t know,” Hanine admitted under her breath. “Look! The Twin Dragons are leaving!”
“Yes, but the gold creatures remain by her side,” Evetta muttered in frustration.
Hanine watched as her sister turned her head and acted like she was adjusting the boot on her left leg when one of the Twin Dragons walked by her and out the back entrance. She released her own breath when the other walked by her without looking in her direction. In truth, he looked angry and distracted. She wondered briefly if the small male had upset them from the look of dismay on his young face as he watched first one then the other Valdier warrior leave.
Whatever had happened, Hanine was thankful. She watched as the barmaid brought out their order and placed it on the table in front of them. A moment later, the female’s face turned a sickly pale color that reminded Hanine of Aaron’s face when Ben stitched up his side the first time.
“Now, Evetta,” Hanine hissed. “She goes to the lavatory.”
Hanine rose and casually walked by the table. Her heart thundered in her chest when the two werecats and the large ‘dog’-shaped creature turned to follow her for a brief moment. A pang of longing hit her hard. She knew what a ‘dog’ was thanks to Aaron. He had made a small one for her out of the paper he had created. He said it was to protect her when he couldn’t be with her. He told her a dog was faithful, loving, and protective, and it would always remain by her side even when she wasn’t very nice.
“Oh, Aaron,” Hanine whispered as tears burned her eyes. “Please, hold on for me.”
The door to the lavatory opened as they waited in the dark passageway. Hanine watched as the female’s eyes widened in surprise before rolling back in her head as Evetta sprayed the last of their sedative spray in her face. She glanced over her shoulder as Evetta wrapped her arm around the unconscious figure.
Within seconds, she heard the remaining Valdier warrior yell out at the same time as the huge golden creature shimmered and changed its shape from the dog to a huge, very angry Werecat. Gripping the tablet in her hand, she pressed the command to teleport them back to their apartment. Things blurred for a moment as their surroundings faded away.
Chapter 11
Ben jumped when Hanine, Evetta and a third figure suddenly appeared in the small living area. He paled when he recognized the familiar human features of the woman in Evetta’s arms. Rushing forward, he carefully picked the unconscious woman up in his arms.
“I thought you were getting a healer! You said there were no other humans on this Spaceport,” he growled as he walked through the doorway into the second bedroom and gently laid the woman down on the worn, but clean, covers. “What have you two done?”
“She is like you,” Hanine cried out defensively. “Look at her! She will know how to fix Aaron. She was with the dragon shifters. She wears their gold.”
Ben glanced impatiently at Hanine before his eyes caught Evetta’s worried ones. “What does their gold have to do with anything? Can we use it to pay for a healer?”
He watched as Evetta glanced nervously toward the door in the other room then through the window. Something was wrong. He could feel the tension flowing off of Evetta as she glanced down at the walkway before finally looking at him.
“No,” she replied softly. “Their gold is a living thing. It is magic.”
“It can heal Aaron if she tells it to,” Hanine said desperately. “Please, it can save him. She can save him. Please, Ben. I cannot… I cannot lose him.”
Ben glanced helplessly at Hanine. Silent tears slid down her face where fear and exhaustion had cut deep lines around her eyes and mouth. He turned to gaze down at the unconscious human female again. It had been so long since he had seen another human that she looked more alien to him than Evetta did.
“Alright,” he agreed tiredly. “But I think I should be the one to explain. She might listen to me.”
“Thank you,” Hanine whispered, brushing the tears from her cheeks. “Aaron, is he…?”
“The same,” Ben admitted. “Maybe a little weaker.”
Hanine’s face crumbled but she didn’t make a sound. He watched as she quickly turned and hurried into the other room where his brother lay. He jerked when he felt a slender hand on his shoulder. His eyes swept upward until they locked with Evetta’s dark, worried eyes.
“I hope she can help us. It is very dangerous
for us to have her here. It will not be long before those she was with find her,” Evetta said heavily. “If they do, they will kill Hanine and I. The Valdier have no love for the Marastin Dow.” A bitter laugh escaped Evetta before she leaned wearily against Ben’s side as he wrapped his arm around her. “No species cares for us, including our own people. When they come, stand away from us and do not try to stop them. They are too powerful. I do not believe they will harm you or Aaron.”
Ben rose and pulled Evetta into his arms. He pressed a hot, powerful kiss to her mouth. He groaned softly at her desperate response. Tangling his fingers in her hair, he pulled her head back until she was forced to look up at him.
“I will protect you with my life. I won’t let anyone harm you or Hanine as long as I have a breath in my body,” he vowed. “If they come, we will handle it together.”
Evetta’s eyes softened. “I love you, Ben Cooper. You are a strong and noble man. I thank the Goddess each day for bringing you into my life.”
Ben chuckled as he brushed another kiss across her upturned lips. “One day I’m going to be able to give you a proper home. A place we can call our own. A place where we can live without fear.”
“A place where we can raise our children without fear or pain?” Evetta asked hopefully, desperately wanting the image to hold onto before the Valdier appeared.
Ben paled a little at the idea of children before he shook his head in amazement. He never thought of becoming a father. Hell, he never even thought of becoming a husband. Warmth flared deep inside him as he gazed down at Evetta’s hopeful look.
“Let’s get the home first, then we’ll talk children,” he suggested. He turned his gaze down to the still figure. “Something tells me she is about to wake up. Go check on Hanine. I’m worried about her.”
