Khyron's Claim

by Rayna Tyler

  A well-placed kick to the leezacorr’s midsection would knock it off the ledge. I wasn’t willing to risk ending up with more gashes or have it dig its claws in at the last minute and take me with it. Fortunately, I’d gotten in a slice of my own, catching it near the shoulder. It growled and paced, acting wary, but keeping its distance.

  It wasn’t until another creature appeared on the opposite side of the ledge that the first one got more aggressive, and started inching closer. Both creatures snarled and hissed in a back-and-forth banter as if they were communicating with each other. Simultaneously, they rose onto their hind quarters, and I knew what was coming next. My heart pulsed, and I gripped my blade tighter. “Khyron, if you have any suggestions, now would be the time to share.”

  “Aim for the throat,” Khyron said, just before he dropped through the air and landed on the ledge next to me.

  With a precise and graceful swipe of his sword, he took off the leezacorr’s head. The second the dead creature hit the ground, the other one released a guttural noise similar to a high-pitched scream. While the creature’s attention was focused on the downed leezacorr, I sliced with my blade. The cut wasn’t as clean as Khyron’s sword, but it ended the creature’s life, which, along with getting off this ledge, was all I cared about.

  Khyron leaned forward and glanced over the edge, then returned his focus to me.

  He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off. “If you’re going to tell me you told me so, don’t.”

  “I would never…” His expression might appear innocent, but his smug tone said otherwise.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “I was going to say we should leave before more leezacorr arrive.”

  “And how exactly did you plan on doing that?” I was grateful he’d shown up when he did, but he was also my only way to the top. Now we were both stuck here with the possibility of having to fight more of the disgusting creatures.

  “Zyrdena.” I glanced up at Zaedon’s voice and saw him peering over the ledge, grinning.

  “Zaedon.” Shocked, then massively relieved, I smiled back at him.

  “I see you have found a way to get into trouble again. Apparently, the drezdarr and you have quite a lot in common.”

  “Take Zaedon’s hand.” I wasn’t sure if Khyron’s brusque tone and frown were because of Zaedon’s remark or because he’d called me little princess rather than use my name. He didn’t give me a chance to act on my own. He grabbed me around the waist and lifted me, making it easy for Zaedon to pull me out of the ravine.

  “How did you know where we were?” I asked Zaedon once my feet were back on solid ground.

  “Garyck and I came across the chonderra’s trail, the creature you call Fuzzball, along with that of a child. We were concerned there might be a problem when the tracks headed in this direction and decided to follow.” He reached back over the edge, then tossed the two leezacorr carcasses on the ground next to me.

  My instinctive need to protect myself by slicing first and worrying about what I killed later or, in this case, swinging and jumping back about a foot, had Zaedon laughing and me ready to smack him. “Not funny.” I slid my blade into its sheath, then tucked it into the back of my pants.

  When Khyron reached the surface, I asked, “Why didn’t you leave those disgusting things down there?”

  “Their meat is excellent and good for eating. Garyck would be angry if he learned we had wasted them.”

  An image of the grumpy ketaurran grunting his displeasure popped into my mind, but when I glanced around to see if he was listening, I didn’t see him or the others. “Where did everyone go?”

  “Garyck took Rygael and Melissa back to Harper’s place so Vurell and Nayea can take care of his wound,” Zaedon said.

  “I am glad you are unharmed.” Khyron pulled me into a tight hug, then slowly released me. He noticed the claw marks on my arm, and his smile quickly faded. “Zadierra, why did you not tell me you were injured?” He took my wrist and examined the cuts with more scrutiny.

  I’d been so busy trying not to get killed that I’d forgotten all about the cuts on my arm or how much they still throbbed. “Khyron, it’s not that bad.” The bleeding had stopped, but not before coating my skin and making the injury look a lot worse than it was.

  “It is, and I will not risk you getting an infection. I have seen what happens when an animal wound does not receive immediate medical care, the illness it can cause, the result sometimes fatal.”

  The next thing I knew, he swept me off the ground and carried me in the direction of Harper’s place. Khyron might have grown up on the planet and be more knowledgeable about the creatures living here than I was, but I still thought he was overreacting. “Khyron, I can walk.”

  “No.” He tightened his grip.

  With tension rippling through his body, I decided now might not be a good time to argue with him.

  Zaedon had grabbed the bodies of the leezacorrs and had no problem keeping up with Khyron’s pace. Over the last couple of weeks, Zaedon and I had gotten to know each other fairly well. He knew I wasn’t thrilled about being toted around like a child’s precious toy. His smirk implied he was enjoying my displeasure way too much and irritated me even more. I decided to show him how much I didn’t appreciate his smug attitude once I got Khyron to put me down.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Khyron

  When Celeste tensed in my arms, I was certain she planned to continue arguing with me for overreacting to her injury and carrying her all the way to Harper’s place. At the moment, I did not care. I was angry at how close she had come to being severely injured by the two leezacorrs. Had Zaedon not arrived when he did, she could have been hurt a lot worse. Her going down to help Rygael had been the right choice, and, if I was thinking logically like a drezdarr rather than emotionally like a mate, I would not be acting this overprotective.

  It did not help that Zaedon had used every opportunity possible since entering the wooded area to taunt me about my reaction to the situation. His teasing annoyed Celeste immensely, if her tight grip on my nape was any indication. I feared what would happen to my friend once I released her and she decided to reach for her blade.

  Because of my quick strides, we reached Garyck and Rygael shortly before they arrived at Harper’s place. Rygael, his arm draped over Garyck’s shoulder, was limping, using his uninjured leg to support the majority of his weight.

  The door at the rear of the building swung open, and Harper burst outside, then froze when she saw us. “Melissa said a white guy saved her from…” Her gaze locked with Rygael’s, and she gasped. “Oh, I’m…”

  Harper’s shock did not last long once she noticed the belt secured around Rygael’s leg and the dark stain beneath it. “Garyck, follow me. You can put him in my room.”

  Harper pointed at the leezacorrs in Zaedon’s hand. “Those things can stay out here until you’ve skinned them or whatever it is you do before they can be cooked.” She held the door open until everyone was inside. “It’s this way. I already sent Ben down to Burke’s to get Nayea. She should be here any minute.” She hurried ahead of Garyck and Rygael, then led them down a hallway to my left.

  “I think it’s safe to put me down now.” Celeste wiggled her hips when I did not comply immediately.

  I kept my hands on her waist even after I lowered her feet to the ground. Keeping her close reminded me that she was alive and minimized my stress. I was not sure if I would ever reach a point where the painful thought of losing her all over again did not continually hover in the back of my mind.

  Thankfully, she left her knife tucked safely in the back of her pants, but the glare she leveled at Zaedon was almost as deadly as the blade’s sharp edge. “If you don’t stop teasing Khyron, I’ll tell Cara why you’re always sniffing her.”

  I did not think Zaedon’s eyes could get so wide. “You would not dare.”

  The ability to detect the unique scent belonging to our ketiorra was not information readily known by the
humans. Celeste was aware of it because I had shared the information with her.

  “Wouldn’t I?” Challenge sparkled in her dark-cinnamon eyes.

  I could fight my own battles, yet I straightened my shoulders, proud my ketiorra cared enough to come to my defense. Maybe my overprotectiveness did not bother her as much as I thought.

  “And you…” She poked me in the chest. “Just because I’m defending you doesn’t mean we aren’t going to have a discussion later about your bossy behavior.”

  I had never heard anyone use the word bossy before, but by her annoyed expression, I assumed it was not good. I also did not think now was the time to have her explain its meaning, and decided to wait until we were alone, preferably near a bed in case I needed to seek seductive means to temper her anger.

  Zaedon chuckled, seemingly unconcerned by Celeste’s previous threat. Or at least he was until she jerked her head and narrowed her eyes in his direction.

  Before I could insist that Celeste let me take care of her wound, Ben raced into the room from the front of the dwelling, with Melissa and Fuzzball jogging closely behind him. Both children skidded to a stop as soon as they saw us.

  “Hey, guys,” Celeste said to the young ones. If she heard Zaedon’s overly loud sigh at being spared her wrath, she did not mention it.

  Melissa smiled at me, then anxiously glanced around the room. “Where’s the white guy?”

  “His name is Rygael, and he is in the sleeping chamber at the end of the hall,” I said.

  “Great, thanks.” Melissa motioned for Ben to follow her, then took off running again.

  Laughter echoed from the corridor, and a few seconds later, Garyck appeared, frowning more than usual. “I will collect the leezacorrs and prepare them for eating.” He stopped when he reached Celeste and me, then grunted. “Are you aware your female is injured?”

  “Yes, I am aware.” And had there not been so many interruptions, I would have taken care of it already. “I will have Nayea look at it once she arrives.”

  “Good,” Garyck mumbled, then, without saying another word, he headed for the door leading back outside. I was not insulted by or worried about Garyck’s quick exit. In all the years I had known him, being social was not something at which he exceled. The things he had endured during the war made it worse, and being around a lot of people made him uncomfortable.

  “I’m pretty sure I can take care of it myself,” Celeste said, trying to pull from my grasp. My intent to assist her was delayed by Nayea and Vurell’s arrival.

  “Who is in need of our assistance?” Vurell huffed. “It is hard to understand the young ones when they are excited.”

  Nayea shook her head at Vurell. “I had no problem understanding them. Perhaps if you cannot communicate with children, you are too old to be administering medical care.”

  Harper walked into the room with her arms crossed. “The patient is the ketaurran male who lives in the caverns outside the settlement. His name is Rygael, and you two can finish arguing once you’ve taken care of his wound.”

  It appeared there was more to Harper’s temperament than I imagined. The female wielded her tongue the same way a warrior would their blade. She also had an underlying sense of humor and flashed Celeste a wink, one that Vurell did not see.

  “My apologies, Harper.” Vurell somberly bowed his head. “Please direct me to this male.”

  “Nayea.” I stopped her by touching her arm. “Before you attend to the male, would you mind taking care of Celeste’s injury?”

  “I will be in to assist you shortly,” Nayea said to Vurell before he entered the hallway.

  He adjusted the large bag strapped across his shoulder. “I do not require assistance, but you are more than welcome to observe.”

  Nayea snorted, then lifted Celeste’s wrist for a closer look. The blood had crusted, but the skin around the cuts had swollen and appeared redder than the last time I examined them.

  Celeste rolled her eyes at me. “It’s nothing.”

  “These look like claw marks. What did this?” Nayea asked.

  “A leezacorr. Why?” Celeste asked.

  “Because the risk of infection from this kind of injury is serious. Why did you not wash the wound immediately?” Nayea’s tight-lipped glare started with Celeste, then ended with me. “Never mind.” She dismissed any answer either of us would have given with a wave of her hand. “Follow me into the cooking area so I can clean the cuts and apply some healing salve.” She placed her hand on Celeste’s shoulder and urged her from the room.

  Even if it meant losing some of the ground I had gained with Celeste’s forgiveness, I should have insisted she let me tend her wound. Weighted with guilt for not taking better care of my ketiorra, I followed the females.

  After Celeste and I took a seat at the table, it did not take Nayea long to clean and apply a salve to her cuts, then wrap them with a sealing cloth to protect the wound. “She needs to rest tonight and must not exert any energy.” Nayea stared at me when she spoke, her insinuation that I refrain from undressing Celeste when I shared my bed with her later quite clear.

  “Brew this and make sure she drinks an entire cup before going to bed.” Nayea handed me a packet containing dried plant leaves. “It has healing properties to prevent infection, but will also make her sleep.”

  “Thank you, Nayea.” Celeste stood and gave her a hug.

  Had I missed something? Was there a reason Celeste chose to argue with me but not the older female? Until I could determine the reason, I thought it wise to follow Celeste’s example. “I am grateful as well.”

  “Now, if you will excuse me, I must ensure that Vurell has not damaged Rygael.” Her gaze glistening with mischief, Nayea exited the room.

  Celeste giggled. “Vurell has no idea what he’s in for.”

  “You may be right, but it will do him good.” I pushed thoughts of the cantankerous male out of my mind and welcomed Celeste into my arms.

  “And what would do you good?” She slipped her arms around my neck, then playfully nipped my chin.

  I grinned, content that she was no longer angry with me. “I can think of many things, but for now, a kiss will have to do.”

  ***

  Celeste

  Harper had been more than a little overprotective of Rygael and didn’t want to leave him unattended, so I’d convinced her to let us gather at her place and help out by cooking the evening meal for the children. Her sleeping chamber was on the opposite end of the building, so hopefully, any noise we made wouldn’t disturb Rygael.

  Besides Laria, Sloane, and me, Khyron and the vryndarr had also agreed to help out. Burke and his males had other things to do and couldn’t make it. Cara had delayed her trip to see her grandparents because she’d been spending time at the trader’s market searching for additional transport parts, but had declined the invitation. Zaedon was also absent, and, if I had to guess, had followed Cara and was doing his best to irritate her.

  I had no idea where Vurell and Nayea went after they’d taken care of Rygael. Other than the children and Fuzzball, Vurell and Nayea had been the only other people who’d been allowed into the room to see Rygael. I knew Khyron wanted to speak with the male, to learn more about what happened with Travis and personally thank him for rescuing Melissa. He’d decided to wait until Vurell and Nayea were finished, which had taken longer than we’d expected. No doubt because they’d been arguing about the best way to treat Rygael’s wounds.

  When they finally emerged from the room, Nayea told us the injury on Rygael’s leg had been bad and required sealing. She also informed us he had been given the same healing drink she’d insisted I take later and would not wake until morning.

  Now that we were all seated at the long dining table and the meal had been served, it took me a few minutes to push the images of the leezacorrs out of my mind in order to take a bite of the meat Garyck had prepared. “I had my doubts about whether or not I’d be able to eat this, but I have to admit, it does taste delicious.�
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  Garyck, seated across the table from me, responded with one of his usual noises. I thought for sure the compliment would elicit a hint of a smile, but so far, Sloane was the only one who’d been able to change his somber demeanor. Sometimes it was hard to tell if there was a mutual attraction between them or if he enjoyed sparring with her.

  “I don’t know why he should get all the credit.” Only Sloane would be brave enough to tease Garyck about his cooking, then snatch a piece of meat off his plate. “You would have burnt it if I hadn’t helped.”

  “Little one.” Garyck wrapped a protective arm around his plate.

  “What?” She triumphantly held the piece of meat in the air. “You need to learn how to share.”

  Either I was getting used to his growls, or they didn’t sound as menacing as they did when we’d first met. Melissa, who was sitting on Garyck’s other side, giggled. It seemed the gruff ketaurran didn’t intimidate her either.

  Laria sat to my left and nudged me with her arm. “Yeah, I think he’ll make someone a good wife, I mean mate, someday.”

  She and I both stared at Sloane and grinned. Red spread across our friend’s cheeks. She started choking and reached for her drink, then glared in our direction, which I understood meant we could expect future retribution.

  After the laughter died and everyone settled back into finishing their meals, I turned to Khyron, who balanced a sleeping Draejill on his lap while he ate. It was adorable to see the massive warrior with the little guy’s tail wrapped possessively around his leg. “Are you sure you don’t want me to take him?”