The kids hurried up, and the three of them helped Malsum to his feet. He was a little unsteady but was able to stand without help.
“We need to hurry. I can’t believe no one has come to investigate the noise already.” His voice was a little distorted, probably from the swelling around his mouth and jaw.
“You’re not wrong,” Han said, casting the loud, angry men a last glare before looking down at the kids. “Are you guys okay to run?”
“Yes,” they chorused, Lirsum’s bloody face as startling as the handful of adult quills Rishmun was clutching.
Han pulled Malsum’s arm over her shoulder. “Which way?”
“I don’t need help,” he said, but didn’t pull his arm away.
“Don’t make me get sassy with you, young man,” she snapped. “Which way?”
“Forward then right,” he said and leaned some of his weight against her.
They all moved together.
“We’ve got this,” she said. She really hoped that was true!
Chapter 18
Zephrum
In an effort to distract himself, Zeph had made tea for everyone. Then made another round. He was on the third when the hatch opened and bodies tumbled inside.
“Shut the hatch!” Han shouted from somewhere in the pile.
Despite the urgency in her voice, Zeph moved to her instead of the hatch display. Rensom was next to him, pulling two bloody children out of the pile. That revealed Han. Zeph sounded a soothing rumble and grabbed her.
“You came back!” he said, holding her tight against his chest. His scent glands swelled, and bonding oil dripped down his cheeks.
“I was always going to come back,” she said, cupping his cheeks. Her hair looked mussed and a little tangled, and there were smudges of dirt on her face and clothes. Other than that he didn’t see any damage and only smelled a hint of blood on her.
“I was scared,” he whispered.
Using her hands, she drew his face closer to hers. “So was I. I won’t tell anyone if you don’t.”
Then she pressed her lips to his. He opened his mouth and fell into the kiss. All the anxiety, worry, and frustration drained out of him. His world narrowed down to only Han.
“Zephrum! Han!”
By the level of annoyance, it sounded like Sandar must’ve been trying to get their attention for a while.
Han made a sad sound and ended the kiss. If it was up to him, he would keep ignoring his sister.
“You should put me down,” she murmured with obvious regret. “We need to get out of here. There might be some Talins on the planet that would love to get their hands on me.”
“And press charges against me,” a strange voice said.
Setting Han down, Zeph faced the stranger. To his surprise, it was a male adultlette. He looked a little battered and was sitting on the floor with one leg stretched out in front of him. The plates of his lower leg had separated a little from swelling. It must’ve been painful to walk with his leg like that.
“I’m sorry, Malsum,” Han said, moving around him to kneel on the floor next to the young male. “We left those guys alive, so you can’t go back. You’ll have to come with us.”
Malsum sounded a soothing rumble. “After watching you in a crisis, I’d follow you anywhere, Human Han.”
“Just Han,” she insisted. “I don’t leave friends behind. I can’t promise you a prestigious career if you come with me, but I can guarantee you’ll never be asked to act against your conscience again.”
“That’s all I ask, Han. Thank you.”
