Calmed, but not completely gone. He didn’t think it would ever be gone, the need to seek justice for his female.Luxirianjustice, not human justice. That rage would always simmer just beneath the surface.
When Cruxan believed he could control his emotions, he managed to hunt anothervirviraand then walked back to camp. He didn’t know how long he was gone, but when he returned, his female was still in the same position, still staring into the flames of the dying fire.
She looked at him when he returned and Cruxan was reminded of that morning. Lying next to her, with her in his arms…he had never known such peace and contentment. The realization had been startling and he knew it was just an inkling of what could be between them.
“I’m not very hungry,” she said softly. “I think I’m going to go to sleep.”
Cruxan hesitated, but then jerked his head in a nod. He frowned when her gaze darted away and she began to make a place for herself next to the fire.
“Crystal,” he called out quietly.
When her eyes slid to his again, he wanted to tell her a million things, yet he didn’t know how to voice a single one. Not right then. Not when he was barely keeping his emotions under control.
So, instead of telling her those million things, he told her, “Thank you for telling me.”
She didn’t say anything. She gave him a brief nod and then laid down on the hard ground, her back to him, curling in on herself. He felt uneasy watching her. He wanted to go to her, to pull her in the safety of his arms, bury his face in her hair, and assure her that no one would ever hurt her again.Ever. He would never allow it. He would protect her always.
But after what she’d just told him, he figured his touch was the last thing she wanted. She probably wanted her space.
They would talk in the morning. Perhaps then Cruxan would be able to process what she’d told him in full. Perhaps then he would be able to formulate a single sentence.
He had all night to think and that was what he intended to do.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Crystal’s sleep was restless that night and she didn’t dream good dreams.
But she was awakened abruptly, a strong hand on her shoulder. For a brief, confused, groggy moment, she felt a jolt of panic when she saw a large body looming over her…but then she blew out a slow breath when she realized it was Cruxan.
“What…what is it?” she asked when she saw urgency on his handsome features.
“I hear a hovercraft approaching,” he said, his eyes darting towards the sky, though the canopy of the jungle obscured most of it. “We need to get to a clearing so I can try to get the pilot’s attention.”
It was early morning, the sky just beginning to lighten, a frosty chill in the air.
It took a moment for his words to penetrate and then she was gasping, scrambling to her feet, half-asleep but realizing that they could potentially catch a ride the rest of the way toKroratax.
“You go ahead,” she said, knowing he could run much, much faster than she could. “I’ll catch up.”
He didn’t like that idea but she knew that he would be able to hear anything if she was in danger. He knew that too, so he jerked his head in a nod and they both sprinted into the darkness of the jungle, leaving behind their camp, searching for a space where it opened to the sky.
Cruxan was fast. Really, really fast for someone so large and muscular. Crystal was running as fast as she could, but even she lost sight of him sometimes. She was panting and heaving by the time she spotted him in a clearing, craning his head up towards the open sky. He cocked his head, listening for the hovercraft.
When she came to a stop at his side, he murmured quietly, “It’s almost here. It should pass there.” He pointed towards the end of the clearing. “It sounds like it’s flying low.”
Adrenaline was pulsing through her veins given the abrupt start to the morning. But the possibility of reachingKroratax, of tracking Erin days ahead of schedule, was almost too good to be true. She had hope though.
Crystal heard the hovercraft then when she’d only been able to hear silence before. It was mind-blowing how good his senses were, but sure enough, a moment later, it sounded like it was right on top of them.
When it came into sight, Cruxan cupped his hands over his mouth and bellowed out something in Luxirian. And just like Cruxan said, it was flying low. Low enough to see the pilot, a Luxirian male, whip his head in their direction and spot them in the clearing.
Yes!
Relief went through Crystal when she heard the male yell back something to Cruxan, who waved his arm down.
The hovercraft circled overhead, looping back around.
Crystal looked over at Cruxan, a relieved smile on her face. “That was lucky.”
