“Sometimes necessary matters more than fair.” He picked her up, holding her tightly enough she could feel the warm spark of his energy core. “If you won’t keep your life in your hands, then I’ll keep it in mine.”
CHAPTER 44
Cassie
Cassie woke up to the overhead lights on. Örim had replaced his eyestones and was sitting next to her, folding a wire creature with his hands.
“How was your sleep?”
Cassie stretched. Her body was sore, legs full of the dull ache of not moving very much for an extended time.Not enough.
“You could go back to sleep.”
Not with the lights on.
“Should I turn them off?”
Cassie shook her head and pointed to the creature in his hands.What is it?she asked.
Örim held it up to the light. “It’s supposed to be an ivök, one of the native organic species on Teös, but unfortunately, I think it looks more like S’samph.”
Her hands covered her mouth, but the laugh escaped anyway.You should give it to him.
“I suspect it wouldn’t be received well. I’ll try again.” He set the creature down on one of the pillows. “Eleri will be here soon. Do you want to eat something before or after she arrives?”
After.Cassie’s whole head felt like it was filled with dust. Her wrist ached. The last thing she wanted to think about was a power struggle over another protein bar. A knock on the door drew Örim’s attention as he hurried to open it.
Eleri and S’samph came in together. Cassie could feel the air in the room grow heavy. If this was just a medical visit, Eleri would have come inside by herself.
S’samph’s shoulder was bandaged, and there was a fresh cut along the side of his face. His frill was flattened against his spine.
“What happened to you?” Cassie asked.
“Later,” S’samph grumbled.
“Good morning, Cassie.” Eleri checked Cassie’s stitches and administered the next doses of painkiller and cell regeneration booster while S’samph and Örim spoke softly in the corner of the room.
Finally, once Eleri finished Cassie’s medical care, she took an audible breath. “We have some news. It’s not good. S’samph should probably tell you.” She sucked her lower lip between her teeth. “Cassie, I need to know that you’ll be safe if we tell you.” Eleri rewrapped her wrist in fresh bandages.
“Our cells aren’t equipped to hold a cyborg. The Aviarist has escaped.” S’samph’s tail lashed as he spat out the news, and Cassie took in his injuries with fresh eyes. Eleri frowned as she grabbed S’samph’s hand.
“You’re going to rip your stitches.”
“F’fret my stitches, Eleri.” His words were harsh, but he didn’t pull away from his mate’s grasp.
“I’m not kidding, S’samph. I know they hurt.”
Everyone was angry. Cassie just felt small. The Aviarist was here, and he was making plans that involved her death, mostlikely. She should be terrified, but it seemed so obvious. Of course, this wasn’t over. He was out there. Hunting her still. The reality of her situation punched through the hollowness of her chest.
“What’s the plan then? He can’t infiltrate my security systems. The shields are plasma charged. He’ll be electrocuted if he tries to get in here without access permissions.” Örim rubbed at his wrist nodes as he addressed S’samph.
“Simple. You and Cassie will remain here until he is contained. We’ll have supplies brought over so you don’t have to leave.” S’samph turned to Cassie. “And you will refrain from harming yourself.”
“S’samph, we talked about this.” Eleri sighed and rubbed the space between her eyebrows.
“She is not a hatchling. She can understand my words.” He turned back to Cassie. “Do not harm yourself. It is troublesome for everyone, and your mate will suffer. K’kaen is no stranger to battle wounds, and he was disturbed.”
“Sorry,” Cassie said, but she couldn’t meet S’samph’s piercing gaze. The idea of snarky, stoic K’kaen being disturbed twisted her stomach. Eleri looked like she was ready to throw something at her mate.
