* * *
"I cannot believeyou're pushing me on a bed." Bianca wrapped her arms around herself. The desert was cold. The sun hid behind the eclipse and kept the light low as they traveled. There was a breeze, but it wasn't harsh. Just enough to occasionally make the sand swirl. She had a blanket around her, but it probably wasn't enough protection from the elements, but it was the best they had.
Getting her to proper medical care would be the best course of action.
"There's a first time for everything," Eleanor said. She walked next to the bed and reached over to touch her hand. Bianca squeezed her hand back. It was hard to be sure if she was getting stronger or not. Eleanor wanted to think that her grip was better.
It had exhausted her, attempting to get her out of the crashed ship and situated so that Harbin would be able to push her on the repulsor bed.
They were under a time constraint, and they needed to get to the ships. Hopefully, Jedriek had found a vessel and had it prepared for them. She was sad he wasn't with her, but he was doing his part. They had an objective and a goal.
And she trusted the others. Bianca and Veta trusted these other Rhimodians, so Eleanor felt comfortable trusting them as well.
She glanced at Bianca again, a brush of guilt running over her. In a way, this was her fault. Eleanor had encouraged Caoimhe to pursue the peace talks. If anything happened to Bianca, then it would be both sisters who lose. Bianca was the only mother they still had.
Harbin touched Bianca's shoulder, an intimate touch. At least it looked that way to Eleanor. She glanced at him, then back at Bianca, who touched his hand with hers.
"Bianca," She glanced back at Harbin. "Is this, the uh---"
"Shh," she said and smiled.
Even not feeling well, the sparkle was in her eyes, and Eleanor knew it had to be the same boy who'd been making her smile before the trip.
Though one look at Harbin, and he wasn't a boy, by any stretch. Like the rest of the cyborgs, he was sizable. At least a head taller than even Veta, who was the tallest girl in their group. Both Wrathin and Harbin were about the same size, and they both were strong. Whether it was the metal gauntlets and the enhancements or just their size that made them large, they were huge compared to Terran men.
Or any humanoid, honestly.
She also realized that Jedriek was huge, even for a Rhimodian.
Much bigger.
Her cheeks got hot, just thinking about all the parts of Jedriek that were bigger. Because all his pieces were larger. And he used them well."
"We met before," Harbin said, jarring Eleanor out of her thoughts. "When she came to look over everything."
"Oh, I see," Eleanor said, patting her cheeks if that would make the blushing go away. "How fortunate you helped rescue her."
"Fortunate." He guided the repulsor bed ahead. The tech was part of the survival gear that Veta had packed in all their bags. Just in case of an emergency. It was the best option they could find to transport her with the least stress on her physical form.
Bianca grabbed her hand. "Princess Eleanor, are you well?"
Veta paused and looked back.
"You're flushed," Bianca said. "Are you needing help?"
"Do not worry about me," Eleanor said. "You need your rest, don't fret about me. I am fine." She patted her face.
"Are you okay?" Veta asked, coming over to her. "Need water?"
"No. I. No. I'm fine," she said, biting her lip.
"Eleanor?" Bianca said. "Maybe you should have some water. You look, well, you look--"
Veta's eyebrow went up. "Are you well?" She handed her a water pod.
Eleanor accepted. "Truly, I am fine. I just, my mind wandered, that's all." She downed the water to convince the others that she was okay. Though really, even in the cool air, she was starting to feel a little flushed. Maybe she did need a drink.
How did Jedriek do that to her just by thinking of him?
