Page 94 of Tempting Fate

“You are lucky kri’ith are tough,” the medic said. “The toxins in duxa blood would knock out many sapients, shaa included. Not all of us would fare as well as you.”

I had never been called tough in all my life. “I do not feel lucky. This is as bad as the first days of withdrawal.”

His small headspines flexed and dipped. “I am sorry. I can give you something for it.”

I waved him away. “Look after Imani. You can heal her, can’t you?” My heart pounded too hard in my chest, my ribs constricting my lungs so much I could barely breathe. When she’d been attacked, I’d never known terror like it. And seeing her like this… She had to get better. She had to.

The tall male twisted his fingers around his shaa-orange elbow spines. “I can keep her comfortable for now, but humans are a relative unknown. I have sent for a medic from town; they have access to more than I do.”

At least he was doing all he could. Somewhere under my fear, I felt a muted pang of affection for this community and the way they cared for all of us.

He tried to usher me to my own bed, but I refused to move from the chair, no matter that my body demanded I lie down and sleep. It was my fault this had happened, my arrogant demand that had sent her storming to the water’s edge, taunting whatever waited there. Blessed Kri, please heal her. She is everything to me.

It felt strange to offer a prayer here, in a place so far from home. I hadn’t fully adopted my daily rituals again, not since I’d uncovered Orith’s deception. I’d once thought them so important, a constant in the day to anchor and ground me. My daily rituals had become visits from a small, dark-haired human, the gift of her smile, and the touch of her hands.

And, Kri help me, her mouth.

But I would not think on that now. The trip to the lake seemed so surreal; only our presence in the medical hut confirmed the truth of it. And now she was hurt. Because of me.

I could still taste the memory of the creature’s bitter blood, its rubbery flesh giving way beneath my teeth in my desperation to tear it from its clutch on Imani’s body.

At my groan, the medic turned from his attentions on her. “Do you need assistance? You are in kalidi, yes?”

“Only with my own foolishness. Kalidi will not return until morning.” I refused to think on what happened then.

I willed myself to stay awake until the town medic arrived, until I heard her reassurances that nebaru treatments should work on humans, that she could clear the toxins from Imani’s body, and that the accelerated healing tech should work on her as well as any other common sapient. She—a being made of more metal than organics, a species I did not recognise—insisted on checking me over too.

I submitted to her ministrations, letting both medics move me to a reclining chair.

I only accepted the sedative once I was sure Imani would be well.

My bones settled, breathing in relief. Kalidi could wait until she was better.

I woke to sharp muscle aches, as though I’d spent a week with my wrestling tutor. Late morning sun streaked through the window slats, and my cock pulsed with the demands of kalidi.

My will is the iron fence to hold stampeding ulth.

I would ignore it.

Imani lay on the bed, in the same position as when I’d fallen asleep. Her arms were no longer marred with terrifying marks, just paler healing lines. Her chest rose and fell in a steady, calm rhythm.

Safe and well.

A huge gust of breath rushed from my lungs, and I took comfort in watching her.

The shaa’ith medic approached, a weary look on his face. “You’re awake. How do you feel?”

“I am fine,” I managed, finally understanding the way Imani used the word. “You have been here all night?”

He nodded—I still couldn’t get used to the way some shaa’ith had adopted that—and sunk onto a nearby bench. “Yes, brother, I will go to my nest soon. I couldn’t rest until I knew you were both well.”

“Thank you.” It was odd to be called brother by so many people who were still near-strangers, but I was beginning to believe that they truly saw me as one of them. I have somewhere to belong.

“Do you wish for me to get you aid?”

“Just another analgesic please. Then go, get rest. You’ve done more than enough.” I offered him a weak smile.

“If you’re sure.”