Page 65 of Protected by the Alien Warrior Triad

“Stop!” I say firmly, and he looks back at me, cocking his head quizzically.

“Isn’t that the amulet Lord Tenderfoot talked about? The one that will let us talk to the Aurelians?” Diana looks at me in confusion, not understanding why I’d want Forn to stay put.

“It is – but that boy must be infected, and if it’s a virus causing the sickness, then we need to stay here overnight and let anything living on it die off. Dammit! I just wish I had my med-kit! I could have run diagnostics!”

Diana looks at me with wonder. “Are you a doctor?”

I snort. “Maybe in another life.”

If I had my med-kit, I would have be able to run diagnostic tests on the amulet and determine if it was covered in viral cells, or maybe some kind of bacteria. It would have been the first step towards potentially find a cure.

As frustrating as the lack of a med-kit is, I suddenly feel a sense of purpose and focus that overwhelms much of my earlier anxiety.

I suddenly feel as though I wasmeantto come to this jungle planet, and now it all makes sense – I was brought here to cure this tribe.

Maybe… Just maybe Lord Tenderfoot opening that portal wasn’t the ‘accident’ I’d thought it was. Maybe Iwasfated to be brought here. Maybe Iamtruly destined to belong with these three Aurelians, and it isn’t all just a big coincidence.

Then my medical training kids back in – the analytical, scientific reasoning.

Or, maybe I’m just looking foranyexplanation that will convince me this wasn’t all a big fluke.

Hadone looks me up and down, then takes a step towards the amulet. I rush to him, and grab his arm, looking up at him pleadingly. I shake my head, hoping that the gesture is universal. Hadone stares at me, his grey eyes flecked with green, and for a moment I think he’s going to ignore me and reach for the amulet.

I know he wants desperately to communicate with me, and I want to understand him as well – but we can’t take the risk.

Instead of continuing towards the amulet, Hadone leans forward and his lips press against mine.

I don’t know what to do. His huge lips pressing against mine ignite a desire deep within me. I suddenly shudder with need. I reluctantly push Hadone away from me, my eyes wide with indignation.

“I have a job to do, damnit!”

Hadone looks wounded, so I jerk my head over towards the sick members of his tribe. I can’t believe Hadone is thinking about anything but the safety of his people right now!

Hadone gives me a slight smile and I’m suddenly very aware that my hand is still on his arm. I pull it away as if he’s venomous. I can’t have him thinking that he affects me this way...

Of course, hedoesaffect me, in a way I’ve never felt before.

I shudder. My nipples are still hard from his touch, and my body is aching for more.

But his people are sick. I need to find out why.

The Aurelian tribe are standing near the edge of the jungle. I realize with horror that although they look sick, and the sounds of the jungle are often overpowered by hacking coughs, these are the Aurelians among the tribe who are considered healthy enough to come to the edge of the jungle in the first place.

That must mean there must be women, children, and elders deeper in the jungle, who were too sick to even come this far. Ihaveto help them. Ihaveto find out what is causing this sickness.

If only I could speak to the Aurelians! Forn was coughing, though he’s practically better now, despite his injuries. He would have a wealth of knowledge about the disease, and how he recovered from it!

I need to get closer to the patients, even if I get sick myself. If I want to heal the Aurelian tribe, then I have to take the risk of being infected.

That means talking to Forn, despite the risk of the virus or bacteria contaminating the amulet.

I take a deep breath and walk to the amulet. I lift the chain and place it around my neck.

I thought I’d feel something when I put it on – to be able to tell if it’s working or not. Instead, I feel nothing.

I turn around, feeling foolish, wondering if the story of this miraculous amulet was all just a fairy tale.

What the hell am I thinking? An amulet can’t make me understand a foreign language. That requires technology – not some piece of jewelry. I just risked getting sick for nothing.

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