Page 8 of Balarr
But he’d obviously fought his way to her.She recalled her failed escape attempts.He must’ve taken out dozens of guards just to reach her.She tried to push away her sudden doubts about him, including her fear.
He was a large male from a race of alien warriors.Perhaps he couldn’t help how scary he looked.
He entered her room and slowly walked to her bedside.Some of the anger left his eyes, and his features softened just enough that she was able to take her first full breath since he’d appeared in the doorway.
“My name is Balarr,” he said in a deep, rumbling tone, using Galactic Common.“Are you Luna?”
“Hello, Balarr,” she replied, also in Galactic Common.“Yes, I am Luna.”
His gaze swept up and down her body, and his nostrils flared as he took a deep inhale.“You are hurt, aren’t you?”The concern in his eyes deepened.
“Um, you could say that.”She glanced out the open door, but thankfully, there was no one in sight.He really must’ve taken out all the guards.Had he killed any of them?She shuddered at the thought, then her eyes widened when she noticed the weapons affixed to his waistband.
Balarr kneeled beside her, reached for the blanket, then gently pulled it down her body.She allowed him to uncover her.A quick glance down showed she’d bled through her bandage.There was a large splotch of red on her shirt.God, no wonder she was in so much pain.Perhaps she’d rolled around too much in her sleep and caused the stitches to tear open.
“I want to be completely honest with you, Balarr.”She met his vibrant green eyes.“This place—Zalora Biotech—is a government-funded organ-harvesting facility.I’ve been here for two years, and I’m being held against my will.During the past two years, they’ve stolen five of my organs and replaced them with inferior lab-grown organs that will eventually fail.”She watched his expression carefully, and to her relief, he continued gazing at her with a look of concern.
Seconds later, however, his entire body tensed, and his visage turned murderous.A steady growl rumbled from his throat.She drew back and lowered her head, wishing the blanket was still covering her.
Oh God.What if she was too defective to claim as a mate?What if his people didn’t possess the medical technology needed to save her?He’d signed up for the VAMOB program because he needed a human female who would give him children.If she couldn’t do that, she wouldn’t blame him for rejecting her, but oh how she hoped they could work something out.She prayed that even if he rejected her, he still helped her escape this facility.
“Who took your organs, Luna?”Balarr eventually asked, his voice tight.“Give me their names and I will vanquish them from this life.”
Surprise rushed through her.She hadn’t expected him to want to go on a murderous rampage on her behalf.Maybe… maybe it meant he still wanted her.
She shrugged one shoulder.“I-I couldn’t tell you all their names.I never remember much when it happens.”She glanced at the blood on her shirt.“This time, I don’t even remember them coming for me.I just awoke yesterday morning feeling confused and sore.”
His nostrils flared again, and he issued what sounded like a curse in his native Vaxxlian under his breath.“I must get you to my ship immediately.I must tend to your injuries.”He gently scooped her into his arms and stood up, holding her as though she weighed nothing.
Luna marveled at how tenderly he was treating her.She’d barely felt any pain as he’d lifted her from the bed.Her throat burned because she relished the closeness of his warm, solid body.She hadn’t been held by anyone in a long time.
She tried to thank him, but her throat was burning too much for her to speak, so she leaned her head against his chest and savored the feeling of safety that he’d surrounded her with.
Please let this work.
Chapter5
As Balarr carriedLuna into the hallway, he noticed a limping man holding several keycards.The man swiped one of the cards in a door, and as soon as it opened, a woman rushed out.The man continued to the next door and repeated the process.
Luna peeked out from his arms and gasped at the sight.Her face lit up, and for the first time since he’d set eyes on her, she appeared happy.
“It would seem the other prisoners will soon be free,” he said, pausing just long enough for her to watch the man free several more people from the locked rooms.
“Thanks to you.”Luna beamed up at him.“I just hope they can get the medical help they’ll need.”
“After I tend to your injuries, I will send a message about this facility to the Vaxxlian diplomats who are currently stationed on Earth.Perhaps something can be done to help the patients.”
Her eyes gleamed with tears.“Oh, thank you, Balarr.That would be wonderful.”She settled her face against his chest again, and warmth unexpectedly spread through him.
Luna fit perfectly into his arms.He liked holding her.
Why, then, did he also feel guilty?
He thought of his late mate.Keissa.Would she judge him for taking a mate so soon after her death?Would he be dishonoring her memory if he claimed Luna?
He suppressed a growl as he carried the tiny human down the corridor and into the stairwell.He descended the stairs slowly, mindful of the pain she must be experiencing.He hoped she hadn’t lost too much blood, but he reminded himself that a nanobot injection would heal her injuries fully—even the lab-grown organs she seemed to be so worried about.The nanobots would immediately work to make her organs, lab-grown or otherwise, strong and healthy.
Rage surged through him when he considered all she’d told him.He couldn’t believe she’d been trapped here for two long years.The poor little human.
