Page 56 of Infala: The Alien's Bond
“What happened?” she asked, her voice weak.
“You pushed too hard.”
“But I felt good. I was able to climb so easily.”
“Yes, your pigment has grown strong within you.Toostrong for so short a time. The bond is still tenuous, yet you pushed too hard and drew deep upon it before it was fully set in your body. And now you will be weaker for it, though with your body’s reaction to the pigment I do not know for how long.”
Darla shook her head, trying to knock the cobwebs loose.
“I’m fine,” she said, trying to get up. She immediately fell over, which was why he had made a point to set her down far from the cliff’s edge.
“Shh. Rest,Malaika. I have you.”
Darla was drifting off even as he lifted her up in his arms as if she weighed nothing. By the time he started walking she was melting into his embrace, a moment later falling sound asleep against the warmth of his broad chest.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
Darla woke to find herself covered with both of their furs, cozily ensconced in a bundle of warmth. Wiping the drowsiness from her eyes she looked around. Heydar had made camp under a copse of trees up against a jutting rock. It wasn’t a cavern by any means, but the location was a fairly secure one against the elements.
The ground beneath her was slightly raised. She reached behind her and felt a closely woven layer of small branches covered with abundant leaves to cushion her. Heydar had made a point to keep her off the cold ground while she slept. Again, going above and beyond without her even asking.
She smiled lazily to herself as she gazed up at the sky through the branches. It was just barely light out, the sky a lesser shade of blue.
“Wow, I must’ve really drained myself if I slept until sunset,” she mumbled, pushing up onto her elbow.
Her body ached. A lot.
Unlike recently, her new runes were not feeding her body with a seemingly endless surge of energy. In fact, at the moment Darla felt like she was almost entirely back to her old self again. Tired and aching, namely. She hadn’t realized just how much the pigments were boosting her muscles.
And now she felt like a hot mess, and it was entirely her own doing. Heydar had been right. She’d pushed herself too far hard and was paying the price.
Heydar’s silhouette separated from the nearby tree he had been leaning against, her silent protector moving close and sitting beside her. He gently brushed the hair from her face, concern in his gaze, his warm fingers soothing on her cool brow.
“You are awake,” he said, offering her a drink of water from the skin hanging around his neck.
“Thanks. I’m parched,” she said, greedily gulping down mouthful after mouthful.
“You would be. You overextended yourself.”
She painfully rolled her aching shoulders. “Yeah, I realize that now. Thank you for saving me.”
He nodded once, saying nothing more, settling down behind her.
“You really do look out for me,” she said, reaching out and taking his hand, pulling his arm around her as she nestled up against him with a contented sigh. “I really did overdo it. I can’t believe I slept so long. It’s already nightfall.”
“This is morning,” he corrected.
“Wait, what?”
“You slept straight through the afternoon and night. It is a new day.Thisis why you must be cautious until your pigment is fully settled.”
Darla was freaking out on the inside but only felt a slight surge of adrenaline. For one, she’d used it all up the previous day. For another, she was still in a semi-daze, and curled up in Heydar’s arms she felt no fear despite the instinctive moment of panic.
“Wow,” she finally managed to say. “Noteverymuch taken. I should have listened to you. Sorry.”
He squeezed her close, his hand drifting to her breast as he pulled her in tight. “Your reaction is natural, especially for one unfamiliar with our ways. I can imagine how intoxicating a sensation it must have been for you. And without generational knowledge of what to do and not to do, pushing yourself too hard is not entirely unexpected.”
“But still a big no-no.”
