Page 83 of Zalis
“Oh, that’s handy.”
“It is one of the reasons Val Mori was selected for a base,” he said. “Also, I have a toolkit with several heavy wrenches and a utility knife. They are not ideal weapons, but blunt force trauma can be effective.”
“What about the translator chip in me? Can it be tracked?” For each worry he soothed, a new one emerged.
“Unlikely.”
“That’s not a no.” The swinging from terror to comfort and anger and back again was exhausting. “I want it out of me.”
“I understand,” he said.
“No, you don’t. Part ofthemis inside me. I can’t bemeuntil it’s gone. I can’t. I’m sorry, Zalis, I can’t.” There it was, the last and biggest fear. She gasped between the words, chest aching from her sobs. She couldn’t catch her breath.
He held her as she sobbed.
ZALIS
Zalis was at a loss. The romcom films had not prepared himfor this level of terror. Communications were cut off from the surface. He had no idea if the explosions had been a Suhlik raid or something else. He had no way to know when the tunnel would be cleared of debris. He had no way to monitor the air quality. All he could do was hold his mate.
Eventually her sobs ceased.
“I’m tired of being afraid,” she said.
He rubbed her back and held her.
“I love you, you know,” she said.
While his heart sang to hear those words, he said, “Your emotions are heightened. You cannot know what you will feel tomorrow.”
“Feel free to say it back.”
“The next time you tell me, when you are certain, when I am certain that it comes from your desire and not fear, I will. I will claim you and you will wear my mark.” His tattoos burned everywhere their skin touched, where she traced the patterns across his shoulders.
“You were gone for so long, I was worried you were dead. That’s when I knew.” She pulled away and lifted her face. Tears streaked through the dirt on her cheeks. She was the most radiant being he had ever seen. “My feelings won’t change. This is real.”
Zalis pressed his lips to her forehead. “Tell me again tomorrow.”
“And you’ll say it back?”
“Nothing will stop me.”
When rescue arrived,Gemma was taken to Medical immediately. Zalis did not leave her side. After determining that no bones were broken, he demanded that the translation chip be removed.
“It is not medically necessary, and we are busy responding to an emergency,” the medic said. “I have patients who are injured.”
Gemma squeezed his hand. He was unsure of her meaning, if she sought comfort in a disappointing response to her request or if she was silently encouraging him to advocate for her.
It did not matter. He made a promise to her, and he would keep it. He said, “It is unknown tech and a security breach.”
“It is impossible for you to make that determination while the chip is implanted,” Kalen said.
“Exactly. The chip should have been removed the moment Gemma arrived on board.”
“That’s true,” Gemma chimed in. “What I remember from that appointment is being told I was bad luck. Does that qualify for malpractice?”
A sour look settled on Kalen’s face, like he wanted to argue but could not. The male wore that expression often. “I dislike being grappled by the horns. Very well. You will have your procedure, but only after I treat the patients who are bleeding.”
GEMMA
