Page 37 of Caldar
Paax sighed, rubbing a hand against the base of the severed horn. “In the morning then,” he said, and turned to leave.
“You are soft,” Caldar called out to the warlord’s retreating figure.
Paax’s posture stiffened. He did not turn to face Caldar as he spoke. “No, I am reluctant to destroy a useful tool because he is a stubborn, proud male.”
The words echoed in the brig.
“I cannot deny the charges. My actions were my own,” Caldar said.
“Tomorrow,” the warlord said, and left.
If Paax believed that Caldar required time to change his position, he was mistaken.
His only regret would be not seeing Sonia again. He wanted to hold her, to touch her, one last time, but he knew it was a selfish desire. Seeing her now with his fate decided would only bring her pain. Regardless, his last thoughts would be of her. Why did he need to see her tears when he had the memory of their first kiss, surrounded by the golden light of meteors.
A clean break would be best for both of them, sharp and painful but finished. Sonia would forget him soon enough.
SONIA
Things could be worse. Things had been a lot worse, so really, being stuck in this sterile hospital room was pretty awesome. She was clean, wore clean clothes, had her own bed, and her hand felt normal.
“Flex your fingers,” the alien doctor said in a no-nonsense tone.
Sonia wiggled her fingers.
“Any discomfort?”
“My head hurts a little,” she answered.
“You were severely dehydrated, fighting an infection, and mangled. You are lucky you do not have permanent nerve damage. Tilt your head to the side. I must examine the bite.” The doctor carefully removed the dressing and made a tutting noise. “Sloppy. The flesh is still red.”
“It feels fine.”
“It is not fine,” he retorted. “It is inflamed and infected. Did he rub a handful of dirt into it once he was finished chewing on your shoulder?”
Sonia did not like the doctor’s tone. “No, and do you even know what you’re doing with humans?”
“Oh, a good tactic. Question my competency and distract me.” The doctor nodded, as if he hadn’t just accused Caldar of treating her like a chew toy. “I have received special training on Terrans at an Earth facility. I am an expert. Now stay still.”
The doctor slathered a gel onto the wound, which instantly soothed and cooled her aching shoulder. Not that she would ever admit it. Honestly, she was unsure about the doctor’s competency with humans. The Mahdfel had advanced tools and medicine, but she didn’t see any human doctors in the medbay, just lots of human patients.
Survivors from theAllure of the Starscrowded the medbay. Voices and the hum of medical machines filled the space. No one really had an idea what was happening and everyone kept repeating the same questions: what happened, where are we, and can I call my family?
The medics patiently repeated the same answers again and again: the cruise ship was raided by the Suhlik and destroyed, this is a Mahdfel battlecruiser, theJudgment, and when they were discharged.
Sonia rubbed the bridge of her nose, wishing the headache would go away. The painkiller hadn’t kicked in yet. She had been placed in a private room, but with the door open, the noise flooded in and the overhead lighting was atrocious. A constant stream of people walked past the door, adding to the chaos.
“There will be scarring. It will be removed with a simple procedure.” The doctor’s voice snagged her attention.
“What? No. That’s my mate bite. I’m not getting rid of it,” she said. Every Mahdfel marked their mate in that way, she knew. Her friend, Wyn, had her own bite mark on her shoulder.
“That male is not your mate. His actions were unsanctioned.” Disdain dripped from the doctor’s voice.
“I sanctioned them.”
“You cannot,” he snapped.
“Oh, I can’t sanction what happens to my own body?” Maybe the painkillers were kicking in, because suddenly Sonia didn’t care about her headache; she just wanted to make this butthead take back his words.
