Page 104 of Nyx
“What, you think everyone of the same species knows each other?” I glance over, but he’s teasing, so I just huff and roll my eyes. “No, I didn’t know her. She doesn’t speakmuch, but from what I gather, she was a civilian in one of the cities.”
“Aren’t you all military?” I ask, and Ronan’s bewilderment is almost enough to make me laugh.
“Of course not.”
“I mean, you, Elas, Lillith, Xeni… Matuk… these two scientists…”
“That's all your limited experiences have shown you, but it doesn't make it true. In the beginning, yes, it was our military that came through. But over the years, as new generations have been born and the cities have grown under our control, there are plenty of civilians. Those who hold whatever sort of job they wish… to an extent, at least. The military has the ultimate say.” He glances over his shoulder towards the others. “My understanding is that one of these scientists was a civilian until her skills were needed. She wasn’t given a choice, naturally.”
“Naturally,” I parrot, and Ronan sighs again.
“I don’t like this place. It’s too exposed, and it’s a godsdamned miracle they haven’t been attacked by now.”
“Maybe there isn’t much traffic this way,” I say through a yawn, and he nods thoughtfully.
“Perhaps. You should rest. I want to leave as soon as we’re able.”
“Xeni needs to recover.” I yawn again, my mouth stretching wide as the exhaustion settles in. “Make him come over here and sleep.”
“Yeah, yeah, tiny human,” he says, and I chuckle as he gives my shoulder a squeeze. “Rest now. I don’t want to listen to your complaining later.” I lift my hand and give him the middle finger, and he chuckles as he stands andwalks away. Xeni mumbles something about not being tired as he crashes onto the cot, and I reluctantly lose my battle against sleep, as well.
Nyx
Consciousnessfindsmenotin scattered bits and pieces, but all at once. I gasp, sitting up with a jolt as everything comes crashing through my mind. The soldiers, Xeni lying unconscious at their feet, Ronan bound, and Reyes…
Reyes.
A hand squeezes mine, and I turn to find his eyes wide open in the darkness. “Hey, hey, it’s okay,” he soothes. “It’s… you’re okay. You’re okay…” He chants the words in a whisper, over and over, as he buries his face in my chest and wraps his arms around me. The relief that floods my system is so potent it leaves me lightheaded.
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth as I search the strange tent. “Ronan? Xeni?”
“Everyone’s okay. We’re fine.”
“What happened?” He releases me for just a moment to grab a bottle from the ground beside him. The water is warm, but it quenches my thirst as I drain the whole thingand hunt for more. Reyes kisses my hand before he steps a few feet away and refills it for me.
“Drink this one slower,” he warns, and I only grunt as I accept it. I do as he asks, though, and force myself to take small sips. “What do you remember?”
“We were running, but they caught us. Xeni was hurt, and Ronan was tied up, and I… I was so angry. Scared. And they touched you, and I…” I trail off, shaking my head. “That’s the last thing I remember.”
Reyes hums as he climbs into the cot beside me, and I curl into him. There’s barely enough room for the two of us, but I don’t mind. “You used your magic,” he explains quietly as he runs a palm over my hair. “It was incredible. The plants… it was like they came alive to do your bidding. Tree branches were grabbing them by their wrists, and vines were holding their ankles. It gave me the chance to get Ronan free, and we… took care of them.”
“I don’t remember,” I whisper, and he hugs me tighter.
“That’s probably for the best. It wasn’t pretty.”
“Where are we now?”
“Matuk’s camp. He was headed to meet with us and got captured. Those soldiers had taken him and locked him in your old cage.”
“He is okay?”
Reyes nods as he plays with my hair, and I nuzzle into his touch. “A few broken bones, and some scratches, but he’s alright. He led us here to his camp, but Ronan is anxious to get on the road again.”
“Ronan is always anxious,” I mutter, and his breathy huff of a laugh brings a touch of lightness back to my heavy heart.
“I heard that,” Ronan says, but there’s humor in his tone as he crouches next to our cot. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired, and hungry, but okay. How long have I been sleeping?”
