Page 45 of Alien Warlord's Fury
"Yes." His voice was soft. "But after..."
Sleep pulled at me, dragging me down. The last thing I felt was Nirako's hand holding mine, his energy flowing into me, steadying my markings, anchoring me. Watching her sleep so deeply, I realized this might be the first time since her escape from Hammond that she had truly rested without fear.
NIRAKO
Iheld Claire's hand as she slept, her breathing finally deep and even. The clearing was quiet, sheltered by ancient trees whose roots delved deep into Arenix soil. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, dappling her face with shifting patterns of light and shadow.
Her silver markings pulsed faintly beneath her skin, no longer chaotic but settled into a steady rhythm that mirrored my own lifelines.
The backlash from channeling the corrupted Nexus energy had nearly extinguished her. Seeing her collapse, feeling the echo of that agony through our bond... it had forged a fear in me sharper than any physical threat I had ever faced. I had carried her through the corrupted ruins, her weight negligible compared to the weight of my concern, feeling her fragile life force flicker against mine.
My tail had remained tense throughout the journey, a constant outward sign of my internal vigilance.
Now, watching her rest, I felt the bond hum between us—a tangible connection, warm and steady. She had admitted she wasn't fighting it anymore. The admission settled somethingwithin me, a sense of rightness that defied Aerie tradition and council expectations.
Carefully, so as not to wake her, I released her hand and rose silently. The night air was cool, carrying the scent of damp earth and distant pines. I moved to the edge of the clearing, scanning the surrounding forest.
My own injuries—the searing burn across my shoulder from the guardian, the deep ache in my ribs from Hammond’s weapon—were minor annoyances compared to the drain Claire had endured.
Remembering the herbs Selene often used for energy stabilization, I searched the undergrowth nearby. The Aerie learned the mountain's remedies from childhood. Here, in the lower forests, different plants offered their strengths.
I found a patch of silverleaf near the base of a rock formation and gathered several stems, crushing the leaves between my fingers to release their pungent, metallic scent. Further on, I located the thorny stems of mountain thistle, its roots known for grounding chaotic energy.
Returning to Claire's side, I mixed the crushed herbs with a little water from my flask, creating a thick, dark paste. She stirred as I knelt beside her, her eyes fluttering open, still hazy with sleep.
"What is it?" she murmured.
"Aerie remedy," I explained softly. "To help stabilize your markings. Mountain thistle and silverleaf."
I held the small container out. "It won't taste pleasant."
She pushed herself up slightly, wincing. "Does anything from your mountains taste pleasant?" A ghost of her usual spark returned.
"The mountain honey is quite good," I replied, offering her the paste. "This is not."
She grimaced at the first taste but swallowed it down without complaint. "You weren't kidding."
I watched her closely, relieved to see the silver beneath her skin settle further, the faint flickering calming to a steadier pulse. The herbs were working.
"Your turn," I said, offering her a portion of nutrient paste from our dwindling supplies.
Claire wrinkled her nose but took it. "Somehow this tastes worse than your herbs."
"Eat anyway."
She did, methodically working through the bland sustenance while I checked the perimeter again. When I returned, her eyelids were drooping with exhaustion. The silver markings along her neck pulsed faintly, then settled.
I reached out, hesitating only briefly before placing my palm against her forehead.
"You're still running hot."
"I'm fine." She tried to sit up straighter, the effort clearly costing her.
"You're not." I sat beside her on the mossy ground. "Let me help."
Without waiting for permission, I placed my hands on her shoulders, channeling energy through my lifelines. Golden light spilled from my fingertips, meeting the silver of her markings. The connection between us opened wider, and I felt the echo of her pain—a burning beneath the skin, a stretching sensation as if her very cells were being pulled apart by the corrupted energy she'd absorbed.
Claire gasped, then relaxed as my energy helped stabilize hers. "That... helps."
