Page 91 of Alien Warlord's Fury
"Severe enough." I reached up, my fingers hovering near the edge of a bandage on his shoulder. "Hammond?"
Nirako nodded. "His weapon carried a corrupted energy signature. The healers have cleansed it."
I remembered the moment in the Nexus chamber—Nirako standing between Hammond and me, taking the brunt of the attack while I worked to free the children and stabilize the core.
"Thank you," I whispered, the words inadequate for what he'd done.
He understood what I couldn't say. Through our bond flowed acknowledgment, acceptance, a shared recognition of what we'd accomplished together.
One of the Aerie tenders approached, carrying a small cup filled with a steaming liquid. She offered it to me with a respectful nod.
"For strength," Nirako translated, taking the cup and helping me hold it. "The journey back will not be easy."
The liquid tasted bitter but carried an underlying sweetness that spread warmth through my chest. As I drank, I watched the activity around us—the careful preparation for transport, the gentle care given to the children, the efficient movement of the Aerie warriors who stood guard at the entrances.
"The council?" I asked, suddenly remembering Ravik's arrival with the warriors.
"Waiting for our return." Nirako's expression remained neutral, but through our bond, I sensed his uncertainty. "There will be questions."
"About Hammond? The Nexus?"
"About us." His gaze met mine, direct and unwavering. "About the bond."
I hadn't considered what it would mean to return to the settlement with our bond fully formed and evident to any Nyxari who looked at us. The rare mate bond between a human and an Aerie warrior would raise eyebrows, spark discussions, perhaps even controversy.
"Does it matter?" I asked, genuinely curious rather than defiant.
Nirako considered this, his lifelines pulsing thoughtfully. "To some, yes. To me..." He paused, his gaze dropping to where our hands rested close together on the furs.
"No."
The simple answer carried weight, a declaration of priorities that resonated through our bond. Whatever came next, whatever questions or challenges we faced, Nirako had made his choice. So had I.
A commotion near the entrance drew our attention. Ravik entered, his imposing figure moving with purpose toward us. He stopped before our pallet, his expression grave but not unkind.
"The transport is ready," he announced. "We move within the hour."
Nirako nodded, his posture straightening despite his injuries. "We'll be ready."
Ravik's gaze shifted to me, assessing. "You stabilized the Nexus core."
"With help," I acknowledged, glancing at Nirako.
"The council will want a full accounting."
"They'll have it," I promised, though the thought of reliving the experience before the council made my stomach clench.
Ravik seemed satisfied with this. He turned to leave, then paused. "What you accomplished here..." He looked between Nirako and me, his expression softening slightly.
"It was well done."
After he departed, I leaned back against Nirako, suddenly exhausted by the brief exchange. "That's high praise from him, isn't it?"
"The highest." Nirako's arm tightened around me, supporting my weight. "Rest while you can. The journey back will be difficult."
I closed my eyes, letting myself sink into the comfort of his presence. Through our bond, I felt his vigilance, his determination to see me safely home. Ever since Hammond's experiments had awakened my connection to the Nexus, I felt no urgency, no desperate need to act.
Only a quiet certainty that whatever came next, we would face it with the same strength that had brought us here.
