A pause. When the Untrik replied, his confusion was clear. “Since when is there specialized care available onEarth?”
Most alien races considered Earth a backwater of primitives, despite the Drake occupation. So, I schooled my voice and answered calmly. “A talented healer accustomed to treating this particular condition,” I replied. “If we could be granted priority, it would be helpful.”
They put us at the front of the queue. Forty minutes later, I kicked in the slipstream drive.
As soon as it took hold, I rose and headed for Zyair.
32
Jaz
I lay in Zyair’s dragon arms and willed him to live.
Xandros and Rhodes were raiding the galley. The comm was still open, so we were privy to the many reasons why Xandros would never be sitting in the pilot’s seat. The predominant theme seemed to involve the much-mentioned comet…
Zyair sighed as I hit the shutoff button and their voices were silenced. “I usually mediate their arguments,” he admitted. “Today—today they can solve their own disputes.”
His voice reverberated with pain and exhaustion. He was getting worse. We needed to get to Amelia.
“I will be fine, Jaz,” he soothed. “When Amelia has purged this venom from my blood, I will take you on a flight to see the sunset. Do you think you can grow those scales over your entire body? It will be too cold above the clouds for human skin.”
I hugged his arm. “To see a sunset, you bet.”
We waited, as in our minds, Rhodes and Xandros made wraps crammed with as much meat as they could fit in.
“Will the Tazier come after us when we emerge from the slipstream?”I asked.
“Unlikely,” he replied. “They will not want their deception known among the clans. And Brentoq will not come after us in an area occupied by Drakes.”
“Maybe Brentoq is dead.”
His lip curled into a smile. “Maybe. She is a tough manticore to kill. But shaftz, you were so sexy challenging her.” His scaled arms tightened. “Your actions—they appeared nonsensical at the time. However, you are one smart little female.”
I basked in the warmth of his approval. “What happens when we get back?” I asked.
The question wasn’t exactly the pinnacle of clarity, but he knew what I was worried about. “We will go to Azrome, and see Amelia.”
“But, after that?”
He looked away from me. “Azrome has always suspected that Drakes colluded with the Nirzks to wipe out Raptor Clan. We now know Tazier Clan was involved, but still, we lack proof. Azrome can decide what course of action to take with what we have learned.”
“Will the Taziers come after you on Earth?” I asked.
The slightest shake of his massive head. “They would be foolish to do it openly. Everything about Senaik taking us to Brentoq was designed to keep their corruption quiet.”
That might be true, but the Taziers were powerful enemies.
He exhaled softly. “Do not worry. We will protect you.”
“I will protectyou, you mean.”
He snorted a laugh. “Yes. Of course.”
Through the link, I caught a hint of the depth of his exhaustion. “You need to rest,” I said. “We are safe, now.”
His emerald eyes blinked. “I do not want to.”
“Why not?” I asked.
