Humans did not interest me.
“I can’t leave,” he said.
“Why?”
He lifted his arm, and I noticed a sizable lump under his pinkish gold skin. Dermal implant. That was unfortunate. I inspected the bump, running my thumb over it. His skin was soft, extremely soft. By the Crystal’s light, he was so soft against my scales. I forced my attention away from the feel and to the pressing issue.
Because his skin was as soft as it was, cutting him open with my claws to extract the implant would be easy enough, but it would hurt—not to mention he would lose his translator. Thatwasn’t much of a problem, because I spoke English and NAID on my shuttle was perfectly capable of translating if the need arose.
“I can take it out,” I said, extending my claws.
The human pressed further into the wall. “How do I know you’re not worse than Agk?”
“I’m trying to help you.”
“So you say. People say a lot of shit.”
Shit. Ah, humans. It was amusing but now wasn’t the time. I had to get this human away. I could inform Hallonnixmin without the human, but the Cohort was more likely to act and believe me with him present. Not to mention, Seth and Caleb would never forgive me if I left him behind, and I would never forgive myself. Everything in me rebelled against the very thought of abandoning him. He needed to stay right beside me until he was safe.
“Please,” I tried again.
“Fuck off.”
I blinked, then remembered it was a swear. He wasnotasking me to masturbate. These humans. Their profanity was so colorful.
My eyes darted back to the two garganlics by the door. I wished I had the time to reassure him of my good intentions, but I didn’t. I was going to have to do something unfortunate and I doubted he was going to like it, but I had to save him. This human would thank me in the end, I was sure of it.
I smiled in reassurance, and the human recoiled further, his pupils blown wide while the pulse in his neck throbbed wildly.
“I am so sorry.” I covered his mouth and dragged him toward one of the shadowed corridors further away from the door and the massive guards. He fought against me, kicking my shins, but I didn’t release him. He viciously bit me, and I grunted, but I held on. When I found a private space, I pinned him to the wall.My tail coiled around his wrist to keep his arm flat against the wall.
“Let me go, youbastard.”
I didn’t remember what the last word meant, but it was a swear, and my translator supplied: child of an unmated mother. “I offer you my deepest and sincerest apologies, but I have to rescue you, even over your protests.”
“You fucker.”
With a grimace, I dragged a claw over his soft skin. He cried out, which made my soul cringe. I didn’t want to hurt him. I truly didn’t, but I had to help him. The human kept crying, tears coursing down his cheeks, and I glanced at the door multiple times. Someone was going to hear. I covered his mouth, and he sobbed beneath me, thrashing as much as possible in my tight hold.
Red blood coated my fingers and dripped to the filthy floor. When the slice was large enough, I inserted my claws as delicately as possible, but the thin human released a muffled scream.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered against his ear and pulled the implant out; it fell to the floor with a tink. The human panted, shaking. I ripped the base of my tunic and wrapped his arm as I apologized over and over again, hoping he would forgive me.
He sagged, colliding with my chest, eyes closed and body limp. My arms caught him, supporting his weight with ease.
Had I hurt him more than I thought? What if I’d nicked something important? I knew nothing of human anatomy. I’d never needed to before this moment. Why hadn’t I studied? I should’ve anticipated this. Somehow.
I lifted him, and he was far too light. I would have to feed him. Soon. I pressed my ear to his narrow chest. His soul beat steadily, and his breath came out without any rattle. The blood on the makeshift bandage wasn’t growing either.
Pain must have stolen his consciousness.
“Don’t worry, human. I’ll make sure you’re safe, alright? I’ll even take you back to Earth if I can.” I snuggled him close to my chest, tucking his face in the crook of my neck, his warm breath rushing over my scales. I would keep this little human safe if it was the very last thing I did.
Now how to get out of here?
With him securely in my arms, I went back to the door that led to the ring and peered outside. One of the fights had concluded moments ago, and a good portion of the crowd was filtering out. This was our chance—our one chance. I set him on his feet, but the human crumpled. I caught him well before he touched the ground.
Well, that wouldn’t work.
