I don’t know how to answer her. I glance at Danek. “This isn’t a decision I can make on my own,” I murmur. “Not now. Not when Danek is still unconscious.”
“Of course.” She gives me a sad smile. “It’s a lot to take in. Your quarters are prepared. Why don’t you go there, settle in, take a warm bath, eat a hot meal, and get some rest? We’ll take good care of Danek ab Usora.”
No. The prospect of leaving the hospital sounds amazing, and a shower sounds magical. And maybe if I cuddled my floofs, I would feel better.
But I can’t leave Danek. I won’t.
I wish I knew what to do.
Behind me, alarms start to beep. I turn around, and just as I do, Danek opens his eyes. For a second, he doesn’t appear to know where he is, and then awareness floods in. He disconnects the wires and the tubes holding him, and then, he vaults out of the healing tank.
We both jump to our feet. “You shouldn’t be up so quickly,” Kenia gasps, staring at the readings on her screens. “This is impossible. I don’t understand.”
“The headache is gone,” Danek responds. “I’m fine.” He turns to me. “Sorry for the scare, Naomi.”
I want to pinch myself. I want to laugh and cry and wrap my arms around him and never let go. “Are you okay?”
He nods. He holds his hand out to me. “Want to get out of here?”
The scientist splutters something, but I’m not listening to her. Profound gladness fills me. “Yeah, let’s do that.”
I lace my hand in his warm one. I’m trembling all over. I’d been terrified that Danek would never wake up. I’d been terrified that I would never see him alive again.
Life is short and can be snuffed out in an instant. I learned that lesson when Will died young, and I’m learning it anew. Nothing is guaranteed to us. I might not have a tomorrow. And if I run out of time, I don’t want to be steeped in regret.
Danek said he was attracted to me. I’m a wreck. It’s a bad idea. I know nothing permanent is going to come of it, but if he expresses interest again, I’m going to take him up on it. I’m going to sleep with him.
15
Danek
You have to hand it to the Supreme Mother. She built us to be invulnerable. A few hours ago, the pain had been crushing. I thought I might die. Now, the pressure has eased. I still don't feel right, but the oppressive agony is gone. I can function.
Naomi keeps throwing me assessing glances as we take a skimmer back to our assigned quarters. “You remember Resi? The miner we were talking to at the terminal? She said she’d take care of our luggage.”
“She’s saddled with the three floofs? That’s unfortunate for Resi.”
She laughs. “Hopefully, she didn't open the cage,” she quips. “If she did, the three monsters have already wrecked the place.”
“Look on the bright side. They might have fallen asleep.”
She throws me another sideways look. “Are you sure you're alright?”
“Absolutely,” I reply, lying through my teeth. “You know our history. We were created to be the perfect soldier. Can't let a little thing like some magnetic vibrations mess with my ability to perform.”
A smile plays about her lips. “No,” she agrees. “We can't let that happen. What would happen to your reputation if people knew that the big bad Draekon could be taken down by some planetary vibrations?”
I think I’ve convinced her that everything is fine. But that’s not true. The crushing pressure in my skull might have eased for the moment, but I'm sure it will be back, and when it does, I fear it might return with a vengeance. The second time around, recovery won’t be quite this quick.
I need answers. I need to talk to the others.
“Oh, there’s something you should know,” Naomi says. “The scientist, Kenia, knows you’re Draekon.”
I go still. “She does? How?”
“She said that they'd done studies. Everyone who succumbed to the resonance sickness always ended up failing the Testing.” She turns to look at me. “She also told me that she had a contact that would help us escape to the Rebellion, if that's what we wanted.”
“She did? That’s interesting.” Kenia ab Cindifin is a reasonably high-ranked member of the House of Cindifin. The Rebellion might have more allies in the High Empire then we believe. I make a mental note to mention the exchange to Tarish.
“Is that a problem? That she knows?”
“I'll get Ruhan to monitor her comms,” I assure her. “If she tries to tell anyone what she discovered, he can intercept the message, and then I can take care of it.”
She wrinkles her nose. “By killing her?”
I hope it doesn't come down to it. “My options are limited,” I say, avoiding a direct answer. “Noturn’s air is poisonous to us. We’re inside a sealed dome. Here, I cannot transform into a dragon. I cannot breathe fire. If the dome is breached, and the atmosphere pours in, everyone will die.”
A fresh wave of guilt washes over me. I shouldn't have brought Naomi along on this mission. What was I thinking? Yes, she wanted to come, but I should have still forbidden it. Yes, I wanted to see her get better, and I wanted to spend time with her. But it's still a risk, one I shouldn’t have taken.
“I liked her,” Naomi says unexpectedly. “She didn't have to offer to help, but she did.”
“You would prefer that I don't hurt her?”
“Yes,” she says. “I would.”
“Then consider it done. If she talks, I’ll find a different way to keep her quiet.”
She raises an eyebrow. “You’d do that for me?”
That, and so much more. She only has to ask. “My reputation tends to precede me, but I don't enjoy killing. Some people, like the scientists that tortured you, deserve to die. But in general, murder is not an option I turn to, not if I have any other
