6
For the first time in Drake’s adult life he had slept an entire night without the plague of nightmares. He awoke naturally to find a brunette tucked against his chest, her puffs of breath warming the area over his heart.
Drake swallowed hard. This was not good. He needed to tell her everything. She had been too ill to speak anymore last night, but it was not fair for her. He had to tell her today. Which is precisely what he did not want to do.
His body tensed at the thought and it must have caused Ruby to notice. Her head pulled back and looked up at him, bleary eyed and beautiful, and he forgot everything he promised he would do. Memories of the previous night must have come back to her, because her cheeks pinked and she removed her arm that had been deliciously wrapped around him. Shame.
He felt his lips pull into a smile, something that felt so foreign to him, but seemed so natural with her. “Good morning, Ruby.”
A hand shot up to cover her mouth and out came a muffled, “Good morning.” She sat up and inched off the bed, and with a sigh Drake followed her. She looked around, then back to him, “The… umm… facilities?”
“The other door in my room,” he said, and watched as she hurriedly grabbed some fresh clothes and items from the dresser.
“Be back in five – or ten – minutes,” she rushed out of the room and he felt himself smile once more.
Ruby was so different than any other woman. Her questions, how she reacted to things, her bravery, it was unique. You don’t really know her, he reminded himself.
That thought did not sit well. He desperately wanted to know all about her. What her family was like, what her life was like. What made her happy? What did she find delight in? His soul ached for these answers, but he knew he had no right to know. Besides, she might have a mate back on Earth.
He caught a glimpse of his overwhelming fury in the mirror. Jealousy did not look good on him. It didn’t matter anyway. Mate or not, he couldn’t lose focus now. He was so close to accomplishing everything he’d fought the past ten years to get. Alium almost had a home again. He would not get distracted now. No matter how beautiful the naked woman in his shower was. Or how she’d fit so perfectly against him last night. Or the way she blushed when he caught her staring at him. Or the way she’d killed a Syndarthian beast with a dagger and her bare hands.
Drake pounded his fists down on the dresser. Yes, focus was definitely an issue. He just hoped that her reaction to his request revolted her. That she would demand to be taken home immediately, not wanting to be party to anything so dangerous and reckless. Yes, that’s it. She was a human of Earth. They were not keen on aliens and craved tradition. Oh she would help him all right, once he forced her to do it. But then she would be all too happy to return back home to normalcy.
The thought of her cheerful face saying goodbye twisted his gut. He just needed some time away from her today. A little separation would get his mind back on track.
When he walked back into his room he heard the water turn off and then a surprised yelp when the dryer activated. His traitorous mouth smiled again in spite of himself.
A few minutes later Ruby reemerged, her brown hair cascading over her shoulders. Steam from the bathroom curled around her figure, as if she just walked out of a dream. His dream. Every muscle in Drake came alive, his blood simmering in a way that he had never felt before. It wasn’t just her beauty that floored him. The royal colors of Alium, silver and red, were sewn into the edging of her shirt. She had perhaps not even noticed this subtle difference, but then again she had not grown up on Alium.
Only the royal family wore such colors. Seeing them on her made Drake feel as if though he was sinking deeper into something he never wanted to be pulled back from again.
“The instant dryer thingy,” Ruby said. “That is genius.”
“You,” Drake cleared his throat past the emotion. “You look well.”
She put a hand over her stomach. “I feel much better. Thank you for taking such good care of me.”
He didn’t deserve her thanks. “You are welcome. Gravity sickness does not last long, so if you would like we could have breakfast in the commissary with the others.”
“That sounds nice,” her hands lay awkwardly at her sides. She looked unsure. “Are we going to get a chance to talk? I still have questions and…”
“Yes, in fact,” Drake closed some of the distance between them. “I must ask you for something.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sure that I really know anything.”
Drake took a deep breath. “It’s not so much as what you know. It’s what you can do for me. Someone on this ship gave my DNA, somehow, to the Da’Nesh. That’s how they were able to track you down, along with the other women. I need to know who that person is, because they will not stop until I am dead.”
“How could I possibly help? I don’t know any of these people.”
Drake squared his shoulders and walked closer, so that his size practically dwarfed her. It was his tactic when one of the soldiers needed to be put in place. “You will help me, and in return I will take you back to your home. Make no mistake, Ruby. If I die then so do you. We must find the traitor. They will lead us directly to the General. There need not be any more discussion.”
“Well of course I’ll help you,” her tone rather indignant, taking him aback. “But you’ve lived with these people your whole life. I’ve only just met them.”
What did she mean by ‘of course’ she would help him? Of course she would help him because otherwise she would die? Or…? Drake found himself unexpectedly thrown. She wasn’t supposed to bloody well agree with him. She was supposed to be angry with him.
His tone was harsh. “Clearly I can’t see their true intentions. I’ve been eating, living, working with someone who is betraying me. More than likely it is more than one person.” His voice shook in anger, rising. “Yesterday they tracked down the genetic matches to my soul. Then you completed the trial. They know who you are now, Ruby. They will not stop hunting until both of us are dead. Do you understand? They are trying to kill you, too!”
A look of eerie determination passed over her face. “Well, it wouldn’t be the first time someone's tried to do that.”
Ice ran through his veins. His anger redirected instantly. His Alium warrior blood thirsty for death.
“What. Do. You. Mean?” He would rip out their tongues. Cut off their limbs. Make them scream. Make them cry.
Her amber eyes radiated a deep, mutual pain. “Lets just say I know how you feel. About losing your parents.” She hesitated, her voice suddenly thick with tears. “Mine were killed in front of me, as well.”
Drake stepped back as if he’d been punched in the gut. They were so alike it hurt.
She shrugged off the emotion with evident practice. “Besides, yesterday some beast tried to kill me, too. You saw what I made of him.”
“Indeed,” he nodded slowly. “But that’s the problem, Ruby.” He whispered her name and couldn’t fight his hand moving to slide her hair behind her ear. “The completion of a trial means more than simply slaying a beast. It means to be willing to give your life for someone you may never even have met. Do not think that I have forgotten this. What you have done for me, I would happily reciprocate.”
His thumb stroked her cheek and he felt the heat from her blush. Her eyes looked confused and excited.
“What does this mean? You and I?” Her eyes lowered nervously. “I – I don’t know what to think.”
Drake began to answer, and then an image flashed in his mind. His hand dropped back to his side in defeat. “Please help me find the traitor, Ruby. I promise when this is over you can return safely to your home on Earth.”
Hurt was evident and she looked away from him. “Like I said, of course I’ll help you. I’ll do whatever you need.”
The walk to the commissary was silent, and he wanted nothing more than to drag her back into the room, showing her just how much there was between them. But he couldn’t. He didn’t deserve it.
A day away from her would help, but every minute would feel like a knife to the heart. Ruby was helping, willingly. She didn’t even know him. She was in a new place and didn’t know a soul, apart from him. She had been plucked right out of her life into something terrifying and had come out on top. Now she was helping him without anything being promised to her other than being taken home once it was all over. Getting to know her was dangerous. Especially for Drake. Because with every new revelation about Ruby Collins, he felt himself more bound to her.
She was beautiful, yes. And strong, brave, curious, and intelligent. But now he knew her real threat. Willing to die for someone she didn’t know. Willing to help someone for nothing in return. Ruby Collins was selfless.
Drake left her in the commissary. Kala had immediately gone over to introduce herself. Everyone was eager to talk to her, eager to learn about this person from Earth. He found himself jealous of those people right now. But again he reminded himself that he was not worthy of that intimate knowledge of her.
She was perfect. He, most certainly, was not.