Chapter Nineteen
Faro and the guards spoke to each other, and the conversation was fast and furious. It was decidedly less friendly then the last encounter. Amy didn’t need to understand to figure out the gist of the discussion.
They’d both landed in deep dog-doo.
Maybe Faro could talk them into letting them go? They’d take the reindeer with them, no harm, no foul. It was a childish wish, but Amy held on to it anyway.
Faro reached into his jacket and quickly handed a bear off to her. The aliens clicked more urgently, gesticulating wildly at the animals in her grip. Then Faro raised his arm, and the sword appeared once more.
Oh, crap. Apparently, diplomacy wasn’t working.
He plunged the sword into the lights on the ceiling, sparks flew, and the room plunged into darkness.
“Run, Amy!” Faro shouted, as he stepped between her and the guards.
And then everything happened so fast, it was difficult to keep up.
Amy grasped the reindeer’s leashes, while juggling the pandas in her arms, and edged toward the cargo hold opening, a dim, distant light in the shadows.
As she reached the opening, Amy turned. From what she could see, Faro was surrounded by the guards who’d raised their weapons, preparing to fire.
Amy couldn’t leave him here.
Faro was going to die, and it was all her fault. She refused to abandon him, even if it meant her own death.
Oh God, I love him.
No, I’m in love with him.
Before she talked herself out of it, Amy released the deer, put the pandas down, and ran for the nearest Trovian, whose back was to her. She balled up a fist and punched him in the back of the head.
“How does it feel when someone does it to you?”
After snarling a garbled word, which had to be a curse, the guard turned and aimed his gun.
There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
Bracing herself, Amy shut her eyes.
“No!” Faro roared.
And then he changed, transforming into a dragon once more. He expanded, filling the cargo hold, knocking over pens. Faro couldn’t reach his full height, instead he was hunched over, pinned by the small dimensions in the room. He spat blue fire at the wall, and it was so hot, the metal melted.
Mouths agape in horror, the Trovians threw their guns down and ran. But not before one of them fired off a shot, scorching Faro on the right foreleg, blackening his shimmery blue scales.
Faro bellowed in pain.
Amy screamed, too. She clasped a hand on her own arm as a similar singe mark appeared. They’d both been injured in the exact same spot.
What the…?
Amy didn’t have time to ponder the injury. She felt woozy all of a sudden, dots danced before her eyes, and the room swayed. Was it her imagination, or was the wound spreading, edging along her bicep?
And then blackness swallowed her once more.
***
Faro held a vigil by Amy’s bedside.
They were back on the ship once more. With Link’s reluctant assistance, he’d rescued her beloved reindeer, along with the panda bears she’d insisted on saving. After he’d taken the pandas back to their wildlife preserve in China, Faro had deposited Comet and Cupid back in the barn.
“The computer estimates, with 98% accuracy, she will not survive through the night.” As always, Link’s voice was bland, impartially conveying information.
“I don’t give a bloody damn what the computer says, she’s going to make it, she has to.”
She’d been hit by the blaster, and it disintegrated her tissue, as fast as the computer could repair the damage. Unconscious, Amy lay in the medi-pod as the computer worked on her. Faro knelt beside it, monitoring her progress.
He was still wounded, but he had the benefit of drake DNA, which offered a mystical sort of protection. His injury would eventually heal, although it might take months. The physical discomfort was nothing in comparison to the prospect of losing Amy.
It was his fault, this was happening. Faro had told her they were mated, but he hadn’t warned her about the possible consequences of their newfound connection.
I told her to save herself and I would’ve easily dispatched the Trovians. They never would’ve gotten the chance to hurt me. Why’d she run back into the fight?
Because she’s Amy, and she cares about you. She put herself at risk for you.
That had to mean something.
Amy refused to let him die, even though he’d come to her planet like that ugly Earth bird, to pick the carcass clean.
Quite simply, Faro didn’t deserve her.
The doors slid open, but Faro didn’t turn around.
“You defied my orders again.” Mydon walked into the room.
“I did.” He placed a hand on the glass, wishing he could touch Amy one more time.
“And you coerced Link into disobeying me, as well.”
“If you wish to reprimand me, you can bloody well wait until she’s…” His voice cracked. “I know you don’t believe me, but she’s my mate, Mydon.”
“Is this true, Link?”
The android nodded. “I have studied their wounds, and they are identical. There is only one plausible explanation.”
“Show me your injury.” Faro raised his arm, and Mydon examined the wound, before inspecting Amy’s as well.
“They match.”
“Yes, because our bodies, hearts, and souls are intertwined.” Even now, he could feel her pain and confusion. “She belongs to me, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
His nostrils flared, but Mydon didn’t argue.
“And if she dies, you’ll lose me, too. If her death doesn’t outright kill me, I’ll go mad.”
Mydon said nothing for the longest time.
“I will allow Jude to heal her.”
Faro sprang to his feet. “You will?” Every time Jude restored someone, it took a toll on him, so his curative powers were reserved for battle injuries.
“Yes, but only this once.” Mydon went to the door and bellowed for his brother.
“Thank you, Mydon.”
His expression was grim. “Don’t thank me yet, Faro. We still have the matter of your insubordination to deal with, and I won’t be lenient with you this time.”
Faro didn’t care, as long as he saved Amy.
When Jude joined them, he approached the medi-pod cautiously.
“Are you sure, brother?” Jude asked, turning to Mydon.
He sighed. “No, but save her anyway.”
Faro held his breath, praying for a miracle.
Jude opened the glass casing, and placed a hand on her shoulder. He closed his eyes, and sweat broke out on his temples.
For what seemed like hours, nothing happened. Faro closed his eyes.
And then Jude howled in pain. Slowly, a scar formed on his arm, while hers disappeared.
Amy gasped, sitting up and looking around wildly.
“Be still, Amy, rest now,” Mydon ordered. She collapsed once more, head lolling to the side as she fell into a deep slumber.
Jude’s legs buckled, and he dragged himself to a chair and then clamped a hand on his arm, wincing.
“Thank you, brother.” Faro grasped Jude’s hand.
“I just hope you didn’t derail our mission.” With a grunt, Jude stood and stumbled to the door. Presumably, he was going to get some rest.
Closing his eyes, Faro gave silent thanks—to the Fates, to Jude and his miraculous power, and even to Mydon for his timely intervention.
“You think you’ve won, don’t you?” Mydon stood by the windows, framed by the enormity of space.
“She’s alive, and it’s the only thing I care about.”
“Yes, you’ve made it clear. And what if there are repercussions?”
“Then we’ll deal with them.”
“Our planet be damned.” Mydon was visibly shaking with rage, a black hole of wrath. Faro had never felt anything like it, or seen Mydon so upset, and he’d tested his patience on several occasions.
“No, I didn’t mean—”
“No, you never do. What if the Trovians decide they’d like to have a drake?”
Faro hadn’t considered the possibility. The Drakeborne Knights were a secret weapon, and he’d exposed them to an enemy force.
“And we’ve discussed this before, but what if the Parliament figures out what you’ve done?”
Faro hoped they wouldn’t. “Mydon, I’m sorry, I never—”
He held up a hand. “Stop. I don’t want to hear any more of your excuses, Faro.”
Faro nodded.
“And what are your plans for the woman?” he asked.
“Amy will come with us, if she wishes to.”
Mydon jerked his head to one side. “You can’t leave your mate on this barren rock.”
“I won’t force her to do anything,” Faro said pointedly. “If she comes to Iradia, it’ll be her decision, not mine.”
Faro knew he could persuade Amy to leave. With time, and the chance to absorb everything, she’d agree with him. For now, they were both safe, and he’d worry about the rest later.
Mydon blanched. “I see. For your sake, I hope she complies. In the meantime, let’s pray no one learns of your folly. Corporal punishment’s out of the question, since it would harm your mate, but I intend to make your life very difficult.”
He’d expected no less.
“I’ve never been more disappointed in you, Faro. You’re a disgrace to our kind.” With those parting words, Mydon stalked out of the room.
Faro deserved whatever punishment Mydon gave him.
***
“Wake up, sleepyhead.”
Amy’s eyes fluttered open, and she saw Faro seated beside the bed. He clutched her hand in his, squeezing it.
“Hello, sweeting.” Faro kissed her hand.
“What going on?” Amy leaned on her elbows. The last thing she remembered was being on board the ship, and now she was in her own bedroom.
“Take it easy, you’re safe.”
“What happened to Comet and Cupid?”
“They’re in the barn with fresh food and water, so don’t worry. After you get up, you can go see them.”
Amy sighed in relief. “Wait a minute, what about the bears?”
He chuckled. “They’re back home in China.”
She frowned. “Dammit. I wanted to spend time with them before we returned the little guys. I mean, yay, they’re safe, but still…”
“Anytime you’d like to see the sanctuary, I’d be happy to take you.”
“Thanks.” And then she remembered. “What about your injury? You were hurt.” She clutched his forearm, and pushed his sleeve up to reveal scorched skin. It was red and raw. “Oh, my God. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, don’t worry. It’ll eventually heal.”
Still, the injury looked painful.
“I’m sorry.” And then she remembered being hit by the laser blast. Amy glanced at her own arm, but it was fine. “I thought the blaster got me.”
“You were hit, but we cured you.” Faro cupped her chin. “You could’ve died. I told you to run.”
“I know, but I couldn’t leave you.” Amy kissed his palm.
They locked eyes, just staring at one another. Somehow, Amy couldn’t look away, even if she tried.
“So what do we do? About us, I mean?”
“Mydon won’t keep us apart anymore, so it’s up to you, Amy. I’d love to show you my planet.”
“I remember your offer, but I can’t imagine leaving this place.” It was an enormous decision. Earth was her home, the only one she’d ever known. And sure, starting a new life on Iradia sounded exciting, but scary, too.
His face was solemn. “I know, but there’s no future here for you.”
“I understand, but I need to think.” It was a huge, overwhelming decision, one she couldn’t face right now.
“Very well. And what of me, Amy? Are you open to being my mate?”
Now that decision was simple.
A smile spread across her face.
“Of course, I am.” Amy kissed him. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“My woman, my mate.” With a growl, Faro leapt on top of her, pushing Amy back to the mattress. Amy wrapped her arms and legs around him, holding on tight.
And then they made love again and again, until they were both exhausted.
It was almost enough to make a girl forget the end of the world.