Page 63 of Ruby
The breeze sends a chill through my still-healing body. Every step aches. I pray it’s the last time I ever take a beating like that.
I don’t realize how fast I’m walking until I reach Azoeul’s side.
“Sorry,” I say when he speaks. “Didn’t hear you.”
“I asked if you were lost in your thoughts,” he replies. “But I suppose I have my answer.”
I can’t help a small laugh.
The side of his mouth lifts, revealing sharp teeth. I interpret it as a smile. A few days ago, that would’ve terrified me. This planet has changed me. Inside and out. I haven’t processed any of it. I’m afraid if I try, I’ll fall apart completely, so I keep moving.
“I’m just tired,” I say, glancing at the darkening sky.
“I understand. What happened back there… it was—”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I say quickly.
He grunts softly and drops it. Guilt pricks at me for shutting down the same conversation again, but I’m too drained to apologize.
Eventually he sprints ahead again, disappearing into the trees.
Our walk continues in silence and as the adrenaline wears off, I slow down and linger behind him. I turn around a few times to make sure Szhe’ka hasn’t run off in an effort to leave but he just bumbles along tiredly, his eyes set on me and a flat expression on his face.
Szhe’ka catches up to me. When I turn and look, his eyes brighten, and my stomach flips. He offers me one of his handsand the rage bleeds out of me as fast as it came. I take it without hesitation.
The way my body reacts to him startles me every time; heat, awareness, desire sparking under my skin. Even his scent makes my thighs clench. And that terrifies me. Is it real? Or is it something the aliens did to me?
The thought lingers like poison.
Azoeul bursts from the brush. “I found somewhere to rest.”
He leads us into a shaded area behind a large boulder and I almost want to hug him. It’s a natural grove located in the center of a semicircle of shorter, thicker trunked trees, which served as a sort of natural fence. It is bare save for a couple of rocks haphazardly scattered around the general area but at least it is shaded and easily defendable.
I briefly acknowledge the luck I have had so far to have run into not one but two separate helpful aliens, I really would not have lasted anywhere near as long as I have if I had been by myself. My entire body hurts and I am more than ready to lay my head down for the night.
I could cry from relief.
“I’ll gather leaves,” Azoeul says. “Can you help?”
“I could,” I admit, “but I’m barely standing.”
He grunts and disappears again.
The wind blows and I cradle my knees to my chest, resting my head atop them and finally letting out a long sigh. As physically tiring as the day has been, it has been leagues more exhausting emotionally. All I want to do is curl up into a ball and cry myself to sleep.
“He where?” Szhe’ka’s harmony flows to my ears and I look up to see that he is in front of me.
“Gathering foliage.”
“Get more leaves, for the ground.” I respond and a mass of feathers drops to a sitting position in front of me.
When Azoeul returns, we build a fire together. As flames catch, conversation fills the space. I learn Ree is traveling with a Manticorid named Thivoll, searching for other abducted women.
She’s better than I am. I wouldn’t have gone looking. Szhe’ka tells Azoeul where he last saw Ree. Azoeul immediately offers to find her. Szhe’ka objects, but Azoeul is already gone.
Szhe’ka rises to follow. I block him with my body. “No. You need to stay here.”
If he had his wings, maybe. But now? He’d only hurt himself.
