Page 16 of Stone Cold Alien
He moved the wing. A growl rumbled in his chest when it stopped halfway.
“Don’t force it. May I move it for you?”
After a brief hesitation, he nodded.
I slid one hand beneath the thick strut and placed the other close to the joint. His skin was warm and faintly textured, more like polished granite than human flesh. I slowly folded the wing until his breathing changed.
“Too far?”
“Yes.”
I eased it back and held it in place while securing the bandage around his chest. Doing that required me to lean across him. His body gave off far more heat than I’d expected, and every breath moved firm muscles beneath the grey skin.
He was a patient. An alien patient with an impressive chest, but still a patient.
“Can you breathe comfortably?”
“Yes.”
“Any numbness or tingling?”
“No.”
“That’s the best I can do until we find someone who actually knows something about gharrgoil anatomy.”
“Are there many healers for gharrgoils on this planet?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“Then you are the most relevant.”
I wasn’t sure whether that was a compliment or another complaint.
Pam checked her phone. “Cairn wants us to meet him beside the road. We should start heading back.”
Sten looked towards the castle entrance. “How far?”
“About ten minutes,” I said. “Longer in your condition.”
“I can walk.”
He rose before I could stop him. His legs shook beneath his weight, but he remained upright.
“Would you like some help?”
“No.”
He took one step and swayed.
I waited. There was no point arguing when gravity was proving my case for me.
Sten glared as if his inability to walk was somehow my fault.
“May I help you, or would you prefer to fall into another part of the castle?”
His mouth tightened. “You may help.”
I moved to his uninjured side. Even with him stooping slightly, his arm felt heavy across my shoulders. I wrapped mine around his waist, avoiding the base of his wing.
