A Hero's Bargain by Rayne Forrest

legends
teased at her memory. Surely there was something in them that would help her.
    “What’s
wrong, angel?” His voice was low and soft in her ear, as his lips brushed her
hair again. He shifted his weight up onto his elbows and looked at her, concern
evident in his eyes. “Did I hurt you too much?”
    The
memory of the fleeting pain as he took her was already gone. She shook her
head. “No. I can’t even remember it now.”
    His
fingertips caressed her cheek. “You don’t need to be brave for me, Saba. I know
I hurt you. If it’s any consolation, it probably won’t ever cause you pain
again.”
    “I’m not
being brave. I would tell you if you caused me pain.” She ran her toes along
his calf. He started to move off her. She flipped her leg over his buttocks. He
smiled at her, a little sadly, she thought.
    “I’ve got
to move, angel. My spine is on fire.”
    She released
him immediately. He groaned as he slid from her to lie face down on the bed.
She rolled toward him and carefully ran her hand over his back. He grunted but
did not flinch.
    “You
should relax.”
    He
started to shake. Panic welled up in her.
    “What’s
wrong!”
    Ryder
rolled onto his side, facing her, and grinning. His strong hand traveled across
the swell of her hip. “I can’t remember the last time I was this relaxed.”
    “But your
back…” She was confused, but maybe he’d intended that.
    “As soon
as I moved and stretched just that little bit the sensation went away.” He
leaned forward and kissed her lightly. “It’s a strange feeling, Saba. I can
only describe it as intense heat and tell the healer that every time I
experience it, it’s weaker and weaker.”
    The
healer in her was glad to learn his symptoms were abating. An errant thought
crossed her mind. Surely he would not
have. Would he?
    “Ryder,
did you use some of your own treatments on yourself?”
    The
playful glint left his eyes. Her heart sank, knowing he considered whether or
not to be truthful with her. It showed plainly on his face, tarnishing the joy
of being with him.
    He
stroked his thumb across her lips. “Yes. When I first knew I was in trouble I
injected myself with a broad-spectrum anti-venom.” His lips thinned into a grim
line. “I don’t know how much I got, but it wasn’t enough.”
    Saba
trembled with relief that he’d chosen to tell her the truth. He must have
thought she was chilled, and reached for the blanket, pulling it over them. She
nestled closer to him, a thousand questions rattling around inside her head,
but there was only one she had to ask tonight. The one that plagued her more
than all the rest together.
    “When the errol is destroyed, will you leave here?”
    His
emotional withdrawal from her was so swift and thorough, Saba flinched. Ryder
hadn’t moved, or even blinked at her questions, yet she felt him sever
the connection they’d shared. Emptiness welled up inside her. His voice was
rough, and bitter.
    “And go
where, angel? Home? I need a ship to get home and I’m betting there’s not one
fucking ship on this whole godforsaken planet.” He rolled away from her to sit
on the edge of the bed. “I’ve got nowhere to go, Saba. I liked my life but it’s
gone and I’m stuck here. I’ll have to make a place for myself, like it or not.”
    He rose
to stand by the cooling hearth. The room was still in twilight gloom. From
outside came the sound of a woman calling her children to come in for the
evening meal. Beyond that was the dull thud of iron on wood as someone worked
preparing fuel for the villagers’ fires. There was soft cooing overhead as
songbirds settled for the night in the thick thatching of the roof.
    Saba
watched him stand there, unmoving, until she could be still no longer. She
whispered his name into the darkness.
    “Ryder?”
    He took a
deep breath and gusted out a ragged sigh. His voice, too, was a whisper in the
darkness.
    “No,
angel, I’m not leaving. But I’m not going to indiscriminately