creature far more powerful and older than she was, but the fact that she hadn't given in completely was a true testament to her spirit.
“Move,” he growled at the crew, who were scrambling out of Audrey’s path.
Tieran tried to keep her away from them, but Audrey was unstoppable without him resorting to using his glaive on her. In a final attempt, the last line of defense, he put himself between her and the others. When Audrey took a purposeful step towards him, she twitched as though a part of her refused to move.
She was there, still fighting. He remembered their kiss, the moment that had made his very soul burn with the flames of passion. The way she'd held on to him and kissed him back ferociously, like he was everything she'd ever wanted…
Tieran lowered the glaive. It was a risky move, but it was all he had.
There was no way he could cut the connection by killing her. His hand would never rise against Audrey, he knew that without a shadow of doubt.
So he let her come. Audrey roared again, her beautiful features twisted, jumping at him. The forward motion was enough to knock them both on the floor, but she was holding back, throwing her hands around him instead of trying to rip him apart. Tieran caught her, grabbing her wrist and slamming the bracelet shut.
She collapsed as if shot in the head, crumbling into his embrace. Peace returned to the bridge, but in his arms, Audrey's body was nearly lifeless and her pulse was very weak.
"Clean this up," Tieran ordered, picking her up hastily. "Make sure we don't lose the ship. Not now."
He carried her back to the med bay, running, hating the fact it was the second time already when he had to do that. How much more did she need to suffer before he could kill the thing that threatened her?
His pulse was racing, anger swirling through him. It was an emotion he had never expected to feel. Through all his missions, through all his training, he had been instilled with the knowledge that anger would never lead him down the wrong path. It was an emotion the paladins had been trained to not know.
And yet it seemed to be all he knew for a moment. With Audrey’s life in danger, he could sense nothing but rage within himself towards those who made her suffer like that.
Tieran laid her down on a surgical table, waiting for the healers to make sure she had no permanent damage from the connection. He took deep, cooling breaths, pushing down the jumble of feelings within him.
He didn't know what complications there could be, but his mind conjured up the worst possibilities. If she woke up and wasn't all Audrey, would he be able to do his duty?
For the first time in his life, Tieran wasn't certain of that. He had vowed to give his life in the service of the galaxy and was prepared to do that without a second's hesitation, but he didn't think he could take Audrey's life.
If she opened her eyes and the hateful light burned in her beautiful greens, could he do what was expected of him?
The answer was no. Audrey didn't deserve to die like that, didn't deserve anything that had happened to her. He resolved himself to wait, hoping instead of preparing.
There was little else he could do.
* * *
W hen at last Audrey opened her eyes and smiled, seeing him, Tieran swore he would never let her be in that kind of danger again. It had been too close for his liking, too terrifying to even consider losing her.
How a paladin can change…
"Hey," she whispered. "I'm still here."
"Yes," he answered, running his fingers gently over her cheek. "It seems it takes more than a Fearless to take you down."
Audrey laughed, nodding, although he could see she was still very weak.
"Was it useful, at least?" she asked. "Did you find out anything new?"
"You were amazing," he said earnestly. "We now know the Fearless has a lifestone. That is invaluable information. We won't be facing that surprise on the battlefield."
"Good," she said happily, before becoming worried. "I didn't hurt anyone, did
“Move,” he growled at the crew, who were scrambling out of Audrey’s path.
Tieran tried to keep her away from them, but Audrey was unstoppable without him resorting to using his glaive on her. In a final attempt, the last line of defense, he put himself between her and the others. When Audrey took a purposeful step towards him, she twitched as though a part of her refused to move.
She was there, still fighting. He remembered their kiss, the moment that had made his very soul burn with the flames of passion. The way she'd held on to him and kissed him back ferociously, like he was everything she'd ever wanted…
Tieran lowered the glaive. It was a risky move, but it was all he had.
There was no way he could cut the connection by killing her. His hand would never rise against Audrey, he knew that without a shadow of doubt.
So he let her come. Audrey roared again, her beautiful features twisted, jumping at him. The forward motion was enough to knock them both on the floor, but she was holding back, throwing her hands around him instead of trying to rip him apart. Tieran caught her, grabbing her wrist and slamming the bracelet shut.
She collapsed as if shot in the head, crumbling into his embrace. Peace returned to the bridge, but in his arms, Audrey's body was nearly lifeless and her pulse was very weak.
"Clean this up," Tieran ordered, picking her up hastily. "Make sure we don't lose the ship. Not now."
He carried her back to the med bay, running, hating the fact it was the second time already when he had to do that. How much more did she need to suffer before he could kill the thing that threatened her?
His pulse was racing, anger swirling through him. It was an emotion he had never expected to feel. Through all his missions, through all his training, he had been instilled with the knowledge that anger would never lead him down the wrong path. It was an emotion the paladins had been trained to not know.
And yet it seemed to be all he knew for a moment. With Audrey’s life in danger, he could sense nothing but rage within himself towards those who made her suffer like that.
Tieran laid her down on a surgical table, waiting for the healers to make sure she had no permanent damage from the connection. He took deep, cooling breaths, pushing down the jumble of feelings within him.
He didn't know what complications there could be, but his mind conjured up the worst possibilities. If she woke up and wasn't all Audrey, would he be able to do his duty?
For the first time in his life, Tieran wasn't certain of that. He had vowed to give his life in the service of the galaxy and was prepared to do that without a second's hesitation, but he didn't think he could take Audrey's life.
If she opened her eyes and the hateful light burned in her beautiful greens, could he do what was expected of him?
The answer was no. Audrey didn't deserve to die like that, didn't deserve anything that had happened to her. He resolved himself to wait, hoping instead of preparing.
There was little else he could do.
* * *
W hen at last Audrey opened her eyes and smiled, seeing him, Tieran swore he would never let her be in that kind of danger again. It had been too close for his liking, too terrifying to even consider losing her.
How a paladin can change…
"Hey," she whispered. "I'm still here."
"Yes," he answered, running his fingers gently over her cheek. "It seems it takes more than a Fearless to take you down."
Audrey laughed, nodding, although he could see she was still very weak.
"Was it useful, at least?" she asked. "Did you find out anything new?"
"You were amazing," he said earnestly. "We now know the Fearless has a lifestone. That is invaluable information. We won't be facing that surprise on the battlefield."
"Good," she said happily, before becoming worried. "I didn't hurt anyone, did
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