the…
“You’re awake. Good.”
I jumped at the sound of Dillon’s voice.
Rays of sun poured over his shoulder, blacking out his face and keeping me from reading his expression. His tone was neutral, his shoulders relaxed. A better reception than I had anticipated.
I shifted, trying to get comfortable. “Where are we?”
“No ‘thanks for saving my life’?” He grunted. “Guess I should have seen that coming.”
Spine straight as I could make it, I said, “I didn’t need your help, but thank you.”
Nodding, he walked until his boot nudged my leg. He squatted and offered me a cool tin. I snatched it from his hands and took one hard gulp before he ripped it from my hand. “What—?”
“Sip nice and slow.” He rocked back on his heels. “If you chug the water, you’ll vomit it right back up and the next batch won’t be nearly as cool or as clean. I promise you that.”
The first sip made my throat quiver. Another sip, then another, until I was gulping fast as the water hit my mouth. Dillon reached for my hand, but it was too late. I’d drunk it all and I heaved.
“Damn it.” He rose and stepped back while I emptied my stomach at his feet. “I told you to take it easy.” Once I finished, he grabbed me around the waist, sending a fresh wave of nausea roiling through my tender stomach, and then carried me to a nearby rock and set me on the edge.
“Sorry,” I mumbled.
He glanced up, nodded. “Tilt your head back.”
I did as I was told, and the tunnel spun around me. Before I could complain, more of the same delicious coolness trickled across my parched lips. I opened my mouth, and Dillon poured me a swallow at a time. Enough I was desperate for more, but not enough I gagged or choked.
“That’s enough for now.” Something rough swiped across my mouth, his shirt.
After I processed his words, I lowered my chin and met his gaze. His eyes were my favorite of his features. It was no chore for me to stare into them and wait for him to begin his questions.
After a moment, he rolled his shoulders and reached behind his head. Scratching his neck, he withdrew bloodied fingers. Crouching before me, he wiped at his hands. “We need to talk.”
“What happened?” Sickness cast aside, I rose and circled him. “Why are you bleeding?”
“It’s nothing.” He whirled before I reached his back. “Sit down before you hurt yourself.”
Dodging his arm, I glared up at him. “Did something happen? I didn’t—” Blood drained in an icy rush from my face. I tried again, hating how my voice shook. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“No. You didn’t.” His eyes darkened, and I knew he was thinking of those I had hurt.
“Oh.” Cursing my twisted thoughts, I grasped the simplest answer and held tight. “I thought I might have scratched you. You don’t want to risk another bacterial infection from unclean sand in your wound. Losing a leg is one thing, but an aggressive infection near your spine is another.”
He blinked, considering. A roll of his shoulder dismissed the danger. Stubborn male .
“You never said where we were.” I rubbed my arms as I peered down the darkened maw.
“Think about it.” He stood at my shoulder and stared too.
The bottom dropped from my stomach. Natural caves were rare, and these walls were far too smooth. Once my eyes adjusted, I saw the torch holders and the empty crates. Scattered tools and a worn bench gave me my answer. My knees buckled. “We’re in the mines, beneath the colony.”
Events from the past two days flashed before my eyes. I’d hurt innocent males, destroyed colony property, lied to those I called friends, all for nothing. I was right back where I’d started from, with no salt, no escape and no hope. I turned slowly. “Why did you bring me down here?”
“I’m not going to hurt you, Isabeau.” His sigh sounded tired. “God knows someone ought to knock some sense into you, but it’s not going to be me. I’ll leave that up to
“You’re awake. Good.”
I jumped at the sound of Dillon’s voice.
Rays of sun poured over his shoulder, blacking out his face and keeping me from reading his expression. His tone was neutral, his shoulders relaxed. A better reception than I had anticipated.
I shifted, trying to get comfortable. “Where are we?”
“No ‘thanks for saving my life’?” He grunted. “Guess I should have seen that coming.”
Spine straight as I could make it, I said, “I didn’t need your help, but thank you.”
Nodding, he walked until his boot nudged my leg. He squatted and offered me a cool tin. I snatched it from his hands and took one hard gulp before he ripped it from my hand. “What—?”
“Sip nice and slow.” He rocked back on his heels. “If you chug the water, you’ll vomit it right back up and the next batch won’t be nearly as cool or as clean. I promise you that.”
The first sip made my throat quiver. Another sip, then another, until I was gulping fast as the water hit my mouth. Dillon reached for my hand, but it was too late. I’d drunk it all and I heaved.
“Damn it.” He rose and stepped back while I emptied my stomach at his feet. “I told you to take it easy.” Once I finished, he grabbed me around the waist, sending a fresh wave of nausea roiling through my tender stomach, and then carried me to a nearby rock and set me on the edge.
“Sorry,” I mumbled.
He glanced up, nodded. “Tilt your head back.”
I did as I was told, and the tunnel spun around me. Before I could complain, more of the same delicious coolness trickled across my parched lips. I opened my mouth, and Dillon poured me a swallow at a time. Enough I was desperate for more, but not enough I gagged or choked.
“That’s enough for now.” Something rough swiped across my mouth, his shirt.
After I processed his words, I lowered my chin and met his gaze. His eyes were my favorite of his features. It was no chore for me to stare into them and wait for him to begin his questions.
After a moment, he rolled his shoulders and reached behind his head. Scratching his neck, he withdrew bloodied fingers. Crouching before me, he wiped at his hands. “We need to talk.”
“What happened?” Sickness cast aside, I rose and circled him. “Why are you bleeding?”
“It’s nothing.” He whirled before I reached his back. “Sit down before you hurt yourself.”
Dodging his arm, I glared up at him. “Did something happen? I didn’t—” Blood drained in an icy rush from my face. I tried again, hating how my voice shook. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“No. You didn’t.” His eyes darkened, and I knew he was thinking of those I had hurt.
“Oh.” Cursing my twisted thoughts, I grasped the simplest answer and held tight. “I thought I might have scratched you. You don’t want to risk another bacterial infection from unclean sand in your wound. Losing a leg is one thing, but an aggressive infection near your spine is another.”
He blinked, considering. A roll of his shoulder dismissed the danger. Stubborn male .
“You never said where we were.” I rubbed my arms as I peered down the darkened maw.
“Think about it.” He stood at my shoulder and stared too.
The bottom dropped from my stomach. Natural caves were rare, and these walls were far too smooth. Once my eyes adjusted, I saw the torch holders and the empty crates. Scattered tools and a worn bench gave me my answer. My knees buckled. “We’re in the mines, beneath the colony.”
Events from the past two days flashed before my eyes. I’d hurt innocent males, destroyed colony property, lied to those I called friends, all for nothing. I was right back where I’d started from, with no salt, no escape and no hope. I turned slowly. “Why did you bring me down here?”
“I’m not going to hurt you, Isabeau.” His sigh sounded tired. “God knows someone ought to knock some sense into you, but it’s not going to be me. I’ll leave that up to
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