Cold Mark (29 page)

Collapsed in a tangle of arms and legs, I stayed far away from the dead corpse. There was much blood lying in a pool around Rule's body. I didn't want the blame for his death. I already had enough on my plate to add manslaughter to the ever growing list of misfortunes.

Shivering in the night air, I curled into a fetal position to keep warm. It was taking the Mian a long freaking time to find the crash site. I had expected them here ten minutes ago.

I wasn't sure what I would say to the litigators this time, except for the—partial—truth.

It seemed the only outcome that would keep me from going back to that hellhole of a jail cell.

Cold 'showers' were not my thing ... even if I definitely needed one now.

When the grass before my eyes began to vibrate, I knew they were coming. The glow of varying shades of eyes sprinkled the darkness like fireflies in a vast circle around the crash. I cautiously sat up and raised my hands in a clear sign I had no weapons.

In a swoop of wind, Leo and Malik were suddenly in front of me. I croaked, "Hi."

Their jaws gaped at the carnage of the ship around me ... and the dead body.

"Can I get a jacket? I'm cold."

Malik rapidly tore off his shirt, each of his muscles flexing vividly. "Braita, are you all right?"

I was honest. "No." I bit my lip, but I couldn't stop the tears that fell like apologetic caresses down my cheeks. "It's been a really bad week." They hadn't even known I was gone. "I take it neither of you came to visit me in my new-and-improved cell?"

Their shocked expressions instantly altered. It wasn't exactly a void slate, but it wasn't apologetic, either. Leo watched as I pulled the shirt over my head, then he bent and lifted me into his arms, holding me close against his chest. "We knew you were missing. We came to visit you, and you were gone. We thought ... " He cleared his throat. "Malik and I thought you had run off again. We were giving you your space since you weren't far."

"Oh." I rested my head against his shoulder. With a shuddering breath, I pointed at Rule's body. "I didn't kill him. He did it himself."

Stiller stepped out of nowhere, suddenly next to us, staring down at the corpse. His tone was nonchalant as he asked, "The Kireg who entered our airspace unannounced and shot you down had nothing to do with it?"

My lips thinned. "No. They were looking for a Human named Madeline. For some reason, they thought she was on Triaz. On Rule's hov-craft."

"Interesting," Malik hummed. "And why did Rule decide to kill himself?

"Out of guilt. Or fear of what you would do to him. I don't know. He was crazy as shit." I closed my eyes against the converging scene. "He tortured me for the past week on his hov-craft. He felt I should suffer for my
supposed
act of treason."

Leo's arm tightened around me. "We need to have medical check you out."

"Okay." I wasn't going to argue with that. "And then I want pills to make me pass out."

He nuzzled his cheek against my forehead, whispering, "We can do that for you."

Words I never thought I would hear myself mutter babbled forth. "Take me back to my plush jail cell now. I want to go back to the city. Out of the forest."

He started walking. "We can do that, too." With a reverent touch, he kissed my forehead.

"Do you know who you are?" the nursemaid asked promptly, shining a light into my eyes.

"Braita Valorn."

"Do you know what day of the week it is?"

"No."

"What city are you in?"

"Center."

"Who are the two men standing behind me?"

"My Vaq. Malik and Leo." I flinched as her leg brushed my ankle. "I'm their Soul."

With a professionalism I appreciated, she bent fluidly and examined my ankle. Placing her hand on the bottom of my barefoot, dirty and all, she ordered, "Press down." I did so, and she altered her touch, resting her hand on top of my foot. "Press up."

I grimaced but did as told. "I think it's just sprained. Or bruised badly."

Feeling along the bones on my ankle, she stated, "I concur. No x-ray will be needed, but you will need to stay off it for a few days." Her gaze altered to my chest were red marks lined it in varying locations. Her fingers were gentle as she probed each spot. "These look like remnants of burn marks."

"He used a taser-rod on me."

Malik flinched, his shoulders tightening. But he stayed quiet, watching intently.

Leaning forward to exam a particular gruesome mark, she probed, "How many times?"

I shook my head and closed my eyes against the harsh glow of the lights. "I lost count."

"Was there water involved during this?"

"Not all the time."

"How many times?"

"Twice."

She lifted a device, listening to my heart. "Do you feel any tightening in your chest?"

"No."

After a minute, she nodded and lowered the instrument. She hesitated for a brief moment, glancing over her shoulder at my Vaq, but turned her attention back to me. Her words were soft, and she asked gently, "Was there any forced sexual intercourse? Do I need to do a pelvic exam?"

My Vaq held perfectly still, not even breathing.

Rubbing my eyes, I shook my head. "No, he didn't touch me in that way."

Leo let out a heavy exhale and began to pace, rubbing his hands through his hair.

The nursemaid smiled in understanding as I watched him warily. "He's okay. Just relieved."

"Okay." I squirmed on the doctor's table I sat on. "Are we done now? Can I get the pills to help me sleep?"

"Did anything else happen that I need to be aware of?"

I sighed, my whole chest deflating with it, but I went on to explain each torturing device used. And the medicine he had injected me with every night before beginning. When I was through, I grumbled, "I think my Vaq have had enough."

She patted my knee. "I think you have too, Ms. Valorn." She handed a rigid Malik my sleeping pills. "
You
dispense these to her. Do not allow her to medicate herself. And I would suggest eyes on her at all times—"

I groaned, my body wearing down even further. "More suicide watch."

"What was that, Ms. Valorn?"

"Nothing." I waved a quick hand. "Continue on."

Gradually, she turned her attention back to Malik and Leo. "And therapy. She's going to need it."

Jerking upright in bed, I wiped my forehead off, the sickly perspiration drenching my skin.

"It was just a dream," Leo stated, his tenor quiet. He sat on a chair in the corner of my jail cell, watching me as I slept. He and Malik were taking turns. "Go back to sleep."

My hands shook, but I nodded. Flopping back onto my mattress, I grumbled, "It's been a week, Leo. You can go sleep with Malik. I'm not going to kill myself."

He answered in an even tone, "I know. That's not why we're here every day."

My brows furrowed. "Then why are you here?"

He ran a hand through his golden hair, his eyes glowing on my face. "Contrary to popular belief, we care about you."

"You're afraid I'll get kidnapped again?"

"That, among other things."

I fisted the covers under my chin. "Other things?"

He cleared his throat before stating quietly, "Malik and I know how long a recovery can be after what you've gone through. You need someone here with you, even if you don't think so."

I lifted a finger and scratched my nose in the darkness. "Did you know Malik punched me during the battle on Joyal? He pulled his punch, but it hurt like hell. Knocked me out. I'm pretty sure that's against your laws here."

There was silence before he snickered. "The laws here, Braita. We were on Joyal when that happened. And, to be honest, if it had been me, and you were making as much racket as you were, drawing fire in our direction ... I wouldn't have pulled my punch."

I sniffed and lifted my chin. "He still hit me.
And
he dragged me along the floor."

"He did it to save your life. The ground was the safest place for you."

"By my hair, Leo."

He hummed. "Perhaps that was overdoing it a bit, but you had risked our lives, too, by running away to Joyal. Neither one of us was too pleased with your choice. Or lack of prudence."

I huffed. "It wasn't supposed to turn out like that."

"And yet, it still did." A tapping sounded in his direction, his boot tapping the ground. "You haven't apologized so far for that farce."

"Give me a break," I grumbled and rolled to face away from him. "I know you liked going all warrior crazy on their Humans asses."

A bare beat, and then he laughed ... so familiar. Comforting. "Yes, I did."

I scratched my nose again, waiting until he calmed. My voice was quiet. "Are you guys still mad at me?"

"We're getting over it a little bit more each day. It won't be an instantaneous thing." He paused before continuing, "You
ran away
from us. Again."

"I understand." I nibbled on my bottom lip, and then blurted, "It was stupid. I should have thought it through."

His foot tapped again. "Is that your apology?"

"As close as it's going to come to one. I wanted my freedom. I still do."

Full arrogance. "Then I accept your apology."

With haughty flare, I stated, "And I accept the fact you still don't understand."

His foot stopped bouncing, no sound heard. "You really are something else."

"Yes, you're not the first person to mention that."

"Sleep safe, my Soul."

"Happy stalker day to you, my pain in the ass." I chuckled. Waited a second. "Sleep safe."

"Let me start by saying my name is Dr. Kowna, and I'm a psychologist," the silver-haired, soft-spoken Mian man murmured. "The Plumas of the west have employed my services to you for however long you need, Ms. Valorn. They also—briefly—explained your past, and your most recent tragedy involving a litigator."

"That's lovely." I smiled. It was forced. "Let me also start by saying," I raised my voice to near shout level, staring over his head at my cell door, "
if my Vaq do not get in here and make this a group therapy session, I won't be saying shit!
"

The doctor's expression was worth this endeavor. As was my Vaqs when they entered the cell, their stride at a camel's pace and their glowing eyes wary of me. I patted the bed on either side of me, gazing directly at them. "Come sit down. I want you to participate instead of eavesdropping outside the door."

I swear I heard Malik groan under his breath, but they took my challenge like the leader's they are. Without argument, they finished walking through the spacious cell with dignity, heads held high. As they sat beside me, they even leaned back as if they weren't bothered at all by my underhanded tactic.

I placed a simpering hand on their knees closest to me. Glanced at each one. Smiled so large it was blinding and added in a joyful tone, "See? This will be helpful and fun, just like you both said."

Dr. Kowna quickly schooled his expression, his apparent hilarity at the Plumas situation banked behind a professional gaze. "I would like to first start out with," he peered down at his notebook, "the reason why you first ran away from your Vaq to the land of the east."