His Metal Maiden by Michelle M. Pillow

Author:Michelle M. Pillow [Pillow®, Michelle M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Raven Books LLC

Chapter Seventeen

The familiar hum of equipment was replaced by silence. Silence? Alexis opened her eyes. It had taken several seconds before her mind registered she stared at the outside of a ship, not the metal interior. Soft yellow grass from an alien world cushioned her body and threaded past her vision.

“Lochlann?” she mumbled, willing her tired body to turn.

“He’s gone for help,” Dev answered.

“Almost two days,” Rick said.

“We expect him back soon,” Dev asserted.

“Two days,” Rick repeated. “Even my tired ass could have found help in two days.”

“Not even two days,” Viktor said.

“Feels like a week,” Rick mumbled.

“You want to go? Get to walking, rocket boy,” Dev pointed at the forest. Lines fanned from both of his eyes. He looked dehydrated and exhausted. If she had to guess, he’d been standing guard over the makeshift encampment. “Know which way to the palace?”

Alexis hated to see them at odds. The stress of the situation pressed down on all of them. She tried to access the information stored in her mind to offer a plan, but all she managed to procure were random images of Althanian rock sculptures.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t stop and look at a blasted map as we were careening toward the ground,” Rick snapped. A few other arguing voices joined the discussion. They became a mash up of indiscernible sounds.

Dev stiffened his posture and looked ready to pounce. Rick waved his arms in wildly exaggerated movements to taunt him.

“Quiet! Or I’m going to slap the stupid out of all of you,” Violette said like a general commanding her soldiers. “Maintain yourselves. We’re all tired and hungry and a little broken.”

Dev nodded at his wife but didn’t relax his posture. The other voices did not pick back up.

Rick stared at Dev for a long time before mumbling something that sounded like, “Yeah, whatever. I can’t leave Alexis anyway. My orders are to protect her.”

“Alexis, here, we need you to drink something. You’ve been out for a long time.” Josselyn appeared by her side, drawing her attention. The woman tried to hand her a water pack.

Alexis shook her head in denial and pushed the offered pack away. “Lochlann.”

“Dev hunted. It’s not much, but do you think you can eat?” Violette asked.

“Loch,” Alexis mumbled. It was hard to concentrate, but she knew if she could just look at him she’d feel better. Pain and numbness made up her entire being. Though she’d just opened her eyes, the dark lull of sleep beckoned her back.

“What’s wrong with her? Is she feverish?” Josselyn asked.

Alexis tried to stand but a sharp pain radiated from her ankle. She gasped and fell back. Her muscles shook with fatigue. Each breath felt like pulling air through a tiny hole.

“I thought crashing the ship was going to be the worst part,” Lucien said. “I was wrong. It’s the waiting. We should be doing something.”

“They’re right, Dev,” Jackson said. “You should go after Lochlann. You’re the strongest.”

“My orders are to protect the crew,” Dev answered. “You can’t even stand. Alexis is in bad shape.

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