Shades of Death by Ramy Vance & Michael Anderle

Author:Ramy Vance & Michael Anderle [Vance, Ramy & Anderle, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781649710031
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2020-06-23T16:00:00+00:00

Terra sat in the medbay by Cire’s side. She held his hand, watching the nurses and doctors bustle about, occasionally being asked to leave the room, and coming back when she was allowed.

Emotions weren’t something Terra dealt with often, not that she didn’t have any. She was awash with them most of the time, but there was a time and place for each one, which was usually when she wanted to deal with them.

This was different. A wellspring of feeling had overcome her as she watched people she didn’t know, standing over Cire’s body, doing God knows what to him.

On an intellectual level, Terra knew they were helping Cire. But she wanted to be in there with him. She knew—though she also knew it was false—that she could help Cire better than they could.

After two hours of surgery and mage-healing sessions, Terra was finally allowed into Cire’s room. She pulled up the only seat there, and sat beside the orc, wrapping her hand around his, hoping he would open his eyes.

After another hour, Cire’s lids fluttered open. He smiled at Terra as he tried to sit up. “The only tolerable thing I could imagine waking up to.”

Terra scoffed loudly as she disentangled her hands from Cire’s. “Tolerable thing? O-fucking-kay.”

Cire’s face went stony. “No, that’s not… I didn’t mean it like that. We…” Cire sighed loudly as he fumbled for words. “We don’t talk like—”

Terra raised her hand, smiling. “I’m just teasing you, that’s all.”

Cire relaxed, sinking back onto the bed. “I’m glad you’re here. There’s no greater honor than waking up from a battle with your chieftain at your side.”

“That’s the only reason you care?”

Cire looked up at Terra, his eyes softer than she had ever seen before. “There is no greater honor than waking up to my chieftain at my side. The only greater honor would be dying in battle.”

Terra laughed as she kissed Cire’s forehead. “You gotta work on your pillow talk, dude. Because you’re fucking horrible at it.”

Cire groaned as he touched his wound tentatively. “Orcs aren’t used to pillows. It will be something to learn.”

For a moment, Terra thought she shouldn’t speak. It would be easier to let this go unsaid. Maybe it would shrivel up, and she wouldn’t have to ever deal with it. But that’s not what she wanted. “I was scared…I thought you were going to…you know, die or something.”

Cire smiled sweetly. “That tends to be what warriors do. We die.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. I mean…fuck it.”

Terra leaned over and kissed Cire, holding him as close as she could, letting herself melt into him as he did the same. When she finally pulled away, Cire looked as if he’d been punched in the face.

Cire released a heavy sigh. “This is the best way I’ve ever woken up after a fight.”

“Consider it payback for all of those ‘sessions’ you gave me.”

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