Aurelian’s blood turned to ice in his veins.
Harold Dawes stepped from behind a shelf, Kait held in front of him as a shield. “So, you came all this way for this pretty piece of pussy,” he sneered.
Aurelian forced himself to breathe. “Kait,” he said calmly, “it’s going to be okay.”
Dawes had his hand over Kait’s mouth, preventing her from answering. Fear blazed in her eyes.
Careful, Ari. Don’t stop thinking. There’s always a way.
“Mr. Reynard, you’re absolutely right.” Dawes’ flechette pistol against Kait’s temple, he moved towards Aurelian.
He hadn’t seen the others yet, Aurelian realized.Okay. Just keep coming, asshole.
“Everythingwillbe okay,” Dawes continued. “Just perhaps not in the way you imagined.” He took another step forward.
I think he’s close enough. He has to be close enough.
Aurelian looked tenderly at Kait, trying to convey a lifetime’s worth of love into a single moment. Her features softened as she looked back at him, showing him his love was returned.
For a moment, that was all there was, and all there needed to be.
“A mon doigt,” said Aurelian.
“What was that?” sneered Harold Dawes.
“Miss Pyne,present!” Aurelian said and crooked his finger.
A microsecond later, everything went black.
***
Aurelian woke up with a pounding headache and a shooting pain in his temple. He winced as he touched a protruding bump.
“You hit your head on a shelf, on the way down,” said a voice.
Aurelian squinted, trying to focus. There was something attached to his hand.
“The nerve agent leaves a nasty hangover,mon ami. We’ve given you an IV to push some fluids to clear your system.”
“Marc?” croaked Aurelian.
His friend came into vision. “Yes, my dear Aurelian. Forgive me; I thought you knew. I have never experienced the effects of the nerve agent myself. Perhaps a gap in my education,oui?”
Aurelian struggled through the dryness in his mouth then managed, “Kait?”
A hand rested on his shoulder. “All is well, my friend. She is in bed next to you, safe and sound. Everything is okay.C’est bien.The doctor is going to give you a mild sedative, to help you sleep through the worst effects of the agent. When you wake again, we will be back on Tarma.”
Aurelian closed his eyes gratefully.My love is safe. Everything else can work itself out.
***
When Aurelian awoke for the second time, he felt much clearer headed. The bump on his head still hurt, but all of the fog had cleared away. He tried looking around.
“Finally, sleepyhead,” said an amused voice to his left. “I woke up half an hour ago.”
“Kait!” he cried joyfully, turning to see the most beautiful woman in the world, clad, like him, in a hospital gown.
She lay on her side, her head resting against the pillow, smiling at him. “Don’t get up yet,” she warned. “I tried and almost took a tumble. Now, I’m taking my time.”
