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I had hoped she’d never have to face such a creature.
But she had, and she’d come out of it alive.
That was something to be celebrated.
She surprised me by closing the distance between us, wrapping her arms around my torso and burying her face into my chest.
Her eyes shimmered with water, and it spilled down her cheeks.
I felt their dampness, and for the first time since we’d met, I truly understood the fragility of humans.
My own arms enveloped her, the feeling of her soft and supple body against mine sending a jolt of unfamiliar warmth coursing through me.
Every pore of my being seemed to attune to her scent, that intoxicating mix of fear, determination, and something uniquely Riley.
It stirred memories and emotions long dormant within me.
I tightened my grip on her, the intensity of the moment threatening to sweep me away.
In our brief time together, we had faced challenges that neither of us could have anticipated, and yet, here we were, drawing strength from one another.
But, to my surprise, it was Riley who gently pulled away first.
Her gaze met mine, searching, probing, a question forming in her eyes. “I can’t… I can’t do that again, Talan. I just can’t,” she whispered, the tremor in her voice revealing the depth of her trauma.
Looking into her eyes, I found a resolve that matched my own. “You don’t have to,” I replied firmly, the words a promise I intended to keep.
The truth was, Ihatedusing her as bait.
It went against every instinct I possessed to protect, to shield her from the dangers of this place.
I nodded, the bond between us growing stronger with each passing moment. “The next time,” I assured her, “will be easier andmuchsafer.”
A slight smile formed on her lips, gratitude evident in her gaze. “Thank you.”
The quiet chirps and hums of the alien landscape did little to calm the nerves bubbling within me.
I was acutely aware that our strategy placed Riley at the heart of danger once again.
Every molecule of my being cried out against it.
But with our options limited, I couldn’t risk the safety of the human woman who had become such an integral part of my journey.
Each clearing we passed through was analyzed, assessed for its tactical advantage.
Some were too open, others too cluttered with tall plants, giving the predators too much cover.
I was searching for the perfect blend of space and limitation, a zone where our foe would be out in the open, but not with too many escape routes.
Finally, we reached a clearing that seemed to tick all the boxes.
Surrounded by dense thickets and only a few narrow paths leading in and out, it was as close to an arena as we could hope for.
Working quickly, I began setting up a series of snares.
Riley crouched beside me, watching with fascination as I formed the traps.
She had to follow me as she had to give me enough slack with the handcuffs.
