"Then how...?"
"Did they discover me?"
"Yes."
"My fault. You see, I discovered a crack in the back wall of the cave and J..." she cut herself off, realizing she had almost told him about Jen. "I would hide in there whenever we heard the Zaludians coming just to make sure they wouldn't realize I was female. On that day, one of the guys had gotten a bad cut, and I was treating it since I had medical training, when a Zaludian suddenly walked in. Because of the condition of my coverings, he realized I was female. All the guys rose up to protect me, but I told them not to fight."
"What?!!" Nikhil couldn't believe it. "Why?"
"Because they couldn't have won," she told him. "All that would have happened was that the Zaludians would have killed them, and I would have been taken anyway. So I went willingly."
"You were injured." That had been bothering Nikhil all along because there was no reason for the Zaludians to beat her, especially if they were planning on selling her to a Pleasure House.
"That's because once I was far enough away from the guys, I tried to escape. I almost made it outside, but then the one with the red beads caught me. He was the one that beat me."
"You tried to save yourself."
"Of course. I wasn't just going to let them take me. Not without a fight."
"You are a fighter, aren't you, my Mackenzie." Nikhil ran a large, rough knuckle carefully over the soft skin of her cheek removing the tear that had escaped her beautiful brown eyes. "One would never guess it because of your size, but I am coming to believe you are the strongest female I have ever met."
"A bigger untruth you have never told, Nikhil Kozar," she said but tipped her head into his touch giving him a sad smile, "but thank you."
"It is not an untruth, Mackenzie, for it takes one truly strong to survive what you have. But it is also for that reason that I never want you to have to be that strong again. I want to take care of you, want to keep you safe."
"I'm not strong, Nikhil, but that doesn't mean I'm weak either. I only survived because I wasn't alone and because I had people I could trust and rely on helping me."
"I want to be one of those people that you trust, Mackenzie. Someone you know you can rely on no matter what."
"Do you?"
"Yes."
"But it works both ways, Nikhil. You have to trust and rely on me too, and you haven't been doing that."
"I... " Nikhil gave her an abashed look. "You are right, my Mackenzie, and I have no excuse except to say that it is not the Kaliszian way, and I am still adjusting to having a True Mate. A very strong, very beautiful, very small True Mate," he finished softly.
"God, if you two get any sappier, I'm going to need a shower," Eric groaned causing them both to look down at him in shock as he reached up to pull off the educator.
"Eric, no!" Mac grabbed his arm stopping him before her gaze flew back to Nikhil. "Get Luol," she ordered.
Nikhil was immediately up and out of the room at her command.
"What's wrong, Mac?" Eric asked.
"Nothing I just want Luol to be the one to remove the educator, Eric. He's the Healer. I don't want to risk you being hurt."
"Nikhil seems like a good guy, Mac," Eric told her quietly, lowering his hand.
"He is."
"Then why are you giving him such a hard time?"
Before Mac could respond, Nikhil and Luol were returning.
Chapter Fourteen
Nikhil sat next to Mackenzie as they ate their midday meal. She'd refused to leave the medical area saying she needed to be there when Craig woke. Nikhil wanted to argue with her. He wanted to take her to their quarters so they could be alone. He wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her. Instead, he had retrieved two meals, and they were silently eating them in Luol's office.
"What's wrong, Nikhil?" she asked putting her half-eaten meal aside.
"Nothing," he picked up the pouch and handed it back to her. "Finish your meal."
"I'm full. You can finish it or Craig can when he's out of the repair unit." She set it back down on the table then rising onto her knees, she cupped his jaw with her hands and she turned him to face her. "What's wrong?"
Nikhil looked into her warm, brown eyes and saw her concern for him. What had he ever done to deserve that? Reaching out he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, the tips of his fingers caressing her silky skin.
"Nothing is wrong, Little One. I had just been hoping to have some time alone while we enjoyed our meal."
"But we're alone now."
"In our quarters," Nikhil added quietly. "I wanted to hold you."