Zelron pulled Prov to her feet, following Natasha out the door and up the stairs.
Cool gusts of summer wind hit her as the door opened; bright lights shone from the craft still humming on the roof.
“Are you getting this?” Natasha yelled at her cameraman who was hovering behind them.
“Yeah, yeah, getting it.”
Zelron made to stride forward, but fear made Prov yank her hand from his. He paused, turning to look at her.
“Go! Your people are waiting.” She hung back beside Natasha.
He frowned again, but turned and walked to the ship where three other Kelons disembarked and were standing there. Zelron marched up and saluted.
One of the Kelons pulled Zelron into a brief hug. They stood talking for what seemed an eternity.
“Breathe, Providence.” Natasha gave her a nudge.
She let out a breath she didn’t realise she was holding. Her emotions were in more turmoil than the day she was put into the cell with Zelron.
“Are you going to go to Kelon with him?”
“What?” Prov glanced sharply at Natasha, startled by her comment.
“Oh, c’mon, the possessive way he looks at you… Despite what he’s gone through, I doubt he’ll go anywhere without you.” She sighed. “I wish a man looked at me like Zelron looks at you. Do you love him?”
“More than anything in the world.” The words slipped out with the full force of her heart. Yes, she loved him.
“Have you told him?”
She narrowed her eyes at the reporter. “You really are nosy.”
“Hey, you guys came to me. I admit I’m angling for more in this story. My viewers are going to eat up this romance.” She smiled. “As a woman and not a journalist, take my advice—tell him.”
Funny how it took a stranger to make her see her true feelings. It was time to give up her fears of losing her Z man, and hold onto him with both hands. He promised a forever-until-death-do-you-part relationship. She believed his words. She knew as much as she was his, he was also one hundred percent hers.
Zelron turned and held out his hand towards her, motioning her to come to him. Providence’s feet moved before she gave them the order, and she walked to meet him halfway. There was a smile on his face as she approached, a smile speaking more than words could. The love shining in his starlight eyes made her heart soar.
Something whizzed past her ear and Zelron’s left shoulder jerked back and a jet of warm liquid sprayed across her face.
He growled, loudly.
It took only a split second to realise he was shot, but the only thought filtering through her brain was to protect the man she loved. Launching herself forward, she jumped onto Zelron, wrapping her arms around his neck, and then crying out when something sharp slammed into her back.
Her body went as limp as a rag doll. She couldn’t move her any of her limbs, but Zelron caught her before she fell.
Why did everything suddenly slow down? There were yelling and loud bangs sounding behind her. People ran as Zelron turned her, laying her on the ground. She tried to reach up to grab onto him.
Why won’t my arms move? Why can’t I feel anything?
“Z…I…I can’t move…”
“Shhh, my little one, it will be alright. The healer will come, he will fix this.” There was blood on his hands. He was shaking and she saw a wild look in his dark eyes.
Fix what? Was she broken? There wasn’t any pain, nothing except tired…so so tired. She struggled to keep her eyes open.
“Shit, shit, shit! They’ve been shot! Someone call an ambulance, now!” Natasha hovered over them both, yelling.
He was hurt? She wanted to do something, to help him, but lay there helplessly, only wanting to sleep.
“Z, I love you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before.”
“Oh, my corami, my beautiful little one, stay awake. Keep those eyes open for me; you must obey me, little one. You have to obey!”
She wanted to obey his panicked command, but it was too hard. Darkness fell as she closed her eyes and the sound of Zelron’s roar faded.
* * * *
Red clouded Zelron’s vision, redder than the blood coating his hand, or soaking his clothing. He ignored the throbbing, dull pain in his shoulder and rose to his feet, Providence's limp body clutched in his arms. He could not lose her. His life had not truly begun until the moment he first laid eyes on her. She’d become his life. She’d bonded deep within his soul.
Why did she do something so foolish as to throw her little body onto his? He knew the projectile would have hit his heart, but he should be protecting her with his life, not the other way around.
He stumbled as blue flashes of Kelon weapons whizzed past his head. His fellow Kelons were firing on someone, something? He glanced down at Providence. He must do something. He needed to save her.