Warrior's Pain (Cadi Warriors Book 4)(98)

“Aw, did my friend cause the big bad general trouble?” June snickered.

Cyprian’s brow quirked at the female. Aculus and the rest of the males chuckled at his expense.

The general stopped when they entered the medical bay. Riley lay sleeping with a bandage around her neck, but she looked far from peaceful. Her face kept contorting in a variety of distressed and agitated expressions. He stepped to her bedside and took her hand.

“Hey, Little Manx, you in there?” he asked.

“Come on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, wake up,” June said from Riley’s other side.

Riley’s eyes fluttered but didn’t open, as she mumbled something incoherent. Cyprian smiled in relief. Her response wasn’t much, but it was an improvement over the catatonic state before.

Aculus retrieved a couple chairs for Ion and June, while Cyprian was content to stand. He wanted to be there when Riley opened her eyes again. He missed seeing the spark in those smoldering depths.



Riley

Riley’s eyes flew open. She struggled to sit up, but her head hurt like a son of a bitch.

“Whoa,” June exclaimed as she put a hand on Riley’s shoulder.

Riley looked at June, and tears filled her eyes.

“I’m back, and you’re here,” Riley husked, her throat feeling dry. “I was in a bizarre movie theater and couldn’t get out.”

Riley reached for June. She didn’t know how she was here with her friend. Her brain was too foggy to make sense of it.

“We took out that nasty implant that was messing with your mind.”

Riley tried to nod, then winced in discomfort. Ion walked into the room and Riley couldn’t hold the tears back.

“I’m so sorry Ion. Exo is gone. They killed him when he tried to protect me. I tried to revive him. I really did,” Riley sobbed.

“Don’t apologize,” Ion said, as she took hold of Riley’s hand.

“No. It was my fault. I lost my temper and angered one of the guards. He wouldn’t have died if I just controlled myself,” Riley ranted as tears streamed down her face.

“No. Do not blame yourself,” Ion insisted.

“Please relax. I don’t want you to overtax yourself,” a Cadi man said as he pressed something to Riley’s arm, and injected her.

“No,” Riley murmured as a languid sensation overwhelmed her.

She didn’t want to go back to sleep. She’d slept enough. As her eyelids grew heavy a familiar figure approached.

“Did she wake up?” the deep recognizable voice asked, as he handed June a cup.

“Cyprian!” Impossible. I’m imagining this. “You died,” she slurred.

“No, no, Little Manx. The look on your face was enough to warn me. Vintor and I got out just in time,” Cyprian reassured her.

Riley wasn’t sure she could trust herself. The line between real and not real had been blurred lately.

Cyprian placed his large hand over hers, and Riley soaked up the comforting heat.

Please be real, Riley begged as she slipped into oblivion again.





Chapter 15. For God and Country




Cyprian de Praefectus

Cyprian awoke early, and was glad to see the sun had barely peaked over the horizon. It was good being on Cadi. He was relieved Aculus agreed to land on the southern continent, after meeting everyone. Cyprian looked down at Riley nestled in his arms, and sighed. She’d slept soundly since yesterday, when the implant was removed.

My Little Manx is exhausted. He couldn’t blame her, she’d been through so much.

Cyprian wanted nothing more than to linger all day in bed with Riley. But since he had to sneak into her room late last night, he had to get going before anyone awoke. Evading suspicion, while Riley recovered was becoming taxing.

Riley stirred but didn’t wake, as he shifted from beneath her, then rose from the bed. Cyprian smiled as he looked down at her. Her black and purple hair was in disarray. Riley’s colorful arms and legs were splayed across the bed. His grin widened as he thought about how she slept. For such a little female, she did a good job monopolizing the bed.

The general shook his head as he noticed the furball nestled near Riley’s pillow. The tangle slept peacefully, now that it was reunited with Riley.

Spoiled beast.

Cyprian headed for the door and quietly entered the hall. It was kind of Sundara and Metcor to let everyone stay in their plantation villa. Cyprian stopped when he saw Daimio Kagan leaning against the wall.

“You mind telling me what you left out yesterday,” Kagan insisted.

Cyprian nodded. He hadn’t intended to put off speaking to Kagan for so long, but with everything going on, a good opportunity hadn’t presented itself.

“Someplace private,” Cyprian suggested.