Wings of the Walker - CoraLee June Page 0,169

was forced to skip meals all the time. Guess it became a habit." I peeled the orange while Kemper looked at me like I was a problem he wanted—no—needed to fix.

"Ash, about what I said..."

My mind drifted to our kiss in Jules' suite, and how he held me without fear. I reacted poorly when he simply wanted to keep me safe. I now saw the part I was expected to play. "Kemp. I know you didn't mean it. I was feeling vulnerable and sensitive. I know you don't view me as a..." My voice trailed off as I looked around to see if we were still secluded in the privacy of the alley before whispering, "Walker Companion. This thing between us is so much more. Or at least I hope it is."

Kemper grabbed my hand and frowned when the tips of his fingers brushed along my metal fetter.

"I'm working on a way to get this off of you," he whispered. "The technology is advanced, but I have some ideas on how to fix it."

Once again I looked around, half expecting Webb, Cavil or Blan to ambush us and behead me like they did the Walker woman from the video. I realized that we were standing very close to where she was executed, and I was breaking the same law she did.

Loving someone above my status.

I didn't feel worthy of Kemper's kindness and attentiveness. But he was worth fighting for. They all were. My eyes locked on the empty street, and I felt free for a moment.

Lost in the illusion of seclusion, I whispered, "Kemp, can you do something for me?" I knew already that he would readily agree, because that's just the sort of helpful person he was. Yet I still felt embarrassed all the same.

"Anything." His response was immediate. Firm. Loving .

"Can you walk me to the lab? Pretend with me. Pretend we're in Dormas or on our way to work. Or on a date. Anything really." I blushed while Kemper let out a slow smile that filled his face.

Instead of answering, he simply held out his arm for me to take. I rested my hand in the crook of his arm and we playfully joked about the weather, the sweet and gossipy people of Dormas, and plans for future dates, all while sticking to the shadowed secrecy of the Ethros alleyways.

Maverick's lab was ominous and dark. The moment I stepped through the security clearance, I saw Maverick arguing with a tall man wearing a lab coat.

"That's not how that works, the protein you're looking for doesn't exist," Maverick growled out in frustration while thrusting his hands in the air.

"I'm telling you, it's experimental, but it could work!" the stranger replied. He had dark hair and tan skin, like he spent most his time on Ethros beaches.

"We don't have time to waste on a risky project that has the lowest probability of working. Every day is another death. We go with my plan or we don't go at all." Maverick definitively crossed his arms over his chest and frowned just as the door slid shut behind me, drawing the attention of both men.

"Ash?" Maverick asked in disbelief. It had only been two days since I'd seen him last, and he looked worse than before. Bloodshot eyes. Shaky hands. Was he sleeping? Eating?

He slowly walked over towards me and enveloped me in a huge hug. "I missed you." His hands cupped my face as he observed the bruise on my cheek. "Let me get you something to help with the inflammation," he murmured before sifting through a medic kit until he found a circular container. With gentle hands, he unscrewed the cap and dabbed at the mint-smelling paste inside before applying it to my cheek. The strange man coughed, reminding us of his presence.

"Hello, sir," I choked out awkwardly as Maverick removed his fingers from my cheek. I didn't know who he was, his status, or his views on Walkers. Did I just make things worse? It was so hard knowing where the line was.

In Ethros, a Walker's body could be used up, but once feelings were involved, it got messy. There were simply too many feelings in our group. We were too obvious.

"I'm Allaire," he said while holding out his hand to me and bowing slightly. "Official Chief of Medicine for Ethros. Was kidnapped four years ago and have been here ever since." I took his hand and shook it. Four years. This man had been here four years?

"Where