Hanna and the Hitman - Honey Phillips Page 0,22

carry you.” He bent down. “Climb onto my back.”

“Are you sure?

“I’ve been climbing since before I could walk,” he said truthfully.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t counted on the effect of her closeness on his rapidly deteriorating body. He spent the entire climb fighting the urge to swing her around and take her the way his ancestors had taken their mates. To his surprise, Zemma didn’t rush ahead but stayed close, snapping his attention back to the present several times.

When they reached the top of the wall, he could see a line of Hothians waiting below. Zemma gave a quick sob, but even on the descent, she stayed with them, waiting until they were close to the ground before racing ahead and throwing herself into Njkall’s waiting arms.

“I’m so sorry, Elder Njkall.”

“Be at ease, young one. You are returned to us. That is all that matters now.” Njkall kept his arms around her as he turned to Aidon. “You have earned your fee, but you have also earned our gratitude.”

“I just need my ship,” he growled. His body trembled, fighting the sickness.

“Wait,” Hanna said, gesturing at the flames now shooting into the sky behind them. “What about all those people in there? Not the fighters, but the slaves.”

“We are forbidden to interfere,” Njkall said reluctantly. “Unless there is a breach of contract.”

Aidon’s thoughts felt thick and slow, but he remembered Chotgor’s plan.

“They’re attempting to synthesize sothiti, using some type of stolen parasite,” he managed. “Is that a breach?”

“Yes.” Njkall grinned fiercely, his fangs gleaming, and turned to his men. “Go. Free as many of the slaves as possible.”

“Don’t hurt the guards,” Zemma added. “They’re just doing a job—and one of them helped us escape.”

“Indeed?”

“His name is Strax. I would like to…thank him.”

Njkall sighed and shook his head. “I suppose I must as well.”

“Thank you, Elder.”

“Your ship has been released.” Njkall studied Aidon. “Do you need assistance returning to the spaceport?”

No. An instinctive need to hide his weakness made him shake his head.

The Hothian hesitated, but a loud cry from further along the wall distracted him. “Very well. Go to the end of the street and turn left. You will find a service road. It is the fastest way back to the spaceport. Go in peace.”

“Thank you.” He forced out the words through clenched teeth, trying to prevent them from chattering.

“Yes, thank you,” Hanna added.

He bit back a protest when she slipped free from his grasp long enough to give Zemma a quick hug and whisper something in the other female’s ear. Zemma lifted one of her necklaces over her head and placed it around Hanna’s neck. When Hanna turned to Njkall, Aidon’s patience disappeared. He snatched her back against his side, and she gave him a startled look.

“You’re burning up,” she murmured.

“Have to get back to the ship.”

She didn’t argue, waving to Zemma and Njkall before the two of them headed in the direction the Hothian had indicated. He only prayed they would make it back to his ship in time.

Chapter Nine

Aidon’s skin burned against Hanna’s side as she put her arm around him. Something was obviously wrong, but she had no idea what to do. She cast a quick look over her shoulder, but Njkall and Zemma were already walking away. Flames continued to shoot into the sky, and she could hear people yelling over the roar of the fire. She paused uncertainly.

“Do you need help? Should I call Njkall back?”

“No. I just need to get back to the ship. The only thing that will help is returning to Pardor.”

Aidon seemed determined to leave and started down the street, tugging her along with him. It wasn’t until they reached the turn onto the utility road and the wind swept over them that she realized she no longer had her cape or her boots. The icy breeze sent shivers over her body, and she clung to Aidon. Although she didn’t think the heat he was omitting was healthy, it did help to offset the biting wind. Unfortunately, it did nothing for her feet, and her steps grew slower as the bitter cold penetrated the thin sandals.

Aidon had been moving steadily, although not quite with his usual confident stride, and he frowned down at her as her pace slowed.

“Is something wrong?”

“J-just c-old. I’m s-s-sorry.” The words were almost unintelligible between her chattering teeth, but he seemed to understand them. With a muttered curse, he lifted her into his arms, placing a big hand over her frozen feet. The heat was almost painful, but she