The Lasaran (Aldebarian Alliance #1) - Dianne Duvall Page 0,44

must still be in my system. I should be healing, but I’m not. I could make the soldiers who came here see what I wanted them to—a man without injuries. But it taxed my strength far more than it should. And I couldn’t read their thoughts. I should’ve been able to read their thoughts.”

She examined his wound. “Why would they dose you twice a day if it takes this long for the drug to wear off?”

“I don’t know. But I need to find a way to flush it out of my system so we can rendezvous with my ship. I want to get you to a safer, healthier environment in which you can rest and acquire the nutrition you need.”

“Ditto.”

That word didn’t translate. “I don’t know what that means.”

“It means I want to get you to a safer, healthier environment in which you can rest and acquire the nutrition you need. You’ve suffered for… How long were you there?”

“I think for two or three of your Earth years.”

Her lips tightened. “That is so messed up. I hope those fuckers all died in the explosion.”

He smiled.

“What? You think that’s funny?”

“No. I think you’re fierce. Lasaran males admire strong females.”

Her lips turned up in a small smile. “Yes, well, you’re pretty badass yourself.”

He laughed, then grimaced and gripped his chest.

“Careful,” she cautioned, then winced and rested a hand on her belly.

“Another pain?”

“Yeah.” She breathed deeply. “It’ll pass.”

What would they do when the time came that it didn’t?

The notion panicked Taelon. He knew nothing about childbirth. How could he deliver their baby with no aid, no medic at his side, no advanced medical technology on hand to remedy any difficulties that might arise, no medical tools whatsoever?

At the very least, they would need access to the medical bay on his ship. It might not offer all the expertise of a Sectarian healing facility, but it could detect and heal many ailments and injuries. If the worst should happen and something went wrong, he could contact the Sectas and seek their advice. He could also have Ari’k kidnap an Earth medic experienced in such matters and let her deliver the baby.

And the medic had better be a her. Taelon did not want any man—Earthling or Lasaran—to see parts of Lisa that he had not yet seen himself.

“I need to flush this drug out of my system,” he said again. “Do you know how I might do that?”

Lisa’s expression turned thoughtful. “There are a few ways I can think of. You can drink a lot of water and see if fluids will flush it out. I can order takeout again and have them bring lots of tea. Tea is a good detoxifier. We can also steam up the bathroom and you can try to sweat it out. I overheard a couple of classmates talking once. One was freaking out because he had just found out there was going to be a drug test at his job and he smoked marijuana. His friend told him to stop eating junk food and to eat a ton of fruits and vegetables. I can’t remember what that’s supposed to do though. They’re high in antioxidants, so maybe that does something?”

Taelon didn’t know. “Let’s try the water and the steam.”

“Okay.”

Chapter Eight

“What about now?” Lisa asked.

Taelon stared through the window at the motel employee who currently dedicated the least amount of effort possible to sweeping the sidewalk. “Nothing.”

She moved closer, her side pressing against his as she peered out at the young male. “He doesn’t appear to be the brightest bulb in the box. Maybe he’s just supremely empty-headed.”

He laughed. “Possibly, but I nevertheless should be able to glean something from his thoughts.”

“True.” Brow furrowing, she stepped back.

Taelon let the curtains fall and stared down at her. She was so small. The top of her head barely reached his shoulder. And her skin looked as soft as umkhosi feathers, distracting him time and time again. She had showered earlier and hand-washed her clothing. While the garments hung over the shower rod, drying, she wore a large white towel wrapped around her. But it only covered her from just beneath her arms to just beneath her bottom, leaving a lot of pale, perfect flesh bare to his view.

That, too, was uncommon on Lasara. Women on his planet tended to wear clothing that covered them from neck to wrist and down to their ankles, relying on the cut of the garment to entice, rather than the revelation of their skin. Men tended to