Cold Mark

by Scarlett Dawn

  I grimaced but did as told. "I think it's just sprained. Or bruised badly."

  Feeling along the bones on my ankle, she stated, "I concur. No x-ray will be needed, but you will need to stay off it for a few days." Her gaze altered to my chest were red marks lined it in varying locations. Her fingers were gentle as she probed each spot. "These look like remnants of burn marks."

  "He used a taser-rod on me."

  Malik flinched, his shoulders tightening. But he stayed quiet, watching intently.

  Leaning forward to exam a particular gruesome mark, she probed, "How many times?"

  I shook my head and closed my eyes against the harsh glow of the lights. "I lost count."

  "Was there water involved during this?"

  "Not all the time."

  "How many times?"

  "Twice."

  She lifted a device, listening to my heart. "Do you feel any tightening in your chest?"

  "No."

  After a minute, she nodded and lowered the instrument. She hesitated for a brief moment, glancing over her shoulder at my Vaq, but turned her attention back to me. Her words were soft, and she asked gently, "Was there any forced sexual intercourse? Do I need to do a pelvic exam?"

  My Vaq held perfectly still, not even breathing.

  Rubbing my eyes, I shook my head. "No, he didn't touch me in that way."

  Leo let out a heavy exhale and began to pace, rubbing his hands through his hair.

  The nursemaid smiled in understanding as I watched him warily. "He's okay. Just relieved."

  "Okay." I squirmed on the doctor's table I sat on. "Are we done now? Can I get the pills to help me sleep?"

  "Did anything else happen that I need to be aware of?"

  I sighed, my whole chest deflating with it, but I went on to explain each torturing device used. And the medicine he had injected me with every night before beginning. When I was through, I grumbled, "I think my Vaq have had enough."

  She patted my knee. "I think you have too, Ms. Valorn." She handed a rigid Malik my sleeping pills. "You dispense these to her. Do not allow her to medicate herself. And I would suggest eyes on her at all times—"

  I groaned, my body wearing down even further. "More suicide watch."

  "What was that, Ms. Valorn?"

  "Nothing." I waved a quick hand. "Continue on."

  Gradually, she turned her attention back to Malik and Leo. "And therapy. She's going to need it."

  Jerking upright in bed, I wiped my forehead off, the sickly perspiration drenching my skin.

  "It was just a dream," Leo stated, his tenor quiet. He sat on a chair in the corner of my jail cell, watching me as I slept. He and Malik were taking turns. "Go back to sleep."

  My hands shook, but I nodded. Flopping back onto my mattress, I grumbled, "It's been a week, Leo. You can go sleep with Malik. I'm not going to kill myself."

  He answered in an even tone, "I know. That's not why we're here every day."

  My brows furrowed. "Then why are you here?"

  He ran a hand through his golden hair, his eyes glowing on my face. "Contrary to popular belief, we care about you."

  "You're afraid I'll get kidnapped again?"

  "That, among other things."

  I fisted the covers under my chin. "Other things?"

  He cleared his throat before stating quietly, "Malik and I know how long a recovery can be after what you've gone through. You need someone here with you, even if you don't think so."

  I lifted a finger and scratched my nose in the darkness. "Did you know Malik punched me during the battle on Joyal? He pulled his punch, but it hurt like hell. Knocked me out. I'm pretty sure that's against your laws here."

  There was silence before he snickered. "The laws here, Braita. We were on Joyal when that happened. And, to be honest, if it had been me, and you were making as much racket as you were, drawing fire in our direction ... I wouldn't have pulled my punch."

  I sniffed and lifted my chin. "He still hit me. And he dragged me along the floor."

  "He did it to save your life. The ground was the safest place for you."

  "By my hair, Leo."

  He hummed. "Perhaps that was overdoing it a bit, but you had risked our lives, too, by running away to Joyal. Neither one of us was too pleased with your choice. Or lack of prudence."

  I huffed. "It wasn't supposed to turn out like that."

  "And yet, it still did." A tapping sounded in his direction, his boot tapping the ground. "You haven't apologized so far for that farce."

  "Give me a break," I grumbled and rolled to face away from him. "I know you liked going all warrior crazy on their Humans asses."

  A bare beat, and then he laughed ... so familiar. Comforting. "Yes, I did."

  I scratched my nose again, waiting until he calmed. My voice was quiet. "Are you guys still mad at me?"

  "We're getting over it a little bit more each day. It won't be an instantaneous thing." He paused before continuing, "You ran away from us. Again."

  "I understand." I nibbled on my bottom lip, and then blurted, "It was stupid. I should have thought it through."

  His foot tapped again. "Is that your apology?"

  "As close as it's going to come to one. I wanted my freedom. I still do."

  Full arrogance. "Then I accept your apology."

  With haughty flare, I stated, "And I accept the fact you still don't understand."

  His foot stopped bouncing, no sound heard. "You really are something else."

  "Yes, you're not the first person to mention that."

  "Sleep safe, my Soul."

  "Happy stalker day to you, my pain in the ass." I chuckled. Waited a second. "Sleep safe."

  "Let me start by saying my name is Dr. Kowna, and I'm a psychologist," the silver-haired, soft-spoken Mian man murmured. "The Plumas of the west have employed my services to you for however long you need, Ms. Valorn. They also—briefly—explained your past, and your most recent tragedy involving a litigator."

  "That's lovely." I smiled. It was forced. "Let me also start by saying," I raised my voice to near shout level, staring over his head at my cell door, "if my Vaq do not get in here and make this a group therapy session, I won't be saying shit!"

  The doctor's expression was worth this endeavor. As was my Vaqs when they entered the cell, their stride at a camel's pace and their glowing eyes wary of me. I patted the bed on either side of me, gazing directly at them. "Come sit down. I want you to participate instead of eavesdropping outside the door."

  I swear I heard Malik groan under his breath, but they took my challenge like the leader's they are. Without argument, they finished walking through the spacious cell with dignity, heads held high. As they sat beside me, they even leaned back as if they weren't bothered at all by my underhanded tactic.

  I placed a simpering hand on their knees closest to me. Glanced at each one. Smiled so large it was blinding and added in a joyful tone, "See? This will be helpful and fun, just like you both said."

  Dr. Kowna quickly schooled his expression, his apparent hilarity at the Plumas situation banked behind a professional gaze. "I would like to first start out with," he peered down at his notebook, "the reason why you first ran away from your Vaq to the land of the east."

  Both knees tightened under my hands. My lips twitched as I held the doctor's keen gaze. "I saw something." More tightening of muscles clenching under the warmth of my palms. "It greatly affected me."

  "What was it that you saw, Ms. Valorn?"

  I kept it simple so my Vaq didn't rip this guy's heart out. "Lies. I saw a ... pumping ... of lies."

  Leo choked next to me.

  "A pumping of lies." Dr. Kowna scribbled on his notebook. "What constitutes a lie for you?"

  "When someone doesn't tell the whole truth." I patted their knees. "But we've come to an understanding about that now. I hold no grudges against my Vaq for that." I shrugged a shoulder. "As long as there's truth moving forward, I'm willing to expand my horizons and give them anoth
er shot."

  "Expanding horizons." His pencil flew across the page. He paused, flipped a page, and read from his other notes. "Let's move forward. I understand that you spent intimate time with the Plumas of the east." His eyes caught mine. "Would you care to add to that?"

  I hummed in fake thought. "No, I don't believe so."

  "Nothing?" He waved his pencil in the air with a flourish. "There must be something you would like to talk about from your experience with them."

  I drummed my fingers on my Vaqs' legs, not missing their suspicious mute state. "I will say the Plumas of the east were remarkably forthright. Any question I asked, they answered honestly. I may have learned more from them about my own Vaq than these guys," I slapped their knees a little too hard, "had ever told me."

  Leo's attention snapped to mine. "What did they tell you?"

  I gave him my best bored expression. "I know about your brother."

  Silence extended.

  I smiled once more, a baring of teeth. "Fun, isn't it?" My regard turned back to the doctor. "What would the next question be that my Vaq—not you, the doctor—wanted to have answered?" I tilted my head to his notebook. "Go ahead. Feel free to check your notes. I'll wait."

  Malik jerked forward, tilting his head to stare me straight in the eyes. His silver gaze was beautiful on his tan features. "What exactly did they tell you about Leo's brother?"

  Okay, I toned down my inner bitch. For him. I didn't show any sympathy, I knew he would hate that, but I did show him I cared, my eyes soft on his. "I would kill him. That's all you need to know. You are a much more compassionate individual than I was ... " I faltered and quickly righted my words, "Than I would have been if I had dealt with him." After all, I had thoroughly enjoyed watching Rule kill himself. I still didn't regret it, and I wasn't sure I ever would.

  His jaw clenched. But his black brows rose. "What really happened the night of the crash?"

  My tone instantly turned to ice. "Rule died. I didn't do it. That's all that matters."

  He leaned forward an inch, pure intimidation. "Did you catch any of the Kiregs' names?"

  "Only one," I stated instantly. "Geo. He didn't give any other name than that."

  Malik didn't blink. "Geo?"

  "Yes. He was also very pleasant, given how the situation could have unfolded."

  Still no blink. "Geo."

  "Uh, yes. That's what he said."

  Leo cursed beside me. "Fucking hell. Georan was on our planet, and we didn't kill him."

  I glanced back and forth between my Vaq. "Who's Georan?"

  "Just the most wanted Kireg criminal to ever grace our neighboring planet, Egyac," Leo educated on a furious hiss. His sharp golden gaze flew to the doctor. "Whatever is said in here is confidential. If you speak of this outside, to anyone, I will personally rip out your throat."

  The doctor gulped, and then choked on his own spit. "Understood."

  Malik fell back onto my bed to stare up at the ceiling. "No wonder we couldn't track his ship."

  "Why not?" I asked, actually curious.

  Malik waved a hand, even as he groaned. "The less you know, the better."

  My brows furrowed. "He didn't seem like a heartless criminal to me. He was nice." My head rocked forward as Leo—gently—smacked me upside the back of my head. I punched his shoulder and chuckled softly. "I'm not naïve. I'm merely stating my opinion on one instance."

  "Let's hope that Madeline woman doesn't show up here," Malik muttered, still staring at the ceiling. "We've got enough issues with the confounded Humans."

  I rolled my eyes. "No offense taken."

  He grunted.

  My attention went back to the doctor. "What else did my Vaq want to know?"

  Dr. Kowna lifted a brow and didn't peer down at his notes. "Actually, from my professional perspective, I think we should explore your time with the other Plumas more. Your instant reaction was one of deceit and hostility, and when you did answer, it was still with that same anger. There's more going on than what you are saying."

  My nostrils flared in irritation. "Look, what do you want me to say?" I waved my hands in the air, almost whacking Malik as he sat up. "They were honest with me. I respect that. I didn't get that honesty with my own Vaq in the beginning, and it hurt me." My nose wrinkled and shoved my hands into my lap. "Kind of a deep hurt."

  "Because you care for your Vaq a great deal?"

  I grouched, "Yes."

  He shrugged one shoulder and sat back on his chair. "Did you do anything to hurt your Vaq in return for them hurting you?"

  "I didn't do anything to purposely hurt them if that's what you're asking."

  "But you were hurting. We've already established that. Sometimes individuals don't think clearly when they are angry or sad." Another shrug of the same shoulder. "Could it be you may have done something like that? And instance that makes you feel guilty and immediately answer with deceit to a simple question, as you did before?"

  My lips pinched, and I looked straight over that shrugging shoulder at the far wall.

  The doctor's tone quieted. "It's all right, Braita. Your Vaq won't be upset. They're just happy to have you back in their lives, healthy and alive."

  I nibbled on my bottom lip. "It wasn't much. Not like I've caught them doing." I blinked, and instantly countered, "That sounded wrong. I think you understand what I meant."

  He snickered. "Yes, I understand. They are renowned with the ladies."

  I took up his habit and shrugged one shoulder. "We just kissed. That's all."

  He nodded his head and sat forward, placing his elbows on his knees. "And how did you feel about that?"

  "Um ... it was nice?" I wasn't going to look anywhere near my Vaq right now.

  "Kissing is nice. I agree with you." His smile was gentle. "Do you have feelings for the other Plumas? Like how you feel about your Vaq?"

  I twisted my fingers together and peered down at them. "I'll tell you the truth, Dr. Kowna. I don't know how I feel about the Plumas of the east. What I do know is I would like to explore my feelings freely. Between my Vaq and the other Plumas."

  Paper rustled, and he stated, "I see freedom is paramount to you with how many escapes you've attempted."

  My eyes snapped up to his, holding solid. "It's the most important thing to me right now."

  He nodded and then peered to Malik and Leo, who were sitting frozen beside me. "Plumas, I think the three of us should talk in private before I continue on with Ms. Valorn about the incident with the litigator. Something I really need to touch on, with everything that occurred to her."

  I flinched. I didn't mean to, but it happened. Everything that occurred.

  He cleared his throat nervously but stated evenly, "You did hire me for a reason, and I'd like to give you my expert advice if you would allow me to."

  Malik instantly placed a gentle hand on my shoulder as I stared off at nothing though his voice was a growl as he stood. "We'll be back in a few minutes."

  When Leo raised to stand next to him, I instantly peered up at them and mumbled, "Don't kill the Plumas."

  Leo sneered, but he altered his attention away quickly. "We can't promise anything, Braita. You are ours, and they tried to steal you away from us. Still are by the sound of it."

  I instantly countered, "I am my own person. I am not an object that you bought to put on a shelf." I flicked a hand to my surroundings. "Or a jail cell."

  Leo growled and Malik grabbed him by the elbow. The doctor led the way outside the room until the door clicked and locked behind them.

  I needed to talk to Jax. In a hurry. I may have really fucked up by finally being honest with my Vaq.

  My feet ate up the floor of my jail cell. "I need the regular dosage."

  Malik peered up from his book in the corner. "Working yourself up isn't going to help."

  "I don't care," I growled, rotating my arms in a circle. I was anxious as hell. "I don't think Dr. Kowna knows what he's doing."

  Patient words. "You said h
e was smart for recommending to Leo and me not to kill the other Plumas."

  "That's different." That was common sense. "This is about medication. Are you sure he's the right doctor to change my prescription?"

  "Yes. We were lucky the nursemaid even had those drugs on hand."

  "This lower dosage isn't doing anything for me."

  "He's weaning you off of it."

  I stretched my back. "I'm not ready to be off it yet. I can't sleep without it."

  "You can," Malik stated in a calming voice. He placed his book on the table next to his chair. My eyes narrowed as he walked toward me, and he instantly altered his course to my bed. With ease, he lay down in the center of the bed. "Come."

  "But ... " I didn't know if I was ready to sleep next to him again.

  "Just come here, Braita. I won't try anything."

  I still hesitated. "Promise?"

  "I promise." He pulled the covers back for me. "I'll even sleep on the outside of the sheet."

  I held up a finger. "Fully clothed?"

  "I'm not undressing, am I?" He lay perfectly still.

  With measured footfalls, I turned out the lights inside the room. I took cautious steps toward the bed, knowing he was still angry and slipped into my bed in silence. Yanking the covers up to my chin, I waited for him to say something. But, instead, he was mute. So much so, I tilted my head in his direction, squinting to see him—his damned glowing eyes were closed, no light.

  I poked his side through the sheet, and asked, "Are you even breathing?"

  "Yes."

  "Well, do it louder. You sound like the dead."

  "Would you like me to correct that sentence?"

  "Fuck off. You know what I mean."

  "No cold dead bodies lying next to you. Understood." He inhaled and exhaled with such force, it ruffled my hair. "Is that better?"

  "Tone it down a little bit." I rolled my eyes.

  "Don't roll your eyes at me."

  I blinked. "How did you—"

  "I know you better than you think I do." He lifted a hand and covered my eyes with his palm. "Close your own eyes and go to sleep."

  "I told you I can't sleep." I pinched his pinkie with two fingers and pulled his paw off my face.