Page 101

“Those we can fight. I can’t do anything about this.” Ash scowled at the huge, toxic sludgy plain of water.

Georgia gulped in a breath and grimaced, feeling on the verge of passing out. “Ash, you go ahead. Get help. I’ll stay here.”

“I’m not leaving you here, not when you’re feeling so bad,” he said. “We go together.”

“I’ll slow you down. You can move faster on your own. And whatever this is, it isn’t affecting you.”

“Not as badly as you, but I’m not feeling great. Maybe the gas is just taking longer to affect me.”

“Then you have to speed things up. Leave me here with the banty. I won’t move. I’ll barely breathe. You can get in and out and bring back a rescue party. And air. Bring some oxygen canisters so I don’t have to taste any more of this gross air.”

Ash checked his tablet and frowned. “I’m still not getting this message through to the ship.”

“Maybe it’s the atmospherics in these trees. Or the gas could be screwing with the comms.” Georgia’s lungs burned because she was trying so hard not to inhale. “Get out of the trees and away from the interference. You can call the ship, and they can come get us. They’ll never find us in here.”

“Screw that. I’m not leaving you behind. You’re mine.” Ash grabbed her by the shoulders and slammed his mouth against hers.

Georgia was too stunned to react for a second. This was the worst time to make out. But then Ash nicked her bottom lip with his teeth, and his Apexian energy flooded into her.

She struggled against it. Was he out of his mind giving her an energy transfer? He was already weak from the massive amount of sedative he’d been given. Giving her his energy was suicide.

She kept fighting to get free, but Ash wouldn’t let go.

Her mind whirled as she tried to fight him, but it was no use. This star damned Apexian! He was sacrificing himself to give her a chance.

***

The second Ash’s lipstouched Georgia, horror shot through him. He had no clue how close to death she was until their energies joined. Her heartbeat was weak and thready and her breathing labored. He could barely feel her life force essence as he pumped her full of his energy.

Why did she always have to be so stubborn? If she’d said how sick she really was, he’d have done this the second she grew lightheaded. But that was Georgia. Obstinate until the very end. But this wouldn’t be her end.

He deepened the kiss, always amazed by how incredible her lips felt. But this wasn’t the time for romance. This was about saving the woman he loved more than anything in the universe. The woman he would die for.

Georgia struggled in Ash’s arms, but he refused to let go. Even though he was weak from the Siblet drugs, the sacrifice was worth it.

Her body slowly heated as she came back to him. And after another minute, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him close. Georgia curled her fingers into his hair and yanked his head back. Anger blazed in her purple enhanced eyes. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“Did you expect me to watch you collapse and die in front of me? That’s never going to happen.”

“You’ve still got the sedative in your system. You’re risking your life to keep me alive.”

“When will you understand that you’re worth it? I’ll always take a risk on you.” Ash stroked the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip. “Besides, you’re always telling me you can handle things on your own. If I don’t make it through this—”

“You will! I’m not losing you to the Siblet.”

The panic in her eyes shot him right in the heart. “You won’t have to. And an extra energy boost from me is just what you need to make sure that happens. How are you feeling?”

“I always feel amazing when I’m with you, even when you don’t shove your huge bolt of Apexian energy inside me.”

He grinned. “So that’s what you call it.”

She whacked him on the chest. “Funny guy. I feel better. Thanks. Now help my banty.”

His jaw dropped. “You just ragged on me for saving you. Now you want me to save this furry critter?”

“He’s important to me. He’s a fighter. And he’s helped us.”

Ash grabbed the banty, made a cut on his paw and then transferred just enough energy to get him awake. “You owe me, buddy.”