Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 86074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“Let me just check your arm. It ought to be healed by now.”
She opened the healing device and flipped off the violet light. Then she examined Lili’s arm.
“Broken wrist?” Commander Sylvan said, coming over to take a look as well.
“Yes, but it was just a greenstick fracture,” Dr. Olivia said. “And look—it’s all better now,” she added, looking at Lili. “Go on—move it,” she added.
Hesitantly, Lili wiggled her hand and wrist. She was relieved to find that she didn’t have any sharp twinges of pain. In fact, she didn’t feel anything at all—her wrist felt completely normal.
“Oh, I am healed!” she exclaimed.
“Told you.” Dr. Olivia smiled at her. “Isn’t Kindred medical technology amazing?”
“It really is.” Lili smiled back at her. “Thank you so much, Dr. Olivia.”
“Oh, you can just call me Liv.” She patted Lili on the shoulder.
Just then there was a knock at the door and two more Kindred stepped in.
“Dark! Light!” Lili looked up at them eagerly. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed the two of them until she saw them again.
“Hello, Lilibet,” Light said. “We wanted to come check on you.”
“How’s the arm?” Dark rumbled. “Is there permanent damage? Do I need to go break that fucker’s neck?”
“No, no!” Lili exclaimed hurriedly. “Look—I’m all healed already.” She waved her newly healed wrist at them.
“Let me see.” Light came to examine her wrist. He moved it back and forth and felt up and down her forearm, which gave Lili a little shiver. His hands were so big and warm!
At last the Light Twin nodded.
“Yes, it looks good.”
“Thanks to Dr. Olivia—I mean Liv,” Lili said, nodding at her doctor.
“Well, it healed a lot more cleanly because it was properly wrapped before you got to me,” Liv said. She looked at Light. “Were you the one who put that field dressing on her arm? It was really well done.”
“Thank you.” Light nodded at her. “Yes—I was trained as a medic as well as a scout on our home world.”
“You ought to come work with us here at the Med Center,” Liv told him. “We can always use skilled medical personnel. And you could train to be a doctor if you wanted—I started as a nurse myself.”
“We would certainly be happy to have Treads Lightly at any of our Med Centers, but first he and Fights Darkness have a trip to go on,” Commander Sylvan said. He looked at Lili. “I understand you want to go to F’rith Three, the Chulaz home world.”
“Yes, I do!” Lili exclaimed. “I’ve been corresponding long distance with f’loon, the famous bas’lat art collector.”
“And have they invited you to visit?” Commander Sylvan asked. “You won’t be allowed on F’rith Three otherwise.”
“Well…the last communication I received from them said that ‘a meeting should be arranged under the correct circumstances,’” Lili said hesitantly.
Sylvan nodded.
“That’s as close to an invitation as you’re going to get from the Chulaz—they’re a very oblique people.”
“So can I go?” Lili asked eagerly. “Dark and Light said they’d take me,” she added, nodding at the two big Kindred.
“Yes, we would be happy to escort Lilibet to F’rith Three,” Light said and Dark rumbled ascent as well.
“Now wait just a minute!” Rachel, who had been standing there with her arms crossed over her chest, listening intently, suddenly stepped between Lili and the Twin Kindred. “How do I know my friend will be safe with you two?” she demanded, looking up at them. “You’re Dark Kindred.”
“What the fuck does it matter what kind of Kindred we are?” Dark growled.
“Peace, Brother.” Light put a hand on his arm. “I think Lilibet’s friend is simply worried for her safety.” He looked down at Rachel. “I know we may look frightening, but I promise you, we have only good intentions towards Lilibet.”
“And if an oath is necessary to prove it, we’ll swear it right now,” Dark added, frowning.
“All right, yes.” Rachel lifted her chin. “I would like your oath as Kindred warriors that you’ll protect Lili and you won’t hurt her under any circumstances.”
“Hurt her? What do you think we are, Broken Ones?” Dark demanded.
Rachel glared at him.
“No, but I know about your Berserker DNA. My husband says it makes you unpredictable and dangerous.”
“Dangerous to everyone but Lili,” Dark protested. “I would never fucking hurt her!”
“Make your oaths then,” Sylvan said. “Treads Lightly, Fights Darkness—will the two of you swear to protect Lilibet, even at the cost of your own lives?”
“We will,” Light said.
And then, to Lili’s surprise, he sank down on one knee beside her hospital bed. Reaching for her, he took both her hands in his. Even though he was kneeling and she was sitting on the high bed, they were still eye-to-eye.
“Lilibet,” he murmured, looking at her earnestly. “While you are in my care, you shall have my body as your shield. My arms shall hold and protect you, my ears will hear your sorrows and cares, and my lips shall keep your secrets. Not a drop of your blood shall be lost unless every last bit of mine has first been spilled upon the ground. I will die defending you. This is my Oath of Protection, which I give to you as a Kindred Warrior. Do you accept it?”