Alien, Mine Read Online Free PDF Page A

rejection of fate. Her body folded and sagged to the bed, swamped by a violent flood of loss and misery.
    “You will, of course, be welcome with us.” Mhartak’s soft words drifted like fragile petals into the dreadful turmoil of her emotions.
    The lifeline he offered seemed all too insignificant against the tide of bitter despair burning her soul. Her throat clogged with churning emotion, she managed an abrupt nod.
    “Is there anything we can do for you?” he offered.
    She closed her eyes, unable to bear the pity hovering on their faces, unwilling to break down before them.
    “No.” She drew her legs up and buried her face in her knees.
    “Would you like the medical officer to attend you?” Graegen asked.
    “No, thank you,” she muttered into her legs.
    “We will leave you then,” Mhartak said.
    The door closed behind them and tears of angry, frightened desolation ripped silently from her heart. She cried for her family. There would be no closure for them, no end to their mourning.
    No chance to say good-bye.
    She cried for herself and cried for every stolen tomorrow, lost now to her forever.
    Mhartak ground his teeth together and slammed into his office.
    g’Nel be damned, he’d done it again!
    This time was far, far worse. He hadn’t wanted to leave her. Had yearned to take her in his arms, hold her close, stroke his hands down her back and assure her everything would be alright, he would make certain of it. But her actions made it plain she wanted neither his presence nor his touch.
    And probably never would.

Chapter 3
    “ . . . a traveller here might chart a course . . .”
    “How are you feeling?”
    Sandrea looked up from examining the morbid potential of her future. Drengel stood in the doorway offering an empathetic smile. She shrugged. The bleakness had begun to recede like a slow tide. She pushed herself to move, to sit up, to metaphorically go forward in life. Before her lay a choice to accept what had happened and deal with it or choose not to deal with it and wallow in stagnation. She forced her gumption together.
    I will not allow the Bluthen to steal my life. I will not retreat from circumstance.
    “I’ll live.”
    He lifted a bundle of material. “I have some clothes for you.”
    “I am somewhat over this hospital couture,” she said, sweeping a hand over the voluminous wrap swaddling her. “Perhaps I could go for a walk somewhere, stretch my legs?”
    “I’m glad you’re feeling up to some exercise.” He strode in and deposited the parcel of clothes on the foot of her bed.
    She eyed the sand-coloured garments.
    Army issue. Well, it’s a start.
    “Thanks, Doc.” She rummaged through the pile. “No bra?”
    “You mean for your, er—” He waved a vague hand in the general direction of her chest.
    She frowned. “Breasts, Doc. They’re called breasts. What, don’t Angrigan women have them?”
    “No, Angrigans do not have breasts, ergo do not require bra. Some of our allies have breasts, but they do not compare in, hmm, size to yours.”
    So, no bra and no likelihood of one in the near future.
    She was going to have to suck it up and get used to a lot of things being absent from her life. Placing a pair of boots aside, she unfolded a shirt and held it up. “How’d you manage to get one small enough?”
    “These are cadet uniforms for Legolopanths. They’re built somewhat similar to you. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
    She wasn’t huge in the breast department, but she did require support. “Would you have something like a wide, long bandage?”
    “Certainly. Self-securing?”
    He seemed to have caught on to her intent. “That’d be great, Doc, thanks.”
    While he went to fetch the bandage she clambered from the bed and shook out the rest of the clothing. Something heavy clattered to the floor and she crouched to pick up a bright splash of iridescent lavender and pearl.
    “Tor’s Talons, where’d you get that?”
    She flicked her fascinated gaze to