Nikhil (Kaliszian Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

couldn't leave her. She needs me," the quiet words shocked Gryf as did the look in the much larger male's eyes. Nikhil rarely showed much emotion. He was the strongest and most silent of the Elite Warriors. He never gave away what he truly thought, but right now his eyes screamed for Gryf's understanding.
    "She has Healer Luol," Gryf told him harshly. "You are not required here. You will return to your duties."
    "No! I won't leave her! She is my True Mate and she is injured!" Nikhil's voice rose as he did, his fist clenching as he tried to control his rage.
    "You will do as I ordered..."
    A gut-wrenching scream had all the males freezing, and Luol running to the repair unit. Inside the unit, the female was violently thrashing her arms, hitting the dome while her feet kicked.
    "Luol! What is going on?" Nikhil questioned.
    "She's scared out of her mind," Luol told him looking at the readings. "You are angry, and speaking a language she doesn't understand? Talk to her before she injures herself."
    "Little One. Calm. Please calm."
    "In Zaludian , Nikhil!" Luol ordered, and Nikhil immediately complied, but it didn't seem to help.
    "Luol. Help her!" Nikhil begged.
    "I can't give her halcyon. I don't know what affect it will have on one so small. It could kill her. She needs you, Nikhil. Get ready."
    "Get ready? Ready for what?"
    "I'm ending the treatment, and I am going to open the dome. It will be up to you to subdue her."
    "Subdue?"
    "Calm her! Hold her! She needs your touch. You are the only one she knows." Pressing the release, the dome opened, and Nikhil was there, caging the thrashing bundle in with his massive arms and chest, grunting slightly at the strength of the blows she was landing. His True Mate might be small, but even in this condition, she was a fighter.
    "Calm, Little One," he whispered in Zaludian, his lips grazing the delicate shell of her ear. "I'm here, Mackenzie. I've got you. All is fine. There is nothing to fear. My vow."
    With each statement, the bundle beneath him struggled a little less until she finally stilled. Nikhil lifted his head to find confused, dark brown eyes gazing up at him.
    "It is alright, Mackenzie. I am sorry I frightened you. It was not my intent. It will never be my intent."
    "Ni... Nikhil?" came the broken whisper.
    "Yes, Little One." Nikhil's voice broke slightly, realizing she had heard him speaking to her. "I am Nikhil. You are Mackenzie, and you are safe."
    "The Zaludians?"
    "Will never harm you again." He watched her lick her dry lips.
    "How long have I been here?" she asked.
    "You arrived over six hours ago."
    "What about the others? What about J..." she trailed off, and Nikhil turned his head to look at Gryf.
    "The other ten human males are here."
    "Ten...” she whispered.
    "Should there be more?"
    "No." Her quick response had all three males frowning, but before Gryf could ask anything else, a cough racked her small body.
    "Water!" Nikhil ordered, then carefully helped her sit up and placed the glass, Luol had brought, to her lips.
    The first sip tasted like ambrosia to Mac, and she quickly covered the large hand holding the glass with both of hers, trying to tip it higher. Some of it ran down her chin as she greedily gulped it down.
    "Easy, Little One, there is plenty."
    "How long has it been since you've had water?" Luol asked quietly.
    "I don't know. Since the Zaludians discovered me."
    "How long ago was that? How long have you been on Pontus? Where did the Zaludians find you?" Gryf's rapid-fire questions had the glass slipping from Mac's hands as she sank deeper into Nikhil's embrace, trembling.
    "Enough, Commander!" Nikhil ordered, catching the glass. "You're scaring her."
    "I must agree with Squad Leader Kozar, Commander. She has only just regained consciousness and is not yet ready to answer questions. Maybe tomorrow, after she's eaten, rested, and cleansed."
    Gryf opened his mouth to argue, when one of the energy crystals flared slightly, reflecting off Nikhil's True