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

settled for resting his forehead against hers. "It means a great deal to me that you would trust me in this."
    "If you would lean back slightly, Nikhil, I will begin my scan."
    Mac stiffened slightly as the machine began to hum. Feeling it, Nikhil tried to distract her. "Will you tell me where you are from?" he asked quietly.
    "Earth."
    "Earth?" he raised his eyes to Luol and saw his head move ever so slightly, indicating the Healer had never heard of the planet.
    "Yes. You've heard of it?"
    "No, Little One, I'm sorry, but I haven't."
    "Really? But..." Mac didn't know why those simple words hit her so hard, but suddenly she felt her breath catch, and her eyes began to well up. It all became too much. Whatever had been holding her together, keeping her strong, was suddenly gone, and she broke down in his arms.
    Nikhil looked to Luol desperately. "Luol..."
    "It is to be expected, Nikhil." He turned off the scanner. "She has endured more than any being should and handled it extremely well. But now she doesn't have to. She has you to help her."
    "I would do anything for her."
    "Then comfort her. You will know what she needs. What she is ready for. You are her Dasho. She is your Ashe."
    "The scan?"
    "She has caused herself no further harm. She needs food, rest, to cleanse, but mostly she needs time to heal."
    "How do I give her all that?"
    Luol looked from the largest, strongest male he had ever met to the smallest, most fragile looking female he'd ever seen and somehow it just seemed right.
    "Take her to your quarters, Nikhil."
    "What?" Nikhil looked at the Healer in shock. "How can I do that? She needs..."
    "She needs you . I have done all I can do for her right now. Her body needs time to absorb the treatment." He switched to Kaliszian. "She is your True Mate, Nikhil. You will always know what she needs. Trust that the Goddess wouldn't have given her to you if you didn't. Take her to your quarters and care for her. Bring her back tomorrow, and I will finish treating her. You know where I am if you need me."

Chapter Three
    "H ow many, Gryf?" Treyvon asked his second as they walked into his Command Center.
    "Eight Tafaians, six Nekeokians, three Jerboaians, and ten of the ones that call themselves Humans."
    "What about the human female? The one Nikhil found. Is she going to survive?"
    "Yes," Gryf told him shortly.
    Treyvon sat in his chair. He and Gryf had been serving together since they were young warriors. He knew Gryf's moods, and right now he was struggling.
    "What has you so unsettled, Gryf?"
    "What?" That Gryf didn't understand the question revealed just how rattled he was.
    "What has happened?"
    "It's Nikhil," Gryf started.
    "Nikhil? What's happened to him?"
    "He has found his True Mate."
    "What?!!" Treyvon sat straight up disbelievingly.
    "The human female. She wears Nikhil's True Mate bead."
    "That's not possible! She's not Kaliszian! We don't even know what she is."
    "I know, but I saw her react to Nikhil's emotions myself, even though she was unconscious. I saw how he was able to calm her, even in that state." Treyvon silently listened as Gryf continued. "She woke, and seemed to recognize him. I frightened her."
    Treyvon understood what Gryf meant. While his Commander was a large male, Squad Leader Nikhil was twice his size. For a female to be afraid of Gryf, and not Nikhil, could only mean one thing. She was Nikhil's True Mate.
    "I would like to meet this female." Treyvon rose and headed for the medical wing.
    ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
    Mac knew she needed to pull herself together. She knew she should be protesting as Nikhil stood up, tucked her safely into his arms, and carried her out of the medical unit. They'd switched back to the language she didn't understand, and she should be demanding to know what was going on. But she couldn't find the strength or desire to. It felt good to not have to be strong, to not have to hide her fear, to let someone else be in charge for a while.
    The guys had done so much for her when