Taming a Healer: 3 (Galactic Lust) Read Online Free PDF Page A

follow?”
    “Somewhat.” She rubbed her temples. “You said you’d die and
I won’t. If you believe they’ll get through, why won’t all of us live?”
    “As you’ve pointed out, we’re considered renegade.”
    She had to be wrong in her assumption. The Governance would
not kill them. Exhaustion and hunger obscured her ability to reason things out.
“You’ll receive a reprimand when they find us?”
    “Yes. The most severe kind. You know what I’m telling you.”
    “They can’t murder you! They won’t!”
    “Gabriel will probably live long enough to see you taken
safely from here. That’s the most either of us had hoped for.”
    “Damn it, why would you do such a thing?”
    “There’s little time left. Gabriel’s been placed on a death
watch. While you and your matron lived among us, you were shielded from a
hunter’s end-stage demise. Your matron worked with those about to die and tried
to heal them. It’s not uncommon for a hunter to become—irrational or hostile.
He wanted to help you while he still could. You know, before his mind goes.”
    “But you remain well!”
    “Not entirely, healer.”
    Her shoulders sagged as her mind spun. Both Nolan and
Gabriel were sick. So sick they could be dead in mere days? “If you’re both
dying, why would they even bother coming after you? It doesn’t make sense.”
    “We’ll be placed at the top of the priority list. They can’t
have hunters acting contrary to orders. They’ll track, find and kill us. Our
health status is documented and by now an alert has been raised. You’ll be
rescued in the process. The ship you hailed, Defender , is commanded by a
very high-ranking Governance officer. Because of its location, I imagine you’ll
be rescued within a few eves. The general of that vessel will make certain
Gabriel’s put out of his misery.”
    “How can you be sure?”
    “Gabriel’s brother commands the vessel. He’ll be most
concerned with making sure Gabriel doesn’t suffer or fall victim to the
creatures here. Because of our absence without permission, he’ll also believe
I’m not in my right mind, unable to effectively end Gabriel’s suffering.
General Ryker would do that for any soldier in the Governance. He’s an
uncommonly devoted and decent man.”
    She jumped to her feet and stalked the outskirts of the
roaring fire.
    “Healer Sadie ?”
    “How could you? Why would you? Why didn’t you take
the time you had left and find something pleasurable to do?”
    A muffled groan rose from Gabriel and she took four long
strides to stand beside him. He’d rolled to his back and gazed at her through
swollen eyelids.
    She didn’t want their blood on her hands. Her stomach rolled
with increasing waves of anger. Guilt already veiled her. She’d managed to
survive when most of her tribe had been brutally murdered. “You in particular,
hunter. Is this grand gesture supposed to make me feel horrid for the remainder
of my life? Wasn’t what happened between us enough?”
    “No,” he said. “My life for yours is all I can offer to make
things right. Perhaps in the years to come, you’ll remember me with something
other than contempt.”
    He’d give his life so she wouldn’t hate him so much? “Horse
piss! Since when has a hunter cared what another being thought or felt?”
    “Your happiness and peace of mind have always been of great
importance to me.”
    “No. Not always.” Breath caught in her chest when she
recalled the last time they’d been alone together. Unable to force her body to
release the air or take more in, the cave began spinning.
    “Nolan!” Gabriel yelled.
    Nolan suddenly stood in front of her, grasping her upper
arms. He shook her furiously. When at last she gasped, stars clouded her
vision. He helped her sit as he sat down too.
    “Is she well now?” Although his voice barely rose above a
whisper, she could clearly hear the intense manner in which Gabriel asked the
question.
    “Not really,” Nolan