Terran (Breeder) Read Online Free PDF Page B

glared until his beta dropped his gaze.
    Once the physician completed the cleansing, Marlix could see the superficiality of most of Tara’s wounds, but a few cut deep, and one gaped to reveal the underlying muscle. He squeezed his fists tighter. If he’d gotten a better look at the other betas who’d attacked her, he would have had them found and justice served. Severe justice. But it was too late now. The doctor removed another apparatus from his bag. The tiny device emitted a slim beam of light, which he trained over each of Tara’s wounds. Marlix widened his eyes as the gashes knit together, including the deep one. Perhaps the physician had achieved some measure of competence. By the time he finished, her wounds looked as if they had been on the mend for weeks instead of having just been incurred.
    “Her body will have to do the rest,” the med tech announced.
    “That device—” Marlix watched as it disappeared into the case. “It could help in battle to heal war wounds.”
    The physician’s mouth twisted wryly before his expression went blank. “If an alpha would accept the assistance.” He stood. “You might cover her. She is cold.”
    Marlix assessed Tara. Her skin had broken out into a raised colorless rash, and her nipples had hardened to points.
    “Remember,” the doctor continued, “let her rest for several days, so she can heal before you use her again.” Next time, be careful . Though he did not say it, his face reflected his thoughts.
    “You think I did that to her?” Marlix thundered.
    The physician shrank back. “No, Commander. I did not mean—”
    Urazi hustled him out of the room.
    Marlix paced, stomping on the stone floor. Under his orchestration, a reputation for ruthlessness, even brutality, had spread throughout his province and beyond. It used to amuse him when Commander Dak would reach for his weapon upon his approach. The only Alpha more feared was Qalin.
    But Marlix’s infamy resulted from fabrication. He had committed few of the acts attributed to him. And he did not inflict injury on females. Not deliberately, anyway. One fought worthy adversaries—not defenseless feleen cubs.
    He should have executed the other betas. Marlix smacked his fist into his palm. They might have killed her if he hadn’t intervened. He glanced at her and noticed she shivered. He grunted and pulled off his shirt and draped it over her body. She was so small; the garment covered her from shoulder to knee. He would have Urazi bring her a sleeping cover.
    His beta at that moment reentered the room and cast his gaze on the shirt draping Tara’s body.
    “The physician said to keep her warm,” Marlix explained.
    “That is not all he said. May I speak with you outside, Marlix?”
    Marlix raised his eyebrows. “What else?”
    Urazi lifted his chin and gestured with his head that they should leave the room. What could his beta have to report that could not be said in front of an unconscious female? And thinking of such, he wished he’d asked the physician how long it would be before she awakened.
    Marlix followed Urazi into the corridor. “What is it?”
    “She is not unconscious.”
    “What?”
    “The physician said her bioscan readings were consistent with alertness. She is pretending to be comatose.”

Chapter Four
    The two men left the room, and Tara expelled her breath in a whoosh and opened her eyes. She’d worked as an artist’s nude model for a couple of years to pay the bills, so she had practice remaining motionless, but still it was tiring. After a while, every muscle screamed to move, worsened by her wounds, which had hurt like motherfuckers. She’d been too panicked at first to realize the extent of her injuries. With the men gone, she stretched, noting most of the discomfort had vanished, although her bones had begun to ache like the doctor had predicted. But whatever he had done to her seemed to be working.
    She’d almost given herself away when he’d shot something into her