Rescued by the Alien Warrior Hope Hart (literature books to read TXT) 📖

leans forward, obviously interested in this conversation as well.

“A poison. One that should level the playing field, considering they still have those light-sticks.”

Nevada raises her eyebrows, and my hand itches with the need to take Zoey’s hand in mine. From the look on her face, my gentle little healer is already upset at the thought of taking more Dokhall lives.

“What kind of poison?”

Zoey shrugs. “The deadly kind. I’m not sure the best way to use it right now, which is why I wanted to talk to you guys about it. It could be used to poison their drinking source, or we could dip arrowheads into it if we’re luring the Dokhalls to the ship. We may even be able to use it in the air if we can get them somewhere inside. I’m not entirely sure.”

Rakiz nods. “This is good news. We need every weapon we can in this fight. Thank you, Zoey.”

My little healer nods, a slight blush rising on her cheeks, but she has become pale.

I lean over, murmuring into her ear. “I need to talk to you.”

Her gaze jumps to mine and then shifts across the clearing to where my father is watching us.

I move until my body is blocking her view of my father. “I need to speak with you privately,” I murmur.

She glances back toward my parents. Her chin juts out, and I almost bury my hand in her hair and lay her on the table in front of everyone. Nothing makes me harder than watching my little healer be stubborn.

“That’s not a good idea,” Zoey says.

“Leave my father for me to handle, little healer.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t think you understand, Tagiz. I’m done with this.”

She gently passes the baby back to Nevada and walks away, taking my heart with her.

Zoey

I spend the next day in the healers’ kradi, where I see a few patients under Moni’s watchful eye. Two warriors are injured after skirmishes at the border of Rakiz’s territory. A small group of Dokhalls attacked with no warning. Fortunately, their light-sticks weren’t working, and they obviously underestimated how well trained Rakiz’s warriors are. They won’t be attacking any more Braxians.

My heart hurts for Hewex’s friends who are currently being buried. Rakiz’s face was hard when he stalked into the healers’ kradi earlier, talking briefly with Hewex. The warrior gained consciousness long enough to murmur briefly to the tribe king, and then Moni shooed Rakiz away, ordering Hewex to drink more of her tonic.

I examine one of the warrior’s shoulders before cleaning and then covering the wound with the antiseptic paste Moni prefers.

“Does that feel better?”

He nods. “Thank you.”

It felt good to tell Nevada and Rakiz about the poison I’ve created. I no longer feel like a victim. I’m fighting back, and I’m doing it in my own way.

I’ll never be on the front lines of a battle, and I don’t want to be. I’m content saving lives in the healers’ kradi. But after what the Dokhalls have done to us, I need to play a part in their downfall.

Rakiz has agreed to give me my own kradi where I can mix my poisons. He said he’ll have a guard stationed nearby to make sure no one gets too curious. And Moni has said she will use her own knowledge to help me tweak what I’ve already created. She didn’t seem surprised when I told her what I was working on. She simply told me once again that some of the deadliest plants grow in the Seinex Forest.

The afternoon passes quickly, and I focus on mixing up new tonics and salves, checking on Hewex, and keeping myself busy.

Yes, I’m burying myself in work. And yes, part of the reason I’m doing that is because I’m worried if I don’t, I’ll end up finding Tagiz, falling to my knees, and begging him to choose me.

Life is no longer in color. It’s now black and white and gray and sad. And I don’t know what to do about it.

I’m so deep in thought it’s not until Ivy and Charlie are standing right in front of me that I realize they’ve been trying to get my attention.

“Sorry.” I blush. “I’m walking around like I’m sleepwalking.”

“It’s okay,” Ivy murmurs. “You want to talk about it?”

“Maybe later. What are you guys up to?”

“We’ve been hanging with Makayla and Clara. You know, they’re pretty damn excited about your poison. That’s badass, Zoey.” Ivy glances around the healers’ kradi curiously, and I smile.

“We have to see if it’ll work before we get too excited.”

Charlie nudges me with her elbow. “If it doesn’t, you’ll find something else. But poison is a good way to go. The Dokhalls are armed with those stupid stick things. And even if they don’t work all the time, they work just enough of the time to give them a huge advantage.”

I nod, my mind going to Hewex. He’s doing better today, but it’ll likely be a while before he can be on his feet. “You’re right. I just…I really want to make sure we can get everyone who wants to leave on that ship, you know?”

Charlie tilts her head. “Yeah, I get it. I want that too. But I also know sometimes you think the grass is greener somewhere else. And then you realize it’s not grass at all. It’s that fake shit they roll out to hide the dry dirt underneath.”

I grin at that. “You have a point. I like the grass here just fine. But the other women haven’t been here anywhere near as long as we have. Remember when we first landed? All we wanted was to get home.”

Ivy nods. “Not only that, but it sounds like they had it worse on the spaceship too. Apparently one of the women was killed. I don’t blame them for wanting revenge. I just wonder how likely it is they’ll be able to get it.”

I wash my hands and hang up my apron, waving goodbye to Moni, who is examining Hewex on the