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place. Genae bit her lip to keep from smiling as Llaryn tried to step away from Paladin.
The woman looked everywhere but at the big VanDai. She kept moving away from him
and he just kept following her.
Would you have done that to me? Genae asked on a whisper.
I did do that, Kai reminded her, his mouth brushing her ear.
Genae smiled and shook her head. He was right. During their time on YelAsta,
onboard his ship, even since arriving on Sai-two, he was constantly touching her, close
enough so she would feel his heat and be enveloped in his scent. Even now his arm was
around her, his chin resting on top of her head.
The poor woman doesn t stand a chance.
No, Kai agreed, she doesn t.
She wanted to hit him for his arrogance and at the same time she wanted to hug
him.
Ryvn strode into the room, a small case in one hand. Here are your supplies,
he told Llaryn as he set the case on a tabletop. His brows rose as he saw Paladin
stalking the Mriln healer but he didn t say anything about it. The techs say the
molecular shield is ready to come down on your order, Paladin.
Llaryn moved away from Paladin. He visibly tensed but this time he didn t
follow her. There will be guards posted outside the room. At any hint of trouble, let
them know and they will contact me.
Llaryn didn t respond and after a moment, Paladin turned and strode out of the
room. Ryvn followed close behind.
Kai, his hands gentle, turned Genae to face him. His face, as usual, gave nothing
away but the look in his eyes made her throat tighten. There was love there, and fear.
Not for himself, she knew, but for her. If he could take her place, she knew he would.
His hand settled over her left breast as his gaze locked with hers.
Tears filled Genae s eyes and for once she didn t care. I love you.
Angelina Evans Paladin s Pride 3: Her Forever Knight - 56 -
Kai leaned down and his mouth took hers. It was slow and hot. His lips pressed
to hers, his tongue entering her mouth, retreating, his teeth nipping her bottom lip
before he suckled it and finally released her.
He stepped back and pinned the Mriln healer with his burning golden gaze.
Remember, healer, it isn t only her life and heart you hold in your hands. Without
another word or a backward glance, he strode away.
Genae bit her lip to keep from calling him back. Her choices had been made
before she ever met him. She had a promise to keep, to herself and more importantly, to
a child who d never had the chance to live.
Chapter 8
Fighting for Life
With the exodus of all the VanDai, it was as if the air had been let out of the
room. Genae slumped where she stood. Until that moment, she hadn t realized how
much energy Kai generated just by being in the room.
Are all VanDai like those three? Like the others on board the Zolsum?
Genae nodded as she looked at Llaryn. All the ones I ve met.
The beautiful Mriln woman seemed to think about it for a moment before
shaking her head, the motion seeming somehow elegant and graceful. It s fortunate I ll
be leaving soon after the retrieval. She walked forward, her gait flowing, more gliding
than stepping. She took Genae s hands in her long, slender ones and met her eyes
directly.
You were told the odds of a successful retrieval?
Aevyn said getting the information back had proven very successful.
And your survival?
Genae s eyes didn t waver but a tremor shook her hands caught in Llaryn s
grasp. She took a deep, shuddering breath and nodded. She didn t want to die but if
that was the price to be paid, she would pay it. He told me my chances of surviving
the retrieval were less than one tenth of a percent.
Yet you agreed? Does Kai know?
Genae jumped. She turned to glare at Eln. Do you always listen in on
conversations that are none of your business?
I m Llaryn s second in this procedure. He glowered down at Genae. Now
answer my question. You agreed to this?
She nodded.
Angelina Evans Paladin s Pride 3: Her Forever Knight - 58 -
You were fully aware of the consequences?
She nodded again.
Does Kai know?
No. And you re not going to tell him.
Do you understand what a VanDai s mate means to him?
Genae closed her eyes against the pain tearing at her. She couldn t think about
Kai and what he would feel. She would have oblivion but he& he would be the one left
behind.
She opened her eyes and faced Eln. I know what he means to me, how I would
feel if he were the one to die. I wouldn t want to live. That s why he can t know. She
stepped forward and took the healer s hands in hers. He has to be focused on living.
Eln looked at Llaryn. Did she tell you about the damage done to her heart?
Llaryn frowned and stepped forward. No.
A VanDai woman used a cardiac stabilizer to try and stop her heart. The only
thing keeping her alive is the same instrument that almost killed her. For all I know
there may be no information left for you to retrieve.
When did this happen?
Eln explained when it happened and exactly what happened. Her heart needs
to be repaired. Whatever this information is, I m sure it can be gotten another way.
Genae shook her head. The only places this information exists are in my heart
and in the president s head.
The president?
Yes. Genae turned her back on him and faced Llaryn. Can you do it?
I can retrieve and even reconstruct the viral DNA strands, yes. I don t know if I
can save you.
If it comes down to a choice between my life and the information, get the
information.
Llaryn nodded.
Angelina Evans Paladin s Pride 3: Her Forever Knight - 59 -
Genae studied her, looking for any hint of hesitation. Once she was out, she
wouldn t know what was happening and she needed to know she could trust the Mriln
healer.
Promise?
I promise.
Then tell me what to do.
Eln watched as the two women worked together. One small and delicate, the
other tall and fragile. How the fate of so many had come to rest in their hands, he
would never know. He wouldn t disturb the precarious balance of fate. Kai would find
out when he returned if the procedure had been successful or not. And if he didn t
return, it wouldn t matter anyway. They d all be dead.
With those fatalistic thoughts, he stepped forward and began to help with the
preparations.
* * *
Ready?
Kai nodded to the tech manning the molecular transport controls. As the room
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