Jaded by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online

puked in her lav for half an hour.
    Truanic pressed compresses on her neck and forehead. “I am guessing that it was a very bad day.”
    “You could say that. Two more days of testimony ahead before I can make a judgement.”
    He had removed her concealer and put it on the charging station. Before she could stop him, she was in her bed and he put another compress on her forehead.
    “What did you do for fun at home, Truanic?”
    “We swam, a lot.” He chuckled. “We lived on the coast and traditional garb was still worn for casual playing in the sea. We would dive and fish.” He smoothed her hair from her forehead.
    “It sounds nice. There were things to do in the city but few involved swimming and none fishing.”
    He smiled and helped her sit up. He held a cup of weak tea to her lips, and she drank eagerly.
    “What caused this reaction?”
    She smiled. “I can’t tell you that either, but I am not going to be well during this case. Food and rest, then we start it all again before dawn tomorrow. Aren’t you glad that you have chosen this as your profession?”
    He sighed and stroked her cheek. “I am thinking that you have some regrets.”
    “If you believe in it, destiny changes us into what it needs. You can either fight it or you can give inand become one with what you need to do. I have chosen the latter as I was changed without my consultation.”
    Truanic disappeared for a few minutes and returned with a tray filled with foods she would qualify as invalid fare. “I am not actually sick, you know.
    “Tell that to your poor lav. It has been stuck in cleaning cycle since I took you out of it.”
    Jayd snorted and ate slowly. He brought his own food in and they had a picnic on her sheets.
    As soon as she was finished, she peeled out of her robes and bodysuit, much to Truanic’s surprise.
    She set the tray to one side and crawled into bed. “You can join me for sleep if you like. It would help to keep you from wearing a path to my door to check on me.”
    “Am I that transparent?”
    “No, but I think I am. I am not precisely robust right now.”
    He sighed and removed their trays. She wasn’t sure what was up until he returned, removed his suit and joined her beneath the sheets. The moment that she curled up in his arms, she dozed off.
    She heard Truanic asking Harry for a predawn wakeup and Harry’s quiet reply. A slight smile on her lips was still there when she woke.
     

Chapter Eight
     
     
    After another day of vivid testimony, she was relieved to see that the next day’s schedule was for the defense.
    Truanic had to carry her back to the ship. She was unable to walk under her own steam. Inside Harry’s shielded hull, he asked, “You have to tell me what is going on.”
    “Pressure. Minds are pushing on me. Hundreds of them.” She bit her lip. She shouldn’t have told him that.
    “Understood. I will feed you and tuck you in.”
    He did what he said he would. By touch, he found the concealer and turned it off. His was next, and when he had set them to charge, he helped her into bed and brought her a tray.
    She only made it through half the food before she was yawning uncontrollably. He took the tray away and stayed with her while she drifted in and out of sleep.
    The next morning, he held her up in the solar shower and got her dressed before lining up cups of caf in front of her. She took the hint.
    “You are not here to be my minder or my personal assistant.” She sipped at the hot morning beverage anyway.
    “You need all of the above. I am an executioner when called for, your bailiff when we are in court, and any other time, I need a hobby. I have decided that it is keeping you sane.” He smiled and slid a breakfast meal in front of her.
    “Good luck with that.” She ate and was surprised that her appetite made an appearance.
    He slid a second helping in front of her as she took the final bite. “Keep going.”
    After her third cup of caf and two breakfasts, she felt a little