Marcael: A Terraneu Novel, Book Five by Stormy McKnight Read Free Book Online Page A

to
me.” Taking another step back, he ordered Marcael, “Take her to medical for
cleaning. Then bring her back to me. I have a lot of questions for this little
female.” With a nod, her uncle dismissed them and then Marcael was holding her.
He had one arm around her upper back pressing her against him, the other under
her knees.
    “Turn your head into my chest and do not look at anyone.” His voice was
rough and angry. He was walking quickly and she could feel him turning this way
and that. She got dizzy and everything went black for a few moments. When she
came around, she was in a room like their medical dome. She recognized the
equipment as almost identical to what they had on Terraneu.
    “Out!” Marcael snarled at the male in the room with them. “I am capable
of doing a medical scan!” Walking with her over to a medical bed, he gently set
her down. She was sitting with her legs dangling off the edge, afraid to look
at him in case he was angry with her. “Who did this to your face, your uncle or
that idiot?” His voice had turned whisper soft and his fingers were on her
cheek prodding gently. “Who Brennae?
    Tears streaming down her face she gasped when he touched a particularly
sore spot, “My uncle. He tried to touch my...” she lifted her face until her
eyes met Marcael’s...” He was reaching for my chest...” her voice caught, “I
slapped his hand away before I could stop myself. If he had tried to touch me
again I would have—”
    “Gods Brennae!” He groaned stepping between her knees and pulling her
close. “Do you not have a sense of self-preservation?” His fingers were working
deep into her hair and she did not think he knew they were there. “What would
you have done? You are so small. He could have killed you in the time it took
me to reach his quarters.” His hands moved to her shoulders and the burning
heat of them felt comforting.
    Pressing herself against his chest, her fingers digging into his back she
whispered, “I am stronger than you think!” Being in his arms was comforting
amidst the chaos, “Marcael what are we going to do?”
    With her cheek pressed into his chest she could feel the rumbling when he
said, “ We are going to keep you alive for the next twelve hours. Then
this will finally be over.” With one last reassuring squeeze, he took a step
back. Taking her face in his fingers, his intense eyes bore into hers. “I want
you to stay in here for now. I will have a man loyal to me watch over the
doors. Do not go anywhere, with anyone! Do you understand?”
    Brennae felt a bit insulted, a half-wit would understand the way he said
it. Instead of showing her displeasure, because frankly without Marcael’s
interference she would probably be a bloody pulp by now, she nodded slightly,
“Yes Marcael. I understand. If anyone but you comes for me I will do everything
in my power to stay here.”
    Smiling Marcael brushed his fingers across her face one last time, his
thumb almost against her lips, “Good. I will return for you as soon as I can.
Now lie back for me so I can set the medical unit to fix your face.”
    Brennae did as he asked and heard the familiar hum of the machine as it
worked at repairing any damage it found. She watched through heavy lidded eyes
as Marcael walked toward the doors. Then an un-natural need to fall asleep came
over her. Why had he made her promise to stay here in the medical unit if he
was going to knock her out anyway? That was the last thought she had before she
lost the ability to think.

Chapter
Seven
    Marcael found someone he trusted to watch the
medical room then hurried back to his King’s chambers. He was going to have to
do some impressive lying to keep the King from Brennae. He had one of his men
working on showing the medical room as under quarantine. If Knuan asked, he
would explain that his armor must have protected him and that he was clean.
Usually Knuan did not bother himself with the details of away missions as long
as