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I tug again at my necklines, trying to get some airflow. "It's hot as hell under all these blankets."
"It won't be for long." Qhix's tight smile is strained, serious. "Once the rillium reaches critical depletion levels, the ship will rapidly cool and divert all energy to the air scrubbers. All the lights will extinguish, and we'll only have breathable air for about an hour or so. After that, the air will become toxically saturated with carbon dioxide."
"And once that happens, we're as good as dead?" I choke on my fear, not ready to face death.
"Navik will come to our aid before that happens," Qhix asserts with unwavering certainty, leaving no room for doubt in my mind.
As we lie here together, inside our sweltering cocoon of blankets, I can't help but feel a sense of ease and safety. Despite the imminent danger that surrounds us, Qhix's presence provides a shield against the uncertainties of our predicament.
He clutches my hand in his. I take comfort in his warmth radiating through the socks we wear in place of gloves and peer into his alien eyes that seem to glow in the muted light filtering through the tight weave of the blankets. His confidence is infectious, and I can't help but feel a glimmer of hope.
"Tell me about Navik's mate, Cora," I prompt, needing a distraction as we wait for rescue. "You said they met on the frozen prison moon?"
"Onis," Qhix replies. "I never asked Cora about her abduction, but she came to be the property of Warden Hyt. Navik happened to be on Onis when a prison break occurred. Cora somehow escaped and ran into him. She tried to take him captive at the business end of an electro-rod."
Qhix laughs. "I can just imagine the indignation on Navik's face when she demanded he fly her off Onis. That poor fool didn't stand a chance. I know it was love at first sight."
"Why is that so funny?"
"Because Navik is not a male to kowtow to a female or he didn't used to be. But now he's totally committed to Cora and the young she carries."
"And she's happy?"
"Very."
"I'm glad for her." I grin knowing a fellow abductee has found happiness. "What's she like?"
"Strong and beautiful, like you."
"I would very much like to meet her." I blush at his compliment, feeling a warmth spread through me like wildfire. But the moment is ruined as the hum of emergency power slowly fades away and the dim lighting flickers.
Silence surrounds us as we're plunged into darkness. The stillness is suffocating, amplifying every breath we take. Suspended in a void of nothingness, our existence is reduced to the thundering beat of our combined heartbeats.
My grip on Qhix's hand tightens, and tiny beads of sweat speckle my face as I wait for the cold Qhix said is coming. I don't have long to wait as the coldness creeps in, just as Qhix warned. My body shudders with fear, knowing the consequences if Navik doesn't come to our rescue in time.
"Come here." Qhix pulls me closer, wrapping his arms around me like a shield, his heartbeat thrumming in sync with mine.
I nestle into his embrace, feeling the warmth of his body and the comfort of his spicy scent. Despite the fear and uncertainty that lingers in the air like a thick fog, his presence is a sanctuary. I try to ignore the chilling cold that settles in around us and focus on the warmth of our connection.
In the darkness, my heart races with fear and uncertainty, and I can feel Qhix's body shift and grow around me. I stiffen in his embrace as his sivot, the beast within him, begins to emerge.
Qhix whispers softly into my ear, "Do not be afraid. In my sivot form, I can keep you warmer, and I won't need to consume as much oxygen so you can breathe longer."
The change is slow, almost imperceptible at first. Then I feel Qhix's muscles start to ripple, his body becoming harder and more defined as his form takes on an otherworldly shape. I can sense the power and strength of his sivot coursing through him, making his body larger and stronger.
In his beastly form, his body heat increases, pulsing like a furnace against my skin as he continues to grow, chasing away the deadly chill settling around us.
He holds me close, his arms steely bands, yet gentle and protective. I can hear the socks on his hands rip, yielding to the claws I know have sprouted from his fingertips.
The sivot's voice rumbles through my body, a primal and seductive growl calling out my name. "Tasha." Shivers race down my spine, erupting a fire in my core. His deep, basso hum fills the air with an intense energy, tickling my skin and awakening every nerve.
As Qhix said, his sivot's breaths are shallow and slow, almost imperceptible. The sound of each inhale and exhale is as faint as a whisper, barely audible in the stillness of the room. I can't help my growing concern for Qhix's Kaul form. Would he be okay?
As time passes with no sign of Navik, my hope for rescue dwindles as the air grows thick and heavy, suffocating me in its grasp. My eyes begin to droop, a telltale sign of the carbon dioxide poisoning that is slowly taking its toll on my body. I can feel the end creeping closer with each labored breath. The stifling atmosphere seems to close in around me, a cruel reminder of my impending demise.
"Thank you for trying to protect me," I mutter before succumbing to unconsciousness.
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