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That might be true, but… “You’re in pain.”
“I’ve endured worse pain than this.” He kissed her forehead. “Focus, my female.”
She pushed away her concern. The sooner they rescue Talley and Tsadok, the sooner her cyborg would be out of danger. “I’m focused.”
“Good.” His eyes gleamed with approval. “My scans relay there’re currently no beings above ground within range. Stay here and ensure no one enters the tunnel. I’ll clear the space below us and then I’ll return for you.”
She wanted to go with him. But he would try to protect her, and that would cause him more harm, more pain. “I won’t allow anyone to get past me.” She widened her stance. “Return to me in one piece, my male.”
“I’ll return to you.” Her cyborg opened the door to the tunnel and jumped into that hole.
He dropped out of view.
The door closed. And the sound of gunfire rang out under Kesser’s booted feet.
“Fates.” Trying not to worry about the male she was starting to suspect she couldn’t live without, she perused her surroundings.
Powluks were frozen in various stages of fighting. Their hands gripped guns. One of the males’ eyes had widened. He had known he was in peril. The others were oblivious.
Time passed.
The shooting sounded farther and farther away. Her male must’ve decided to clear the entire tunnel. He?—
Movement out of the corner of her eye caught Kesser’s attention. She swung her guns in that direction.
“The human girl can’t see me,” a thin voice sang. “I’m little, and I’m walking carefully like my daddy teached me.”
Dread gripped Kesser. It was a kid.
Strike had told her again and again during training that everyone, including children, had to be stunned. They might be armed. Or they might warn others.
She should stun the kid.
That was what she should do.
But she couldn’t do that. She didn’t want to do that.
She wouldn’t intentionally hurt a kid. “Go away.” She made a shooing motion with her guns. “It isn’t safe for you here.”
“Will you make me dead standing up too?” A cute little face peeked out from behind one of the stunned warriors. The boy had big green eyes and the most adorable tiny tusks.
“They’re not dead.” She couldn’t allow the child to think that, to feel the same sort of grief her mom and she had felt. “They just can’t move right now.”
“You can’t move, Hattok?” The boy gazed up at the warrior. “Hattok?” He said that louder.
“He can’t speak either.” She looked around them. Did the child not have a caregiver?
Or was he an intentional distraction? A chill skittered down her spine.
“Oh. Is it a game?” The boy’s eyes lit with excitement.
“Yes, it’s a game.” She grabbed onto that explanation. “You have to hide before my male returns or you’ll lose the game.”
“I hide.” The boy ran in the opposite direction. “I hide real good.”
Kesser blew out her breath. The kid was gone. If he stayed hidden, he should remain safe.
She turned, surveying her surroundings. Nothing else moved. No one shot at her.
