Page 113 of Dragon Me Through Space

Preston stroked his thumb over my cheek, his eyes full of emotion. “You’ll have the best leg in the galaxy,” he promised.

“I’ll make sure of it,” Wayne promised. “The best technology available. I’ve designed it myself already and we can make adjustments until you’re satisfied with it.”

“Scout,” I whispered. She hadn’t stopped pointing her weapons at the men. “Scout, you need to let them do their jobs. I could die if they don’t treat it.”

That seemed to snap her out of it and she shrank back down and zipped to her resting spot behind my ear.

Preston brushed hair out of my face and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “One of us will be with you at all times. Let the medicine put you to sleep while the healers do their jobs. You’re safe, I promise.”

“Okay,” I said with a nod, my eyes already growing heavy from the sedative the healer had put into the IV.

What felt like moments later, my eyes opened again, but the lights were thankfully dimmed this time. My body felt heavy, but when I looked down, I realized it was because Zeke lay across my waist, his head rested on his folded arms.

I brushed hair out of his face and noticed the thick stubble on his jaw that indicated he hadn’t shaved recently.

How long had I been out?

Zeke stirred from my touch, his eyes snapped open, and he jerked upright, reaching forward to set his hands on my face. “Are you in pain?”

I shook my head and opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out due to how dry my throat was.

Gage held out a cup of water with a straw, startling me since I hadn’t realized he was sitting in a chair next to my hospital bed.

The rest of the room was empty, just Gage and Zeke were with me.

After taking several small drinks, I asked, “How long have I been out?”

“Two days,” Gage answered. “They said it was most likely from the trauma your body went through.”

“The Games?” There was still one more round that I hadn’t participated in.

“You won,” Preston said as he entered the room.

My head snapped up to meet his eyes. “What? But the final round⁠—”

“You were the only one who defeated a lusca after falling in. The others fled, giving up instead of hanging on the bar, and the ones who fell in either died or fled without killing one. You’re the winner of the Games,” Preston answered.

My mouth dropped.

“My parents will host the awards ceremony once you’re cleared to leave the medic ward,” he said and leaned his hip against the side of my hospital bed. His expression shifted and he asked, “Are you in pain?”

“I haven’t tried or looked yet,” I admitted. “I don’t feel pain right now, but I haven’t moved my body much.” I was scared, but didn’t want to say that out loud.

“Wayne worked really hard on your leg,” Gage said. “He went two days without sleep, actually.”

“Where is he?”

“He’s on his way here,” Zeke answered. “I let him know you’re awake.”

“Did anything else happen while I was out? Did you find out how they managed to obtain lusca when my planet is destroyed?”

“Someone had taken some baby luscas off-planet before it was destroyed,” Preston answered. “The one who obtained them for the Games swears they didn’t know how vicious the creatures were, that they were told they were only as dangerous as a normal shark.”

“So, you don’t think it was done intentionally to try to kill me,” I confirmed and he nodded.

“We’ve waited to deal with Vicky until you were awake,” Zeke said, his voice full of growling and hard to understand due to it. “Since she tried to murder you, we though you should get the say in how to deal with her. I wanted to rip her head off in a public execution, but Wayne and Preston forced me to wait. So, what would you like to do? Do you want to execute her yourself?”

“I’m not sure,” I admitted and looked at Preston. “What would you advise?”