Page 34 of Golden Darkness

“Thank you, Overlord.” Her opponent had a hoarse voice and was being helped to his feet.

“Thank you for your assistance, Lieutenant.” Her tone was slightly nasal, so she checked her face and found that her nose had been broken at some point. She raised her hand to her nose and snapped it back into place.

Kethen growled. “I was going to take you to medical.”

She flexed her upper lip. “Now you don’t have to. All fixed.”

He licked at her jaw and cheek.

“Did you get all the blood?”

He growled. “You know I nearly killed him, right?”

“Yeah. We heard the roar. That’s when he went face forward into the mat under his own power.”

He nuzzled her ear and ran his free arm down her body, checking for damage.

“I am fine. Well, a few bruises, but the nanites have killed the pain, so I think the healing is happening now.”

He kissed her gently and ran his tongue around her teeth. Every drop of blood was taken and whisked away from her. When he raised his huge head, he smiled at her. “You fought very well. We are still taking you to medical.”

She nodded. “Fine, but you are doing all the work.”

He scooped her up and lifted her on one arm.

She looked down. “I messed up my new outfit.”

“The extruder is making more.”

She beamed and kissed his cheek as they headed up to medical, one level up. Her opponent was supported by two friends, and they passed them on the steps.

He looked at her, grinned, and shook his head.

They strode into medical, and the staff sprang into action. Janessa was scanned, and when she emerged, her nose was tweaked a little more after an injection, and air flooded in.

“Wow. That’s better.” She flexed her face.

“My lady, what happened to you?” The doctor was frowning.

“Hand-to-hand combat practice. I am not terrible.” She chuckled.

Her opponent was in a different scanner, but she got the injections and bruise treatments with all speed. It might have had something to do with Kethen hovering near her.

When she was done, she checked on Lieutenant Vreeka, and he accepted her apology for the practice.

“You have quite a right arm, my lady.”

She wrinkled her nose. “It’s a good thing I was holding back. Whatever Kethen’s body did to mine made me a bit stronger.”

“Then, thank you for holding back, Lady.” He held out his hand, palm up in a submissive gesture that Kethen tried to trick her into making. She smiled and placed her spread fingers over his palm.

He raised his brows and burst out laughing. “You will protect me?”

She caught her goof with the finger position. “I will. Kethen will help.”

He looked past her, and a wall of warmth told her that Kethen was going to help.

“Overlord. Your lady is impressive, with quite a right hook.”