Page 40 of A Kiss of Frost

“Yes,” he said immediately. “You should go.”

“What do you meanIshould go? What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to confront the Fereg. I cannot allow it to continue to drain your people.”

“You can’t. You can barely stand. And what if it’s not alone?”

“They travel alone, otherwise they would try to feed off each other.”

She shuddered, then gave him a brave smile.

“I understand why you need to do something, but why not wait until you’re stronger?”

“It has to be now. We are already deep inside her layer. And my strength is returning rapidly.”

That was true enough, although he was still a long way from peak condition. He also did not share his other concern. The Fereg had reached him in his sleep, calling to him when he was most vulnerable. If she had done it once, what was there to prevent her from doing it again? No, he couldn’t take the chance.

“All right then. I’m going with you.”

“Zeretta, you’re very brave, but you are not a warrior.”

“I know that, and I promise to stay out of your way if there’s a… battle.” Her voice broke on the last word, but she hurried on. “But I thought I lost you. I can’t go through that again, not knowing where you are or what’s happening. I’m coming with you.”

Even though he was concerned for her safety, he found he was equally reluctant to lose sight of her, afraid he’d end up back in the fog searching for her.

“Very well.”

He rose to his feet, but although he managed to stand, his legs immediately threatened to give out on him. Katerina wedged itself under his arm just as she had done in the bedroom what felt like a lifetime ago.

“Just as well I’m coming,” she muttered. “You can’t even stand properly yet.”

He deliberately tightened his arm around her shoulders. “Perhaps we should see what else I can do.”

She laughed, just as he had intended, and some of the concern left her expression. “It certainly sounds like you’re on your way to recovery.”

“I am well,” he assured her, and she rolled her eyes before looking over at Keffi.

“Maybe we should send him home?”

He looked at the drone and the drone stared back at him. Theoretically, he should have been able to send Keffi back to the shelter, but somehow he suspected his order would not be successful.

“I suspect that he will not leave.”

“I think you’re right.” She sighed. “So where do we find this Fereg?”

“On her ship, of course. Her nest will be there.”

“Her ship? You think there’s a ship in here somewhere?”

“I am sure of it,” he said, taking a few tentative steps towards the doorway. To his delight, although his legs shook, they obeyed. “I suspect this was the signal I was receiving all along.”

She had moved with him, continuing to provide support, and she gave him a curious glance.

“If she lives on her ship, then why this palace?”

“Perhaps she intended to fill it with slaves from whom she could feed. Or it might simply be part of her nature to build such a dwelling.”

“Like a bird making a nest, only on a really big scale.”