The Soothing Scent Of Earth (Elemental Awakening, Book 2) by Nicola Claire
Book: The Soothing Scent Of Earth (Elemental Awakening, Book 2) by Nicola Claire
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Authors: Nicola Claire
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couldn't wash any of what I felt away though. I'd always fear what they'd done when they'd channelled that particular essence.
The doctor watched on impassively while I got myself under control. Finally when I sat back in my position against the tree trunk I forced myself to ask, what I wasn't sure I wanted to know.
"What else did you do to me when I was out?"
A reaction then. Shock. He frowned at me and said, "Just your blood. I just took your blood for the scientists to test. That's all."
Relief was a cool balm after such horrific possibilities.
Several long moments later it was me who broke the awkward silence.
"So, how exactly does the Basilissa plan to use me?"
Noah looked uncomfortable then. "The scientists are looking into your DNA hoping to find a cure for the Gi's fertility problems."
That didn't sound so bad, but the doctor wasn't finished.
"However," I sucked in a shallow breath to prepare, "it was on the Queen's instructions that Davos take the interrogation to the next level. She ultimately hopes your DNA is the solution, but she is not opposed to creating more Gi the traditional way."
My mouth fell open with that abhorrent news.
"She wants to use me as a breeding cow?"
"In a manner of speaking," Noah confirmed, looking uncomfortable again. "It also provided a good incentive for you to divulge what you are."
"But I don't know," I argued, meekly. I was still too horrified to be forceful.
"She doesn't believe that. And Davos was keen to use whatever method necessary to be sure you were telling the truth. When you fought back this afternoon, he approached the Queen to seek permission. He was following orders when he tied you to that wall."
I put my head in my hands and tried to breathe through the enormity of what the doctor had divulged. If I was caught again by the Gi someone else would take Davos' place, tying me to that wall and forcing me to produce a Gi 'the traditional way.' Knowing what lay in store for me if I was caught was almost too much to bear.
For a moment I had absolutely no idea what to do to get myself out of this predicament. Suddenly my escape seemed tenuous at best, and just a false hope in reality. Sooner or later they would catch me. And with one of their own 'helping' me, how long would it really take?
I lifted my head and looked at the doctor. Why had he aided in my escape?
"Why are you doing this?" I asked, a semi-repeated of my question before, but now the answer was so much more important.
"I'm a doctor, Casey," he said, voice level, face softening slightly. "I took an oath to do no harm. Testing your DNA did not encroach on that oath, but what Davos and the Basilissa planned, most certainly did. I could not stand by as instructed and watch. I had to pick a side. I picked yours."
Could I believe him? Did I have much of a choice? He had just turned his back on his kind to assist my escape. He risked his life, his immortal life, to aid me.
Because I would be harmed if the Queen of the Gi had her way.
"Why don't you get some sleep," Noah suggested quietly. "You look beyond exhausted, and for us to make it to Manaus and my contact on foot, it will take several more days trekking through the forest."
I sighed, felt my body give up all fight, and nodded my agreement silently. It didn't take long for me to fall asleep, curled up on my side, the tree cocooning me with its curving trunk, cupping roots beneath, and the gentle fall of leaves to cover me.
It was the flaming rose dream that woke me. But it was Noah's whispered words that froze me to the spot. I pretended to still be sleeping, my eyes opened only a sliver, my mind though on full alert.
Noah was leaning over the fire carrying out a conversation with another man. Just like Theo did. Just like Pyrkagia do. Conversing through flames.
The doctor was not a Gi . How the freaking hell had he covered that?
Chapter 5
This Was Going To Take A Shit-Load Of Luck And Superb Timing
"I have the girl," Noah whispered into the
The doctor watched on impassively while I got myself under control. Finally when I sat back in my position against the tree trunk I forced myself to ask, what I wasn't sure I wanted to know.
"What else did you do to me when I was out?"
A reaction then. Shock. He frowned at me and said, "Just your blood. I just took your blood for the scientists to test. That's all."
Relief was a cool balm after such horrific possibilities.
Several long moments later it was me who broke the awkward silence.
"So, how exactly does the Basilissa plan to use me?"
Noah looked uncomfortable then. "The scientists are looking into your DNA hoping to find a cure for the Gi's fertility problems."
That didn't sound so bad, but the doctor wasn't finished.
"However," I sucked in a shallow breath to prepare, "it was on the Queen's instructions that Davos take the interrogation to the next level. She ultimately hopes your DNA is the solution, but she is not opposed to creating more Gi the traditional way."
My mouth fell open with that abhorrent news.
"She wants to use me as a breeding cow?"
"In a manner of speaking," Noah confirmed, looking uncomfortable again. "It also provided a good incentive for you to divulge what you are."
"But I don't know," I argued, meekly. I was still too horrified to be forceful.
"She doesn't believe that. And Davos was keen to use whatever method necessary to be sure you were telling the truth. When you fought back this afternoon, he approached the Queen to seek permission. He was following orders when he tied you to that wall."
I put my head in my hands and tried to breathe through the enormity of what the doctor had divulged. If I was caught again by the Gi someone else would take Davos' place, tying me to that wall and forcing me to produce a Gi 'the traditional way.' Knowing what lay in store for me if I was caught was almost too much to bear.
For a moment I had absolutely no idea what to do to get myself out of this predicament. Suddenly my escape seemed tenuous at best, and just a false hope in reality. Sooner or later they would catch me. And with one of their own 'helping' me, how long would it really take?
I lifted my head and looked at the doctor. Why had he aided in my escape?
"Why are you doing this?" I asked, a semi-repeated of my question before, but now the answer was so much more important.
"I'm a doctor, Casey," he said, voice level, face softening slightly. "I took an oath to do no harm. Testing your DNA did not encroach on that oath, but what Davos and the Basilissa planned, most certainly did. I could not stand by as instructed and watch. I had to pick a side. I picked yours."
Could I believe him? Did I have much of a choice? He had just turned his back on his kind to assist my escape. He risked his life, his immortal life, to aid me.
Because I would be harmed if the Queen of the Gi had her way.
"Why don't you get some sleep," Noah suggested quietly. "You look beyond exhausted, and for us to make it to Manaus and my contact on foot, it will take several more days trekking through the forest."
I sighed, felt my body give up all fight, and nodded my agreement silently. It didn't take long for me to fall asleep, curled up on my side, the tree cocooning me with its curving trunk, cupping roots beneath, and the gentle fall of leaves to cover me.
It was the flaming rose dream that woke me. But it was Noah's whispered words that froze me to the spot. I pretended to still be sleeping, my eyes opened only a sliver, my mind though on full alert.
Noah was leaning over the fire carrying out a conversation with another man. Just like Theo did. Just like Pyrkagia do. Conversing through flames.
The doctor was not a Gi . How the freaking hell had he covered that?
Chapter 5
This Was Going To Take A Shit-Load Of Luck And Superb Timing
"I have the girl," Noah whispered into the
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