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skin.
    With every line of damage, his skin reddened and blistered before it healed.
    He murmured to her, trying to keep her calm as the touches hurt her.
    Solos was muttering in the background.
    No one asked her to speak, which was probably a good thing seeing as the acid had reached her nose and mouth.
    Urgan worked on her slowly, repairing the damage inch by inch, one finger width at a time.
    When her mouth was whole, she whispered. “Contact healer.”
    He smiled at her. “Yes, but don’t talk. I graft my own tissue in place so you are going to be half Jaluum until your system can take over. You suffered a lot of damage to your face, shoulder and a few burns on your arm, but I can heal you. You just have to keep still.”
    The local law enforcement arrived and noted the damage that had been done. They hauled Jadara out for assessment and detention.
    Solos was pacing the moment that they left with the woman. Brigs reached up with her left hand, and he came by to hold it. She felt him press a kiss to her skin, and he held her hand against his cheek.
    When Urgan had placed enough underlying tissue on her cheek, he pressed his palm flat to her face and the pain receded.
    After half an hour, he finished with her face and began to work on her shoulder.
    “I almost hate to heal your skin; it is such an unusual tone.”
    She laughed, testing out her healed skin. “It is very common on my world. Several peoples moved to areas with limited light and colder weather and got paler over generations.”
    “Your hair is very striking.”
    “So I have been told. Your matriarch seems inclined to offer you to the Guardian project.”
    He smiled again, looking charming and ruffled with his dark blue hair all askew. “I am guessing that she offered you more than that.”
    Solos’s hand tightened, and she turned her gaze to his. He gave her a nod and a smile.
    Holy crap, he is on board with my taking on another guy.
    “I would not take it amiss if you took another bond mate, providing that I was first.”
    She blushed as Urgan looked at her with intense focus.
    “I am not staying. I have no right to stay here.” Brigs was panicking as they both stared intently at her.
    Urgan continued the healing, and when she was finally whole, he helped her sit up.
    The matriarch broke protocol and brought her a cup of tea, holding it for her while she flexed her hand.
    “I am so sorry that you came to harm under my roof, Recruiter. Whatever you ask of me, I will do.”
    It was not a statement that Brigs had ever thought she would have to deal with. “I thank you for your offer; however, there is nothing owed to me. This is part of the risk of doing recruitments.”
    Tweliak pounded her cane again. “No, it is part of the risk with dealing with us. You stood between me and that hideous wretch, and I thank you for it. My family owes you a debt.”
    Solos sat next to her. “If you are feeling better, we can return to my family’s home.”
    Tweliak smiled and lifted the small data chip. “I will be in touch.”
    Solos steadied her, and Brigs made her way back to the skimmer.
    They flew in silence for the first ten minutes until he couldn’t take it anymore. “You attacked an armed woman?”
    “The woman was attacking the matriarch. I was not going to let an elderly woman take a hit when I could just step in between them.”
    He seethed quietly for a moment.
    “I did not know she was carrying acid, Solos.”
    “Her family are chemists. Urgan let me know while we were discussing the likelihood of him being a Guardian.”
    “How did he feel about being traded by his matriarch?”
    Solos grinned. “If it was being traded to you, he was all for it.”
    Brigs rubbed her forehead and winced at the tenderness of the new skin. “I am still getting used to the idea that men are bargained into a bonding.”
    He grinned, “I know. A Jaluum woman would not let me get on top nearly as much as you do.”
    She snorted. “I am just lazy. After a day of