C17 Samantha - I will fight for love

“What are you waiting for? Go.” I laid down beside the dead guard because I was in too much pain to do anything else. Knox could get out of this place. The idea of him flying away made my heart lurch. I’d wanted so badly to go with him, but this was my punishment for falling for him in the first place. At least I could have peace that he'd escaped this nightmare.

He stood over me, his silver eyes pinched. Emotions warred in his expression and I wouldn't guilt him into staying.

“It’s okay. Go. You have to.” I licked my dry, cracked lips. “They’ll be coming soon.” And he was going to take my heart with him when he left. I would hold onto the memory of his touch, his kiss, his arms wrapped around me forever.

“Never,” he said, bending down and lifting me into his arms.

I smacked at his chest. “Put me down. I’m too heavy.” He was injured as well and taking me with him could endanger him or block his chance of freedom. I wouldn't take that from him, no matter how much it hurt me to now I'd never see him again.

The stubborn alien didn’t listen to me, but carried me out into the hallway.

“Stop.” I pushed against him, my heart squeezing so hard at what he was trying to do. “I’ll only slow you down.”

He ran down the hallway, me in his arms, spinning around one corner then another. My blood loss made me dizzy and I squeezed my eyes shut, my hands holding on to him as best I could.

“There they are,” a Roulex shouted.

Knox’s muscles tensed. “Hold on.”

“To what?” I hissed as he held out an arm and a fresh wave of pain smacked into me.

Then he flew down the narrow hallway, his wings brushing the sides, making us wobble. He superman punched the first guard, kicking the other in the head. We sailed over their prone bodies. Many more guards yelled behind us as they gave chase.

A tazer-like noise buzzed, and Knox tumbled to the ground. He cradled me in his arms as we twisted wing over wing, but he didn’t let me go, didn’t allow my head or body to hit the stone floor.

He took gulps of air and his muscles twitched from the strain.

“Grab them,” the Roulex yelled. “Don’t let them get away.”

“Knox, you have to leave me, please.” I placed my hand on his chest. Tears clouded my eyes that this big, beautiful alien cared about me so much he was trying to save me at his own risk.

He covered my hand with his own, his silver eyes brightening. “Never.”

Warmth poured through me. I gasped from the heat and vibration of healing barreled through me. The ligaments in my legs jerked and stitched back together. The skin puckering into faint scars like I'd had months of recovery rather than a few seconds. I couldn't believe Knox had done this when he needed to escape and leave me behind.

“No.” I shoved against him. “Save your power for yourself.”

A blast of electricity from the Roulex slammed into him. The edges of his wings drooped and he fell hard on the ground.

"Knox!" My scream ripped from me as my world tunneled into his unconscious form. I gathered him in my arms, cradling his head to my chest. My sobs wracked my body.

He’d die if they put him back in that cell. I knew it as sure as I knew that I’d be lost without him. The Roulex approached wearily, poking at us with their sticks.

“Leave us alone,” I cried, trying to bat them away. This was all my fault. I should’ve insisted that he leave without me. He could’ve gotten to safety and returned for me with an army or something.

Now, what would they do with us? Force me to mate with one of them? Or another of Knox’s species? I didn’t want anyone else. I wanted Knox.

Damn the consequences. Damn my eternal soul. Damn the whole wide universe.

I’d found love and I wasn’t going to give up without a fight.