Free The Bonding by Victoria Hansen Page A

you to taste it too much,” Jaya advised.
    Kiri closed her eyes, grasped the flask and lifted it to her lips. Determinedly, she swallowed the thick brew, refusing to inhale, gulping huge mouthfuls. At last, the container was empty and she fell back against the pillows, swallowing convulsively, trying not to breathe through her nose, lest the horrendous taste become even more pronounced.
It isn't going to work
, she realized.
There's no I can keep this vile stuff in my stomach.
    “Kiri,” Jaya said sharply, “You
must
keep it down. It has to stay in your stomach to draw the poison.”
    “I'm trying,” Kiri said through clenched teeth.
    Something cool touched her lips. Davin, offering a glass of clean water. Kiri took a mouthful, but couldn't swallow. Instead she rinsed her mouth, trying to banish the taste of the potion, and spat into a pot that had been placed on the bed. He set the cup aside and took Kiri's face in his hands, making her look deeply into his eyes.
    “Listen, Kiri,” he said, his voice low but intense, “you can do this. You're strong, the strongest. Soon, you'll be well. Just think about all it means for us. You're going to survive this. You'll beat this thing, just like you beat that creature. You're a warrior.”
    He kept talking, not really saying much, but keeping her focus on him until the urge to gag passed and Kiri felt reasonably sure she wouldn't vomit ahead of schedule. The mass rolled in her belly, but with slow, steady breathing, she kept it there.
    Jaya reached for Kiri's arm. “I'm going to release you from stasis now. I know this is going to hurt. I'm sorry.”
    “I can handle pain,” Kiri told her as the spell holding her arm broke apart. Jaya was right, the injuries did hurt. They hurt terribly. Kiri could also once again feel the waves of contagious poison spreading from those deep bites up to her shoulder, and around the curve of her torso. Thankfully, they did not seem to pull towards her face, but instead were drawn by the sickening mass to her stomach. “It's working,” she told them. “I can feel it.”
    “Good,” Jaya said. “We'll leave you alone now for a while, and you can rest. Try to eat some more if you can. We'll be back soon with the next part of the process.”
    “I can't wait,” Kiri said dryly.
    Jaya left, taking her two cronies with her. Kiri turned to Davin. “Do you really have to stay through all of this?”
    He looked hurt by her question. “Don't you want me?”
    “Davin, this has nothing to do with wanting you. I don't want you to see me in this state. It's embarrassing.”
I already feel like a useless lump, and then…
The thought of what was coming made the mass of poison and potion roll unpleasantly in her belly.
    “Don't be embarrassed,” he told her. Davin thought for a moment and then added, “You don't want me to see you as weak, do you?”
    Kiri shook her head. “I'm not weak,” she said stubbornly, as though he'd suggested something to the contrary.
    He touched her hand, lacing his fingers through hers. “I know you're not used to relying on anyone, but listen, this I how I watch your back. You're injured. You need your partner to help you while you recover. It doesn't say anything about your strength, or your worth. Here, see how helpful I am?” He handed her a toothbrush.
    Kiri took it in her dominant hand, which, despite its burning pain, was thankfully movable again. She cleaned her teeth thoroughly and felt much better afterwards.
    “I've been a slave so long I've forgotten what it's like to have a partner, a friend, at my back,” she commented, enjoying the freshness after such a terrible flavor.
    “You'll get used to it again.” He handed her the water and she drank thirstily.
    When she set down the cup, Kiri realized she had a question “Davin?”
    “Yes love.”
    “Who is Jaya to you? You two have a deep connection. Is she your sister?”
    “Yes. Well, mostly.”
    What?
“What does that mean?” Kiri demanded,