Kozav Read Online Free

Knowing struck.
    He swayed slightly on his feet but did not fall. Barely.
    “How long have I been on the ship?”
    “Approximately ten Earth hours, Primary Warrior.”
    “Ten hours since I was injured,” he murmured. Ten Earth hours. Was she still alive? Yes. Yes, she was. The Knowing still flooded him, so she had to still be breathing, her heart beating. But how badly did she suffer? The Knowing answered the question for him—greatly.
    “No, Primary Warrior. You were injured sixteen Earth hours ago.”
    “I was on the surface—injured—and no one came to me? My warriors?” His warriors. He was so concerned for himself, for his mate, he should have—no. Females came before all else.
    “Your injuries were the worst. The others recovered well. You and Warrior Detzan live because of Earth Healer Hall.”
    “Healers on Earth are called doctors. Dr. Hall assisted us?”
    Yeem-Yazen-Yofol frowned and flicked through his datapad, finger scraping on the surface and sending a bolt of agony through Kozav’s mind. The longer he remained awake—and separated from his mate—the worse his symptoms would become. He prayed to the skies he got to his mate before she was damaged beyond healing.
    “Records indicate her Earth title to be Nurse, but she performed a surgery on Warrior Detzan that impressed even Master Hea—”
    He did not care. Nurse or doctor, the male would answer his questions. He would tell Kozav of every person who came near while he remained dead to the world around him.
    Kozav would find his mate. And this Hall would assist him.

4
    K ozav would destroy the building itself if someone did not answer his questions. His head pounded in time with his rising heart rate and the urge to unsheathe his blades and run them through one of these humans grew with every breath.
    “Where. Is. Hall?” One more denial and blood would be spilled. His fingers tingled with the urge to bare his claws, to show these healers who— what —they faced.
    Preors did not do well without their mates. Considering he’d never expected to find one, deserve one after what he’d done in his past, he would not lose her now.
    “I don’t know who you think you are—” A short, hairless man stepped forward, his round belly leading the way, and he looked to be no more than forty Earth years. To be so weak at such a young age… lazy. Purely lazy. It disgusted Kozav to speak with someone so weak. He had three hundred ninety-four years beneath his wings and still trained heavily.
    When his skull did not feel as if it would split in two.
    “I am Kozav sen Aghin.” He stepped forward and towered over the human. “Primary Warrior of the Third Preor Fleet, second only to War Master Taulan joi Lana Coburn and you will answer my questions.”
    He widened his stance, spreading his wings while he crossed his arms. The man would see who he denied, would see the danger he faced. While Kozav did not slide his blades free, his long-time friend, Detzan, did. The gleaming metal came into sight from Kozav’s right side and then another’s—Choler, the ship’s Negotiate Master—appeared on his left. It surprised him that the normally cool-headed male interceded, but it should not. A mate for a Preor was a treasured gift. Denying a male that joy would not be tolerated.
    Even a Negotiate Master could lose his head. Now utter silence reigned.
    This Hall doctor repaired Choler’s injuries as well, managing to save his damaged ewae .
    The quick clip of solid shoes on the smooth flooring broke through the unending quiet, a new man approaching from behind the lazy one in front of him. He dressed in what humans called a soo-t . A form of dress that usually meant he felt himself to be important.
    Kozav would wait and see.
    When the newcomer finally stopped, he turned a smile on Kozav. He hated the man already. The expression was fake and dripped with gorsch . He could not think of the human word, only that it was disgusting and smelled horrible. “I