"Thank you, my lady." Nipaw bowed low and left the room.
Jewels and Jeremy didn't speak. Both of them were too tired to do anything except sit and try to breathe. Jewels was beyond exhausted. Never had the three trials of a Choosing been done in one day.
The only response to her pleas to stop was a lecture from the hateful Maussey and more restorative drinks ordered by Colonel Manroe to keep her energy up. If she had to down another one, she would vomit.
Jeremy was in bad shape, too. Each trial was designed to be more demanding than the previous one. The only good news was that the original group of thirty was down to fourteen for the second round. All three Gatoans were still in the running. She wasn't surprised.
::Jewels, you okay?::
::This is insane, Jeremy! Are they trying to kill me?:: she wailed.
::I don't know. Can you feel it? There's a sense of urgency. I'm not sure why. I'm here and will stay by your side. No matter the outcome::
::Thanks. I needed that. Dex is next.::
::You like him, don't you?::
::Jeremy! I...,::
::You're blushing, Jewels. In fact, your cheeks are really pink.::
::Stop it! You're embarrassing me!::
::Admit it, Kid. You got a thing for the giant furball.::
::He is not a furball!:: She huffed. ::He is strong and kind. And scary and handsome and...::
::...And you'd jump in bed with him at a moment's notice,:: Jeremy teased.
::Maybe. I don't know. They are like us. I mean, he's got fur and his features are more feline, but he has a nose, mouth, eyes...and other parts,:: She stammered and looked at her feet.
::You are too cute when you act like this. Keep being bashful. The big guy likes that.::
::Oh, hush. Here he comes!::
Jewels perked up in her seat and smiled when Dex came into the room. That familiar tension gripped her.
In Dex's eyes, she saw a promise of something sensual she longed for. In that instant, Jewels made up her mind. She knew that he would be her anchor. She needed him to be her anchor like she needed air to live. The others could take a flying leap off a short pier for all she cared.
Elenora cleared her throat. Jewels guiltily looked over at the doctor. She'd forgotten the woman was in the room.
"Dex, this trial is to test mental compatibility. You have to be able to react to Jewels' emotions and help her remain stable and focused. This is imperative in the field. We are attaching sensors to monitor your brain activity as you do this exercise."
"Jewels, are you ready?"
"Yes, Doctor." Jewels cleared her mind. This phase of the Choosing was painful. Images would be relayed to her mind to evoke different responses. It was up to the candidate to help her make sense of the situation and act accordingly. There were thousands of scenarios. She never got the same one twice. It kept her and her potential partner on their toes.
"Okay, hit me." She closed her eyes and whimpered as the sensory implant took over, and she fell into a nightmare....
Dex saw Jewels' body convulse, and he moved to run to her side, but was restrained.
"No, Dex, you have to do this telepathically. Otherwise, you fail the test," Elenora explained sternly.
He growled and was impressed when the doctor didn't back down.
"Fine!" He focused on Jewels' mind and slipped inside. His body went limp as the sensor readings began to spike.
* * *
Dex stared about, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. It was a moment before he realized he was in some constructed mental hell. It all felt real. There were bodies, movement, and noises that hurt his ears.
"Jewels!"
He pushed people out of his way, and more appeared. He paused and considered the situation. He was going about this the wrong way. He centered himself and reached for her...and then...connection!
Dex yowled his battle cry and dropped to all fours. He plowed through the crowd and into the street. He could smell Jewels' fear. "I'm coming, little human!"
He turned left and skidded to a halt in front of a blue building with no windows. He unsheathed his claws and charged inside. Disbelief froze him as he took in the scene before him.
Jewels was bound by the wrists and dangled a few feet off the floor. Her face was battered and bleeding. A brutish male screamed in her face and punched her in the gut, knocking the air out of her.
Dex roared his fury and plowed into the man, sending them both rolling. He viciously clawed the man, not giving his opponent a chance to land a blow. With a final swipe, he cut the man's head off.
"No one hurts her. No one!" Dex snarled.
He padded over to Jewels and, using his claws, cut the rope that bound her. She was light in his arms and so still. He put his nose near her face and sniffed carefully. "Little human, my brave little warrior, I'm sorry I was late. I need to see those violet eyes. Let me know you are all right." He waited, and when she didn't rouse, he gently began to clean her face with his tongue.
Jewels stirred and gave a hurt cough. Dex sighed in relief.
"You scared me, little human. But I will always protect you."
"You are silly," she whispered and opened her eyes. Jewels raised her trembling hands to his face and cupped it gently. "You came. The pain is gone when you're here. Why are you different? What is this between you and me?"
"I don't know, little human. I must do something now. I will be gentle. If you will permit me, that is."
"I trust you."
He saw the truth in her eyes. Dex lowered his head and kissed her. It was everything and more when his lips touched hers. He was drowning in his first taste of her--honey, just like her smell. Jewels was eager, her hands tangling in his fur as she deepened the kiss. He growled his frustration. It was nice to do this, but he wanted the real thing. Her skin against his fur. His mouth explored her body. Her mind locked with his.
When her mind latched onto his, something clicked in place between them. He didn't stop to analyze it. He only knew that he felt a sense of completion that had been lacking before.
Reluctantly, he ended the kiss, and Jewels mewled a protest. Her lips were swollen as she stared heatedly at him.
"Little human, we must stop. You must wake up. I promise, I will finish what we started here."
"Okay, I'm going to hold you to that," she whispered.
Dex laughed. "I'm counting on it. Now, wake. We have something to complete in the real world."
"Oh, joy," Jewels muttered and closed her eyes.
He watched her dream self vanish, but the bond between them was solid. He would always be near to help her. Dex willed himself awake.