The thought scared her a little bit, but ultimately, she wasn’t unhappy with the events that had transpired. She had often dreamed of a love that fed her soul and comforted her heart. In quiet, lonely moments she found her thoughts slipping away and indulging in fantasies where her perfect companion understood and loved every inch of her for who she was, not what she could give them.
She realized now how lonely she’d always been. She didn’t have real friends, only people she occasionally partied with. They wanted to be seen with her and possibly backstab her for a better position with the networks. She had the occasional boyfriend, but her mother had put a stop to those relationships quickly.
Mother didn’t want me to have any support, she thought furiously. She made sure I only ever had her. That way, I could never be free.
She continued toward Whelon. Her mate was bent over examining a little girl. The tired mother remained close, swiftly devouring a sandwich from the free food Whelon and the Preor had provided. The crowd had grown by the hour and it looked like the entire street and those beyond had come out to either take advantage of the food or see a healer.
Sasha had seen a few nasty looks in the gathering, some not appreciating the Preor’s presence, but they couldn’t afford to refuse their help. Sasha spied one man in the crowd with a severely broken arm who scowled at every winged male who walked past. It was clear from the angle of his arm that he needed attention and was swallowing his pride to come in for treatment, even if it vexed him to ask for help from the aliens.
“Sasha,” Whelon called for her and she hurried the last bit of distance between them. “Can you comfort little Marie while I swab her throat.”
“Of course.” Sasha smiled and placed her crate nearby before focusing on the little girl and stroking her curly hair. “This won’t feel very nice, sweetheart, but it will be over quickly, I promise.”
“Then I can go back and get some more food.” Marie’s eyes brightened and Sasha nodded and smiled.
She held the little girl, rubbing her back gently while Whelon quickly took the swab and then placed it in a sample container. The mother thanked them both, her eyes downcast. Sasha knew a lot of the residents had shut down, so used to not being helped that they were sullen and angry with the world. It would take more than a day of free food and medical treatment to make them trust others again.
Whelon wrote rapidly in a thick book, every page covered in flowing alien script. He had kept a rough file on everyone he had treated, knowing he would be back to follow up on his patients.
Sasha noticed his frown and touched his shoulder gently. “What is it?”
Whelon shook his head and rubbed his chin. “I hope it is a simple throat infection. Perhaps tonsillitis. But it could be tubuerculosis.”
“What? Isn’t that completely wiped out now?”
He nodded, a grim twist to his lips. “It should be, but these conditions are appalling, so anything is possible. She may just have enlarged tonsils and a bit of a cold, but that swab will tell us.” He sighed and stretched his neck until it cracked, spreading his large wings until those joints snapped and popped as well. “I’ll set up a surgery in one of our short flight shuttles. Then I can do all of these minor operations on the premises.”
Sasha was shocked by the idea of operating on people outside a hospital but before she could question Whelon further, a shrill voice cut through the air just outside the room. “Let me through, damn you! Is she in there? She is. Isn’t she? Or did you take her back to your ship already? You did! She’s gone! Help, help!”
“As usual, Mother asks questions so fast it’s obvious she doesn’t really care about the answers.”
“She took a while to locate you,” Whelon pointed out.
Sasha shrugged. “She was probably doing an interview.” She sighed. “I better get out there.”
Before Whelon could protest, Sasha headed outside the makeshift clinic and held up her hands, waving for attention. “I’m here, mother. You can stop with your shouting.”
“Sasha!” Her mother cried. “Where have you been? Why are you… in this place.”
“You know I come here for charity work, Mother. My mate and I are working, trying to help these people.”
Her mother’s eyes narrowed dangerously and she flicked her gaze around as if the people were as inconsequential as flies. She stuck out a hand and grabbed Sasha’s forearm in a punishing grip. “You’re coming with me. Now.” She yanked on Sasha’s arm and instantly three Preor surrounded them, almost, but not quite, touching Jenna.
“Take your hand off the healing master’s mate, please.” The tall Preor with the white wings—Amryn—had the fakest smile on his face that Sasha had ever seen. It barely concealed the threat inherent in his tone.
“Excuse me?” Jenna exploded furiously, releasing Sasha to prop her hands on her hips. “She’s my daughter—”
“And my mate.” Whelon pushed through the crowd and took Sasha’s other arm, gently moving her a few steps away and out of her mother’s reach.
“Sasha is a friend of the Preor,” one of the other warriors announced. “We must protect her. Especially from those who are not friends of the Preor.”
Jenna took the hint, and from the look on her face, she wasn’t happy. “She’s my daughter!” As if that explained everything.
“It’s okay. I’m going.” Sasha moved toward her mother and held up a hand to the other Preor warriors.
“But Sasha…” Whelon tried to stop her. “You can’t…”
“I have to.” She gave him a look tinged in regret but let her mother lead her away. As they strode through the streets, Sasha tuned out the usual tirade of how wasteful and dangerous her acts of charity were.
“Anything could happen to you in a den like that!” her mother scolded.
