She was angry too, about something.
“You are not doing that.”
“What? You can’t tell me what to—” She stopped and took a breath, closing her eyes for a second. “Why?”
It was simple. Didn’t she see?
“The flower makes you ill. You almost died. There is no way you’re going to put yourself in more danger just to help us win this fight.” He glared at Aker. “We will find another way.”
Keh-reh-nah stood and took a few steps toward him and Ajos could feel his throat move, a pulse running from his nefre straight down to his genital pouch at her nearness.
Qef.
He only had one metcer vial left.
He’d have to get Aker to generate some more.
“And if there is no other way?” She glared up at him.
So small, yet she managed to look defiant.
Her shoulders were set, her mouth was in a thin line, and her gaze was hard, unmoving.
“You don’t get to tell me what to do. I am a member of the Restitution now and I’ll contribute in the best way I know how.” She turned to Aker. “I’m a botanist. Plants are my thing. I’m sure I can be of assistance.”
Aker’s nose moved before he jumped a little in glee. “Perfect! I welcome the help! Between the med bay and the lab, I don’t get to do much research. This will be positive, indeed.”
A growl rumbled from Ajos’ chest as he glared at the qeffing Taiq’ud.
Aker stuttered. “B-but of course we’ll take precautions. You are still not healed. It is the serum giving you energy now. I’ll give you another along with one more dose of medicine so you can go back to the med bay to get some rest.”
He moved to one of his tables and began preparing the vials. “We’ll look into getting some protective gear for you as well, if you don’t change your mind about working with me here.”
Keh-reh-nah grinned. “Why would I change my mind?”
Aker glanced his way and Ajos narrowed his eyes.
He was pretty sure he knew what the male was thinking.
He would do him the same way he did Iceon if he needed to. But Aker shook his head and said instead, “Well, it is a boring duty. It is all research.”
Keh-reh-nah grinned some more. “That’s my job. It’ll be like I am still on Earth.”
Staring at her, Ajos felt something move within him.
The thought of risking her life just to discover whether this flower was the miracle they were looking for…the premise brought her joy.
She felt useful…a bit like how he felt when he first joined the Restitution.
Who was he to demand that she lose that happiness?
Aker stepped forward and administered the medication.
“Now to take you to the med bay. Ajos—”
“On it.”
Ajos reached forward and swooped his arms underneath Keh-reh-nah and she yelped a little in surprise.
Walking forward through the broken door, he glanced back at Aker. “I’ll have that fixed for you,” he said.
Aker didn’t hear. He was already back at his table, looking at his experiment.
For a few moments, there was silence as he walked, only the footsteps of the other beings that walked the streets around them reached his ear.
“I can walk, you know,” Keh-reh-nah finally said.
“Nonsense.”
He felt her body rise and fall against his in a sigh.
“Hey, this isn’t the way to the med bay.”
He glanced down at her and wished he hadn’t.
The light of the star hit her eyes in such a way they shone. Her lips were moist as if she’d just wet them, and her filaments were blowing around her head like a halo.
Ajos swallowed hard, his genital pouch pulsing.
Qef.
“I’m surprised you know the layout of the base already.”
“I’m learning,” she said. “Where are we going?”
“Home.”
“You mean, your home?”
Her words stung, even though they shouldn’t. But she was right.
She wasn’t going to stay there with him and even so, if he was to open himself to her being his mate, he would have to get new quarters.
“Yes,” he muttered.
The door opened as he reached his bunker and V’Alen stood at the inside.
“Ajos,” he said, his eyes flicking to Keh-reh-nah.
“V’Alen.”
“Kerena,” V’Alen said next.
“Oh, hi, V’Alen. I—”
She didn’t get to finish because he was already heading into the quarters.
“Thanks for all you did getting us home, V’Alen!” Kerena shouted and Ajos growled a little.
“How do you know V’Alen did anything to get us home.”
“Well,” she said, “you were a little…indisposed the last time I saw you on that planet.”
Despite himself, Ajos huffed out a chuckle.
He was by his room and the door was opening in the next second.
“Computer,” he said, “adjust for Keh-reh-nah.”
He set her down on his bed as he felt the temperature begin to change. As soon as his arms slipped from her, he turned from her.
“Rest,” he managed to say as he stepped toward the door, but her next words had him frozen.
“So that’s it? You’re just going to leave me here like that?”
Ajos’ throat moved but he couldn’t turn to look at her.
He could feel her glaring at him.
“What do you wish for me to do?” he managed to say.
She breathed out a hard breath. “I don't know. Look at me maybe?”
He leaned his head against the door.
He couldn’t do that.
The whole reason he’d turned toward the door was because his control was hanging by a thread.
A small palm landed on his back and Ajos shuddered.
He hadn’t realized she’d moved from where he’d set her on the bed.
“What is happening to you?” she whispered.
“I’m fine.” His voice wasn’t his.
It was deep. Gravelly.
His body trembled underneath her touch.
“Liar.”
He turned on her then, so fast that she stumbled and would have hit the ground if his hands didn’t grasp her back.
He pulled her into him, bringing her dangerously close. So close, he could feel every curve of her soft body against his.
“Ajos?”
Her eyes searched his face but before he could say a word, his body responded as his head dipped and his mouth closed over hers.
26
Somehow, they stumbled back on the bed. The mattress he’d gotten for
