“I noticed that. We watched the whole thing on our view screen. You called in the insectoids.”
“I know that you probably don’t consider that an honorable battle.”
Rubbing one hand over his side, he grimaces. “Paying someone else to fight our battles? My father would consider that taking the coward’s way out. However, any fight you walk away from is a victory in my book.”
“You’re not angry?”
Looking pale, he sighs. “You bought us victory for the low price of ten units of chromite, stemmed the loss of life among my crew and saved me in the face of invincible odds. I’ve no complaints about the way you and Lehar handled the situation.”
Leaning over, I smooth my hand over his cheek. “I’m glad, because it was the only solution that came to mind when our back was against the wall.”
Shifting uncomfortably, he murmurs feverishly, “I even got to keep my beautiful brooder.”
“In order to enjoy me properly, you are going to need advanced medical care.”
“You are all making too much of a fuss. I’ve suffered more serious injury and came out of it just fine. Tarion of the Hielsrane will not be brought down by a plasma shock.”
Taking one on his huge hands in mine, I carefully avoid the talon. “You are going to a healing center whether you like it or not. The healers are worried that you might not survive.”
“If I die in route, make sure they bury me with my treasures.” His weak attempt at humor chokes me up. I scoot closer, grab the cloth from a container of cold water and run it over his face. His eyes drift closed, and it’s impossible to tell if he is just enjoying the brief reprieve of the cool water on his skin or if he’s simply too tired to continue the conversation.
His response worries the healers as well. Two of them rush over, bump me out of the way and pull up a clear enclosure around the healing platform he’s lying on. It pops up about two hand spans in height and they begin cutting off the rest of his clothing. I watch in absolute horror as the unit fills with green hydration fluid. It’s the fluid the Drakon swim in to keep their bodies hydrated and in optimal condition. I recognize it as the same liquid that I’ve seen the crew use to clean themselves. Almost every deck has a pool of the liquid available. Tarion mentioned that it helps keep their bodies hydrated since their skin requires external moisture to remain pliant.
After the healers step aside, I go to him and take my time scooping up handfuls of the fluid and pouring it over his body. I’m careful to ensure that his entire body is moisturized. The dull throb of the bite he left on my shoulder slowly fades. Helplessness sets in and I refuse to leave his side, even when the healers urge me to take a respite. I can’t bear to leave his limp, lifeless body.
17
Tarion
I wake to the orange sun of Thirren shining through a nearby window. I squint, trying to remember why I’ve come back to this godsforsaken planet. I hate it here. Space is where I belong, not some planet where tedious customs ruin every special moment in a warrior’s life. My brain is foggy, like I’ve been sleeping for a thousand lunars.
Sitting up, I’m immediately angry with myself. The sharp pain in my caudal tells me that I’ve been lying on my back for too long. I haven’t done that since I was lazy youngling. My sire would be appalled. I’m a poor excuse for a warrior.
Something is grasping onto my hand. The moment my eyes drink in my brooder’s face, memories come flooding back to me. I rescued her, lured her into my bed and tamed her wild and ferocious heart. Realizing she’s mine, I can’t keep the smile off my face. It’s very unlike me.
Memories float through my mind of her tending to my every need, whispering sweet words in my ear that were fit to chain my heart to hers for all eternity, and arguing with the healers about my care. Her tenderness and ability to love a ruthless raider boggles my mind. Yet, here she is. Her hair is tangled and she’s still wearing the same uniform from the day of the attack. My sweet female is smelling more than a little ripe.
Reaching out, I run my fingers through her hair to straighten it, realizing all too late that I shouldn’t have bothered, as claws quickly become snared in her tangles. Gods of chaos, how do I get myself into these predicaments? I gently untangle myself as she wakes.
“Ouch, what are you doing?”
“Your hair attacked me.”
Smiling up at me, I can see she doesn’t believe that for a micron. “Strange, it’s never done that before.”
“I wish to leave this medical unit.”
“I know. You say that every single time you wake up.”
I vaguely remember such. “I prefer to be on my ship.”
Nodding, she changes the inflection of her voice to mimic me. “Tarion of the Hielsrane is not meant for an easy life of lounging around and feigning interest in frivolous pursuits. Being a great warrior, he knows nothing of mindless chatter and protecting his social standing. He was meant for more important endeavors, such as wandering the verse in search of adventure and plunder.”
Sighing, I wish my mate’s words were nothing more than light teasing. However, her speech reminds me too much of how I would describe myself if left to my own devices. It leads me to suspect she is merely repeating the words I spoke when burning with fever.
“Well, sitting on one’s caudal is not the way of the warrior, my sweet brooder. Come sit in my lap for a bit. I now burn with a different kind of need.”
“You say that every time as well.”
A deep masculine voice sounds off from the side. “And each time you suggest such,
