Amber

"Igot her," Ryrik said without hesitation.

With the threat of Conii finally over, Ryrik's attention and energy shifted completely. His once strong, intimidating, and violent form was gone. I saw nothing but a gentle, kind, and caring Vinduthi as he crouched down to Isa and me.

"Amber?" Isa asked. She looked at me wide-eyed.

"It's okay," I responded. "You can trust him."

Isa relented and let Ryrik pick her up. My friend had been through so much and looked so weak, I expected her to pass out right in his arms. But she stayed conscious, her eyes fixed on me.

"Let's get her back to the apartment," Ryrik said as he carried my friend out of Conii's compound.

It struck me that Ryrik referred to it as ‘the apartment.' Not ‘my apartment.' A smile creeped onto my face as I imagined him one day calling it ‘our apartment.'

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Now, there's nowhere safer for her on the whole space station."

The rest of the Vinduthi stayed behind at Conii's compound to wrap up whatever business there was left. Presumably, they'd have some explaining to do to the Ardrik Federation, but considering Conii had tried to burn down Thodos III and kill everyone, I assumed they wouldn't have too much trouble making their case as to the necessity of their actions.

Meanwhile, I walked alongside Ryrik as he took my friend to safety. The danger for all of us was finally over.

As the three of us returned to the Black Star Casino, I couldn't help but look out at Thodos III. The space station seemed to have a new pleasant glow to it. Before, it was just a new cage for me, but for the first time, it almost seemed like a home.

Once we returned to the apartment, Ryrik wordlessly carried Isa to the bedroom. He laid her down on the bed and quickly headed to the door.

"I'll be right back," he whispered to me. "Take care of your friend."

"Wait, where are you going?"

But Ryrik didn't turn around as he left. So I instead returned my attention to Isa. She looked up at me with a happy grin, one I hadn't seen from her in a long time.

"So," she said weakly. "Who is the Vinduthi?"

"Oh," I smiled. Even here in the midst of chaos, thinking about Ryrik gave me a warm feeling. "He's just a friend."

"Just a friend? Are you sure?"

"Is this really what you want to talk about right now? You've been through so much."

"We have our whole futures to discuss what I went through, this is what I want to talk about."

"Don't worry about it. Just get some rest."

"How am I supposed to sleep when I don't know the full story of how my friend scored a Vinduthi boy toy?"

"He's not a boy toy!" I insisted, trying and failing to keep a straight face. "He helped rescue you and we can trust him. That's all you need to worry about right now."

"Believe me," she said. "I'm not worried. I'm excited. I've heard the rumors of Vinduthi and their human mates. I want to know if they're all true."

"Someday," I said as I sat down on the bed next to her. I softly stroked her face to push her hair to the side. "I'll tell you everything."

"So there is an ‘everything' to tell?" Isa raised her eyebrows suggestively.

"Right now, just rest. I promise, this is the best bed you've ever been in."

"And you just admitted to having used this bed." She smiled slightly. "I can't wait to hear all of it."

We were interrupted by a knock at the open bedroom door. Ryrik stood there, holding a med kit.

"Am I interrupting?" he asked. "Is she resting?"

"Not yet," I said.

"Come on in," Isa said. "Ryrik, right?"

"Yes, Isa," he responded. "I've heard quite a bit about you."

"And I look forward to hearing a lot about you, too," Isa responded with narrowed eyes.

"Oh… Um…" Ryrik stammered. It was cute to see him caught off guard. "I know we looked over you back at Conii's, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to dress some of your smaller wounds now."

Ryrik handed over the med kit to me. He then turned around and left the room again.

"Where is he going?" Isa asked.

"I'm not sure, but he's a busy man. With Conii out of the picture, there is probably a lot to take care of."

I spent the next half hour or so tending to Isa's wounds. I applied disinfectants and pain relief to the smaller cuts and bruises, and changed the bandages already on the larger ones. Whatever I could do to take care of her at the moment.

But as I worked on my friend, I couldn't help but think about Ryrik. He didn't explain why he left or where he was going. Sure, he'd been nothing short of perfect and helpful so far with Isa, but I didn't understand what he was currently doing.

Although, all that worrying and confusion was quickly proven to be unneeded.

Not long after I finished working on Isa, Ryrik returned to the bedroom. He held two bags in his hands and stood at the doorway.

"May I enter?" he asked.

"Of course," I said.

"I apologize for running out so fast, but I figured there was no time to waste. First." Ryrik held up one of the bags. "I assume you don't want to stay in the clothes Conii kept you in forever. In this bag is a pair of pajamas, so you can rest comfortably. And an outfit. I had to guess your size and style, but I figured it'd work well enough until you"re strong enough for Amber and me to take you shopping."

"Oh my God," Isa breathed. "That's so kind of you, thank you."

"Anything for a friend of Amber's," he responded.

Isa subtly nudged me. I looked back at her, and she gave me an approving nod.

She was certainly getting quite the first impression of Ryrik. She got to see both the fierce warrior and the kind, doting boyfriend.

In my relief of finally getting Isa back, I hadn't been thinking. I was just happy to have her. I didn't think of what she might've needed.

But Ryrik immediately jumped into action. He got her back here. He grabbed the med kit. Then he went out and quickly bought her some new clothes.

He didn't once ask or demand for me to join him. He didn't expect me to do any of it. Ryrik knew exactly where I needed to be.

I needed to be at my friend's side. He handled the rest without complaint. At every opportunity, he proved to be better than I ever thought to expect from a partner.

Ryrik put the bag of clothes next to Isa on the bed. She immediately reached in and pulled out the pajamas.

"Oh my God," she gasped. "This feels so soft. They must've cost a fortune!"

"Don't mention it," Ryrik said. "You're Amber's friend. You should just focus on recovering."

"What's in the second bag?" Isa asked.

"Oh," Ryrik responded. "Of course. I also bought some food."

At that moment, the scent hit my nose. It was an amalgamation of all the most delicious smells all at once. My mouth instantly watered.

"Obviously," Ryrik continued. "I don't know what you like. Or what most humans like. But I know Amber's favorite foods. So, I picked up a lot of those and figured you'd find something you liked."

"Oh, I could eat that whole bag," Isa said. "Conii wasn't exactly keeping me well fed. Thank you, Ryrik!"

"Again, don't mention it. And don't worry about eating in bed. I'm already having fresh sheets brought up. Just call me if you need me." Ryrik placed the bag of food on the bedside table before turning around and walking out.

Once again, he proved himself to be an incredible Vinduthi. He anticipated Isa would be hungry and he just acted. While also showing that he paid attention to me and what I liked.

I watched him walk out of the room with a smile. Then I stood up and opened the bag of food.

"Fuck," I breathed. "This really is all my favorites. I know you like?—"

"Don't let him go," Isa interrupted.

"He's just going into the other room. Or already out getting something for you that I never even considered."

"No," Isa said. "Don't let him go. A guy like that, they don't come around often."

"Yeah," I responded, a small smile forming on my lips. "He's great."

"I've heard about how Vinduthi treat their mates."

"Stop trying to get me to tell you about how he is in bed," I interrupted, arching my eyebrows.

"No," she laughed. "Well, I mean, I have heard about that… and it's more than enough reason to not let him go."

"Isa."

"But I mean, how they treat their mates. The passion, the devotion to the ones they truly commit to. It's unending. Unyielding. The type of thing most could only dream about being on the receiving end of."

"And? That's for the mates they choose to really commit to. Not small little flings. Sure, maybe we're ‘boyfriend' and ‘girlfriend,' but we"re just having fun."

"Are you sure about that?" Isa asked.

"I… He's…"

"He knows all your favorite foods. He's taking such good care of me just because I'm your friend. Maybe it's just a fun fling for you, but I don't think it is for him."

"You don't?" I asked.

"Nope. Is it for you?"

I thought about Ryrik and all our time together. That first dinner. Our first kiss. First night together. How devoted and trusting he'd been towards me during all the business with Conii.

It became clear that I didn't want that to all go away now that Conii was dead. I wanted to stay by his side. I wanted him to continue to treat me that way. And I wanted to return the gesture and treat him right, too.

"No…"

"Then don't let him go."

I immediately sprinted from the bedroom. I quickly found Ryrik in the kitchen and I hurried towards him.

"What is it?" he asked. "Is Isa all right?"

"Ryrik," I said. "I love you."

He froze. His eyes were locked on me. I don't think he even breathed anymore at that moment. But I didn't dare look away from his eyes to check.

"I love you, too."

I leaped into Ryrik's arms. He caught me and held me close as our lips pressed together. It felt like nothing before, and I never wanted it to end.