18. Pulse

CHAPTER 18

Max

I grabbed onto Moss's cloak, tugging xem as hard as I could. I made the mistake of breathing in water, choking on it as I fought to pull xem back to the surface.

We were sinking further and further.

My nose and lungs burned. A set of tentacles suddenly wrapped around me as a blue figure swam past.

Zin and Toras.

The tentacles were already pulling me up. I tried to keep hold of Moss, but Toras pulled my hand away as Zin grabbed onto xem.

Blood clouded the water. We broke the surface and I coughed, trying to drag in air as Toras pulled me to the rocky edge.

"Cough it up," he growled, hitting my back. "You can't breathe water."

"Moss," I croaked.

Toras pushed me onto the rocky beach and then retreated to help Zin. Together, they pulled Moss out of the oasis. Several guards waited on the edge apprehensively for Zin, but he waved them off with a snarl.

"Go get help," he snapped. They dispersed quickly.

I crawled onto the rocky ground and coughed up more water, breathing hard as I cleared everything out.

"We've got xem," Zin called. "Xe isn't breathing."

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

"Oh gods. Max!" Stella landed beside me and patted my upper back, helping me spit up the rest of the water.

I'd nearly drowned trying to get xem out. I let out a choked sob, looking over at xem. Xyr skin was pale, xyr body unmoving.

"We need to get to a healing pod," Toras said firmly. "Raider!" he shouted.

I didn't look up to see where the cowboy alien was. All I could hear were Dio's shouts echoed in the background as some of the Arborian officers dragged him away.

"Flip xem over," Zin said.

He and Toras flipped Moss over. Zin wrapped his arm around xem, holding xem up slightly as xe hit xyr back.

"We need a medic!" Stella shouted.

There had been many times I'd been grateful for the range her voice had, and now was another one. Birds scattered above as people moved toward us.

Some of the water in Moss's lungs came gushing out. Panic flooded me as I sat there and watched, frozen as everyone worked together. Toras and Zin lifted Moss quickly, and then Raider rushed towards our group, joining in with all four hands.

"We got this," Raider said quickly. "We'll get xem to the pod."

"Move fast," Toras said.

Mari ran up behind them, coming to me and Stella with wide eyes.

"I think Max is in shock," Stella said.

"We've got you," Mari said to me, rubbing my back. "Xe will be okay. Moss is strong."

I couldn't move. I felt like I couldn't breathe.

The two of them pulled me up and led me behind Moss and their partners. We kept a healing pod on standby for stage injuries, and it was in one of the hotel rooms, which wasn't too far. But every second that passed, I felt like things were looking worse and worse.

"Over here!" I heard Madam Moonie call.

"Max," Stella said. "Are you okay? Do you need healing too?"

"No," I croaked.

I didn't need anything except for Moss to be okay.

I couldn't stop replaying the moment I'd seen xyr eyes close. Panic rolled through me again, fresh and strong. My pace picked up as we crossed to the tree where the pod room was, luckily on the bottom floor. We all followed Madam Moonie in.

"Get xem in," she said. "It'll work. It has to."

Her determination was keeping me from completely falling apart.

It was a silver machine that was large enough to host any alien or human. The three of them lifted Moss and placed xem quickly inside of it. Zin pressed a button and the cover slid shut, exhaling air as it started its process.

Madam Moonie pressed a couple of buttons and then we all stood back, waiting to see what would happen.

Please work. Please, please, please.

I needed Moss to be okay. The last thing I'd said to xem was awful. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I hadn't meant it. I didn't want xem to go away. I wanted xem to be with me forever.

Please, please, please.

I loved xem. I loved xem so fucking much and I should have told xem.

Madam Moonie looked over at me, her eyes darkening. She left the machine and pulled me into a hug, holding me close.

"I'm sorry, Max. I didn't recognize Dio at first but he is someone I banned from shows a few years ago because he attempted to touch a performer. I fear this is my fault."

"It's not your fault," I whispered.

She held me for a moment longer. "It'll be okay. Moss is strong. We got out of that situation because of xem."

I nodded, swallowing hard. She released me and I went up to the machine, listening to the sounds of the whirring and buzzing.

I'd yet to hear Moss's pulse be calibrated.

"I need to be alone with xem," I whispered.

"Max…" Stella trailed off.

"Please."

Everyone was quiet as they left, and I could feel their worries. But I just needed to be alone.

Madam Moonie lingered for a moment. "I'm going to call some of the other officials. Moss will be okay."

"I haven't heard a pulse yet."

The machine continued to whir and buzz as Madam slipped away. I continued to stare down at xyr face.

I despised myself right now. Why had I stalked off? Maybe if I had stayed, the three of us could have overpowered Dio.

I loved xem. I loved xem so much. I wanted us to have a future together, even if it meant taking some time to figure out what that would mean to us.

The thought of losing xem…

The thought of not having xem in my life…

I let out a choked sob, wiping away the tears. I needed xem to be okay.

Beep.

I sucked in a breath and held it.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Xyr pulse.

My knees weakened and I sank to the floor, letting out a soft cry. Xe was alive. Xe was going to be okay.

"Max."

I looked up, not surprised to see Stella there holding a towel.

"We need to get you into something dry. Madam Moonie is handling the Arborian officers. Is xe…"

"Xe's okay," I rasped. "Xe has a pulse. The machine is working."

Stella blew out a breath, her relief immediate. She came into the room and sat on the floor next to me, wrapping the towel around me.

"Thanks for being my friend," I mumbled, laying my head on her shoulder.

"Of course. I'm so glad xe is okay."

I swallowed hard. "Me too."

What happened had been one of the worst things that I had ever experienced.

After I realized Madam Moonie and Moss were gone, I made my way to the oasis where I found everyone. We alerted the officials, and then everyone had started to try and figure out where they possibly could've gone.

Meanwhile, minute after minute passed. Minute after minute that Moss and Madam could have died. The only reason I hadn't completely fallen apart was because of Stella.

I've never felt fear like that before. And then when I saw them run through the oasis, bursting through the trees, I had hope.

But then I'd watched Dio tackle Moss into the oasis and all of the blood.

I couldn't get all of the blood out of my head.

Diving into the water and trying my best to get to xem, pushing through clouds of red to reach xem.

I breathed out, pulling the towel closer around myself.

The machine made more sounds—promising noises that meant my mate was going to be healed.

My mate. Moss was my mate. I had been so certain before, but I'd been too scared to confirm it or say anything. But now that was all I could think about.

All I could think about was how it could've been too late.

I was lucky. They were both lucky.

Stella stayed with me, not talking or asking me questions, but just waiting there. Eventually, Madam Moonie came to the doorway, her expression pinched. "I'm sorry, Max. But they need to ask a couple questions. Can you step out for a moment?"

"I'm not leaving," I said. "I'm not leaving Moss until xe is better. They can send someone in or wait."

"I'll handle it," Madam said and then slipped back out of the room. I could hear her voice getting heated outside of the room and saw an official poke their head in, look at me, look at the machine, and then backing off and disappearing.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

I closed my eyes, listening to xyr pulse over and over.

"Do you want me to stay with you? Or should I find some food and water for Moss when xe wakes up? Xe'll need xyr strength."

"That would be wonderful," I said.

Stella nodded and got up. "I'll be back soon, okay?"

"Okay."

She left me alone with Moss. I drew in a steady breath, staring at the wall as I waited and listened. How long would this take? Would everything be okay?

I went through everything over and over until I finally stood up, turning around to look down. Moss appeared to be sleeping and all of the vitals appeared to be good.

"Max."

I turned to see Madam with another Arborian.

"This is Dr. Otany. She's here to check on Moss and make sure the machine is working."

I nodded and stepped aside as she came in. She immediately started changing some of the settings on the machine with a soft hum. She had long pink hair that was braided back and wore magenta robes that were lined with gold.

"Xe will be okay," she said. "Getting Moss to the pod was the best thing you could have done. We'll still need to check xem at the hospital, though. Xe lost a lot of blood and while this can repair wounds, it cannot replenish blood."

"Okay," I whispered.

"I'll make a call and we'll get xem moved. Are you xyr mate?"

"Yes," I said. "Well, yes."

She offered me a soft smile and nodded. "Okay. Just hold tight. You can come with us. Does Moss have any other family who needs to be alerted?"

I hesitated. I wasn't even sure. My stomach did a slow flip, and I became all the more determined to prove to Moss that I was meant to be with xem when xe woke up. Which would start with learning if xe had family or not.

"Just me for now," I said.

We still had much to learn about each other, and I hoped we would have all the time in the world to do so.

"Okay. I will return in just a few moments. Stay here."

She left quickly. Madam Moonie came to my side and handed me a set of dry clothes.

"Get changed," she said. "If you catch a cold after all of this, I'll never forgive myself."

"I'll get changed, but also because I don't want to worry Moss when xe wakes up. Are you okay? You were taken too."

"I'm okay," she said firmly. "I've been in stickier situations."

I raised a brow. It was rare that Madam Moonie talked about herself, and I couldn't help but wonder what kind of life she'd led before the Galactic Gems.

She smirked. "That's all I'm going to say. Don't even think about prying. I'll come to the hospital after the show."

I'd forgotten all about the show. It didn't seem near as important to me now. "Okay. Break a leg."

The show must always go on.