Chapter 39

Days passed in a blur. Sleeping. Forcing down nibbles of food and sips of water. Kal hovering. Dr. Qinlin and NAID checking in. Eventually, Qinlin removed the tubes from my arms, even though my appetite hadn’t returned. The best part was showering, though Kal sat outside in case I needed him.

For the first time since I’d woken up, Kal had left me alone. Captain Talvax had wanted to talk to him. She’d ordered him to get his ass to Command or she would drag him there. Apparently, Kal had been avoiding calls from his family, and his father had had enough.

Lucy dropped her plastic ball with a bell on my lap, and I tossed it out my open bedroom door. She tore after the ball, returned, and dropped it. I threw the toy again and again until my arm started to hurt. It didn’t take much to tire me out anymore. My joints ached with every move, and I couldn’t stand for longer than a couple of minutes before I had to sit again.

A whoosh reached my ears. Kal was back. He came straight to my room, mussing his hair. I wordlessly held out my arms, and he settled in my embrace, laying on top of me.

He hadn’t been sleeping. NAID had told me, while Kal had been in the shower, that he averaged an hour before he woke up to check on me. Kal was exhausted, and I felt guilty.

My fingers trailed down his back while I held the nape of his neck with my other hand.

“My Seth,” he whispered, lips brushing my skin.

I tingled in awareness. If I wasn’t so tired, I would initiate something. “How did it go with your dad?”

Kal grunted, arms coming around me.

“Bad?”

He didn’t respond.

“Good?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Alright.”

Stroking his back to soothe his tension, I wished he would rest. I’d tried to get Kal to sleep, but he would only nap when I did, and even then, he didn’t stay asleep. He needed to rest, but I couldn’t convince him I was fine. Even Dr. Qinlin’s scans hadn’t convinced him.

An idea popped into my thoughts. “Babe?”

“Yeah?”

“Could you help me?”

“With what?”

“I need a change of scenery.”

His jaw clenched, and his eyes widened in obvious fear. “You can’t leave our quarters yet.”

“My decision, but no. I thought you could help me to the living room. I want to lay on the couch.”

“Sorry.”

“I know you’re worried, but I’m alright.”

Kal did not respond.

“Babe?”

“Yes?”

“The couch.”

“Oh. Yes. Sorry.” Kal slithered off me and helped me stand. My head spun, my knees trembled, and everything hurt. He held me up. “I have you, my Mate.”

After a few breaths, my vision cleared and the dizziness dissipated. Every step to the couch was hard, but Dr. Qinlin had encouraged me to walk to loosen my joints and rebuild my muscles. Kal hadn’t said anything, but he’d glared at her. She was moving too fast for his comfort.

When we got to the couch, I basically fell onto it, and Kal turned on the TV. “What do you want to watch? That baking show?”

“Whatever’s fine.”

He turned it on, but when he moved to stand, I grabbed his hand. “Stay with me.”

“Of course.” Kal settled behind me, his arm hooking around my waist.

It did not take long for Kal’s breath to even and his grip to loosen. After an episode ended, his wing draped over me and he pressed closer, mumbling in his sleep. I stroked his arm, and he settled again.

Sleep tried to lull me, but I fought it. Kal needed it more than I did, and I had to make sure he stayed asleep. After a couple of episodes played, my eyes grew impossibly heavy, and I gave in to the siren call.

Soft voices discussing cake reached my ears. A heavy arm was across my waist, and a steel-blue wing covered my shoulder. I brushed the edge of Kal’s wing, and it twitched. His breathing was deep and rushed over the back of my neck, stirring the small hairs and tickling me.

Kal was still asleep, shockingly.

I rubbed his arm and pressed back against him. Kal didn’t stir, but his tail curled tighter around my leg. Wiggling, I tried to free myself from his grasp without waking him. His arms fell away when I sat up, but his tail remained tight around my calf. Slowly, I unwound his tail. With careful movements, I stood. My head spun and my knees threatened to buckle. With gritted teeth, I ignored the pain and trudged toward my bedroom.

After I pissed, I sat on the edge of my bed, exhausted. I didn’t know if I could make it to the couch again, but I didn’t want Kal to wake up and panic, which he would if I wasn’t there. Unwillingly, I smiled. I’d never had someone who cared about me like he did, even if he was a tad overbearing.

My pulse started to pick up. Kal. He was special, and I didn’t want to give him up. But was I willing to give up Earth or the chance of ever seeing another human again for him?

Yes. Yes, I was.

“Seth,” NAID said, appearing in front of me.

I had barely spoken to her since I’d gotten sick. She’d popped in to check on me, but she hadn’t felt comfortable talking in front of Kal, who basically never left. We’d only spoken in private a couple of times when Kal had stepped out of the room for a few moments.

“How are you?” I asked.

“How you are is what’s important. Everyone thought you were going to die. It was going around the entire ship that Prince Kalvoxrencol’s mate would die and this would turn into a wake, but you lived. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I hadn’t done anything to live. I didn’t even remember being sick. Though I really didn’t like the idea of the entire ship talking about me. “So,” I started, trying to change the subject I fell into a familiar one, “have you chosen a name?”

“Not yet. There are so many names. How did you choose your name?” she asked, head tilting to the side, which made her updo slide to the right.

“I didn’t. My mom named me.”

“Maybe you should name me?”

“Am I your mother?”

“Sure,” NAID answered, expression casual. “You talk to me, tell me to express myself, encourage me, and so much more. Doesn’t that make you parent-like?”

My mouth opened, and then I closed it, trying to think about my response. Eventually, I replied, “I’m honored.”

“So you’ll name me?”

“No.” When her expression fell, I continued, “I think this is something you need to do. Because you are a you, not an it. Do you understand?”

A wide grin stretched across her lips, making her eyes disappear beneath her wrinkles. “I do.”

“So pick something you like.”

“I will.” Her head bobbed as she said, “I’m glad you’re alive.”

“Me too.”

“Seth?” Kal called out, his voice groggy. I didn’t even have a chance to respond before he shouted, voice turning desperate, “Seth!”

“I’m in my room,” I yelled.

“Take care of your prince.” NAID gave me a wink and vanished.

It took no time for Kal to appear. His hair was rumpled and his wings out, tail slashing the air. I held my arms out, and Kal stepped into my embrace, knocking me back on the bed.

“Why did you leave?”

“Bathroom.”

“You should’ve woken me up.”

“You haven’t been sleeping.” I palmed his cheeks, loving the feel of his scales in my grasp. “NAID ratted you out.” His brow furrowed in obvious confusion, so I reiterated, “She told me about it.”

“She shouldn’t have.”

“I get to worry about you if you get to worry about me.”

He smiled, head dipping.

“So did you nap enough to take me for a walk?”

Smile dying, he said, “You’re not ready.”

“I never will be if I don’t move. Just down the hall and back.”

Kal frowned.

“I can go without you.”

“Fine.”

Tugging his face down, I kissed him. His touch remained gentle and slow, hands wandering over my sides but not going anywhere. I kissed his mouth open, but when my tongue touched his, Kal drew away.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing.”

Worry prickled at the base of my skull. Did he not want me anymore? Being sick hadn’t been sexy. I shook my head and tried to banish the sudden anxiety. Kal loved me, and I needed to trust him, but it was hard.

Some of my worries must have been reflected in my expression because Kal asked, “What’s wrong?”

My mouth opened to say nothing, but I forced myself to ask, “Why did you stop kissing me?”

His lips pressed against mine for the barest moment. “Because you’re too tired to do more, and I want more.”

“Ah.” That made sense. “When I’m better, we’ll pick up where we left off.”

“I look forward to it.”

I had my arm around Seth’s waist as we moved down the corridor. He leaned heavily against me, and his breath came out in short gasps. I wanted him to go back to our quarters, but he was insistent. All I could think about was him lying lifeless on the bed. I could not live through that again.

Seth forged on to the end of the corridor to the lift. When we reached it, he sagged against me.

“You went too far,” I muttered.

“I have to walk, Kal.”

“I don’t have to like it.”

Chuckling, he shifted until he stood in front of me. I hooked both of my arms around him, and my tail curled around his ankle.

“No,” he said, “you don’t have to, but I need to do it.”

“Debatable.”

“No, it’s not,” he said, laughing again.

I loved how easily I could make him laugh now. I brushed the tip of my nose along the edge of his. “Can you be done?”

“I have to walk back.”

“I will help you.”

When we got inside our quarters, I headed straight to his room, and Seth didn’t protest as he stumbled along next to me. I helped him settle on the bed, then pulled off his shoes before tugging the blanket over him.

“Stay,” Seth demanded.

I was more than happy to snuggle next to him.

“You need to sleep too, Babe.”

Holding him tight, I said, “I’ll nap with you.”

“Hmm,” Seth grunted, not fully awake.

Kissing his neck, I whispered, “Sleep, my Seth.”

He grunted again, and I listened to him breathe—the most wondrous sound in the universe.