Chapter 44

Chapter

Forty-Four

T he pain in his side made Rixx's head swim. He was overwhelmed by seeing his Dothvek brothers again, even if he was startled to see the midwife Tegan paired up with Zaandr. He'd picked up on their attraction when they'd rescued him, but now they were clearly mates. How much more had he missed since he'd been recuperating and hiding on Kurril?

"I'm not happy about how much blood he's losing," Tegan said to Zaandr, her voice low as she eyed the gash in his side.

"Is he going to die?" Zala asked, her voice high and wobbly.

"Not on my watch." Zaandr looped an arm around his waist and nodded to the girl. "But we do need to get him to our med bay."

Zala's eyes shone with tears but she straightened her spine as if readying for a blow. "I ran after you because I didn't want to say goodbye. I don't want you to leave."

Myrria put a hand on Zala and lowered her head to speak softly in her ear. "Rixx has to return to his ship. You know that. It isn't safe here for him. When we took him in, we knew we were healing him so he could leave and hiding him until his ship returned."

Zala gave a shake of her head. "But that was before."

The Dothveks who'd battled the Zevrians were gathering around as the girl's voice rose. Myrria's cheeks flushed as everyone focused on Zala. "Before what?"

Zala huffed out a sigh. "Before you two fell in love."

Myrria's face flamed and Rixx felt all eyes moving between her and him. Instead of looking away politely or giving her privacy with her daughter, his Dothvek brothers stood completely still and watched. He was used to not having privacy among his fellow Dothveks, but he could sense her embarrassment.

Myrria evaded Rixx's gaze as she pulled Zala back. "That doesn't matter. Rixx still has to leave no matter how much…" she hesitated, "we care for him."

"Why does it not matter?"

Myrria's head jerked up at Rixx's question. "What?"

"Why does love not matter?" He shrugged his friend's arm off and took a step closer to her. He knew she loved him. He had felt it even before their night together, but he had been even more sure when he had heard her tell him as he was dragged away by the Zevrians. "There is no doubt in my mind that I love you and that you are my true mate."

Murmurs passed through the Dothveks.

He reached over Zala to take Myrria's hands. "I know you feel the same way because I can hear your thoughts."

Quick inhalations were interspersed by more whispers among the Dothveks.

Tori turned and flapped her arms at them. "Dothveks may not understand personal space, but you barbarians need to give these two some space." They backed up but she kept waving her hands at them. "That's right. Back it up, guys. There's nothing to see that you aren't probably listening in on anyway."

Rixx squeezed Myrria's hands, waiting for her response.