Chapter 20
TWENTY
V enus paced outside the medical bay, her heart racing faster than it had during the entire confrontation with Oran. The sterile alien smell of the facility made her nose wrinkle - a bizarre mix of ozone and something vaguely floral. She’d never been good with hospitals, even high-tech Tharvisian ones that looked more like the inside of a spaceship than a place of healing.
When the door finally slid open with a soft hiss, Venus nearly pounced on the attending physician. “Well? Is he okay? Can I see him?” she demanded, her voice trembling slightly despite her best efforts to stay calm.
The Tharvisian doctor, still unnerving with his silvery skin and eyes that seemed to glow like moonlit pools, nodded solemnly. “Prince Azlun will make a full recovery. The wound from Oran’s energy glaive was deep, but our regeneration technology is quite advanced. He’s resting now, but you may see him.”
Venus didn’t need to be told twice. She slipped into the room, her breath catching at the sight of Azlun lying on the medical pod, a faint blue light pulsing over his injured side. He looked pale, his usually vibrant silver skin now ashen, but his chest rose and fell steadily. The memory of Oran’s blade slicing through Azlun’s flesh flashed through her mind, making her shudder.
“Hey, tough guy,” she said softly, approaching the pod. Her fingers itched to touch him, to reassure herself that he was really there alive and healing. “I leave you alone for five minutes and look what happens. Trying to win a game of extreme alien acupuncture?”
Azlun’s eyes fluttered open, a weak smile tugging on his lips. Even injured, he was breathtakingly handsome. “Venus,” he murmured, reaching for her hand. His touch sent a spark through her, warm and comforting. “Were you checked out? Are you hurt?”
Venus couldn’t help but laugh, even as she felt tears in her eyes. “Am I hurt? You’re the one who decided to play pin cushion with an energy sword, you idiot.” She squeezed his hand, her voice softening. “I’m fine. Thanks to you. Though if you ever scare me like that again, I might have to kick your royal behind myself.”
Azlun chuckled, then winced. “Noted. Though I must say, the idea of you kicking my ‘royal behind’ is more appealing than it probably should be.”
Venus felt her cheeks warm, a mixture of embarrassment and pleasure flooding through her. “Behave, Your Highness. Or I’ll tell the doctor to withhold your pain medication.”