Chapter 55

Ellax

I had lost one wife before. I had lost a son. When Lorelai's eyes closed, her head sinking back against my arm, I was struck full force with the awful, inescapable truth that I might be about to lose a second wife. Despite our good intentions—hopefully saving the innocent wild humans, foiling Sirena's plan, bringing her to justice, and even locating Dr. Natusha, who had assisted my wife—none of it mattered to me, personally, if I lost Lorelai here on the footbridge connecting the skypad to the spaceport.

Nothing mattered if I lost her.

"Lorelai?"

I heard the rising fear in my tones. She did not respond. Hastily, I got to my feet, lifting her in my arms. The two guards who'd been chasing her, acting on Sirena's orders, still stood there, staring stupidly, fear creasing their expressions. They had seen the Admiral and his team leave to hunt down a powerful Asterion figure for treason. They had been acting on her orders. Assuming that they'd been acting ignorantly, I growled,

"I will offer you one chance to redeem yourselves, and one only. Clear the way for my wife to the nearest infirmary. Have a transport waiting. Clear me a way through this building. Get me there in time to save her life, and yours will be saved as well."

No need to speak twice or offer further directives. They sprang into action, sprinting ahead of me down the stairs and into the spaceport itself, directing any bystanders out of my way. I ran after them, hating each tiny moan from my bride caused by the pain of being jostled, but simultaneously grateful for every sound that escaped her lips.

We ran for the elevator, taking the first one available, and then raced through the crowded lowest level of the spaceport for the city outside. The two guards did their job, moving patrons out of the way without sympathy or remorse. They earned a few oaths and disgruntled remarks, but when my fellow Asterions saw me running, carrying my grievously wounded wife, the complaints were shushed. Grasping the seriousness of the situation, even if they lacked knowledge of what was occurring, folk stepped back, watching soberly as we hastened to the transport waiting just outside the spaceport's glass doors.

I recall little of that swift trip to the infirmary, only that I clutched my wife tightly, begging the stars to let her live. To not let me lose another wife, and that so soon. Even as I interceded for Lorelai, I was wracked with guilt, both over her condition and the fate of Druea and Grivan. I should have been there for both of them, as well. I should have cared more when they were suffering; prayed more for them. I could argue with myself that Druea was not my mate, and that would be true. However, I had owed her kindness, loyalty, and compassion, no matter the fact that ours was a sterile, arranged marriage. The feelings evoked by Lorelai's possible death, versus Druea's, served to show me what a terrible husband and father I had been. Guilt wracked me on all sides. Silently, I pleaded that the deities, the stars, the divines would give me a second chance to be a better husband. To prove myself worthy of the second female they had placed in my life as my mate. And even a better father to Caide, to make up for what I had done to him and his wife.

Once we arrived at the infirmary, medical personnel scurried out, alerted by the guards clearing our transport's path to the building. They took Lorelai from my arms and ushered her away from me behind closed doors with signs preventing visitors from following. I was left alone to pace the hall outside, my mind tortured by images of my frail and broken wife, my clothing stained with her blood. Had we arrived in time to preserve her life? I tried to imagine what the medics would be doing to save her. My knowledge of medicine was limited. I simply did not know. Which did not make me feel better.

The buzzing of my phone alerted me. I drew it from my jacket, pressing a button to answer it.

"Yes?"

"Elder Pendorgrin?"

I knew the voice right away.

"Yes, Admiral."

"I thought you should know, sir, that we tracked down Elder Sirena. She is now in my custody, along with those who assisted her. We are transporting her to a prison holding cell at the moment."

"Excellent," I replied. "And what of Doctor Natusha?"

"We found her," the Admiral replied. His voice was grim. "She is severely injured. She is being transported to the nearest infirmary. I cannot say whether she'll survive."

A second case of Sirena's cruelty. A second female's life at stake. Sirena would certainly pay for her choices. I would ensure it.

"My gratitude, Admiral," I said. Before I signed off the conversation, I added, "If any harm were to befall Sirena's helpers who actively took part in injuring my wife, well…know that I will ensure you and your men face no consequences."

There was a brief span of silence, then the Admiral chuckled softly. "With pleasure, Elder."

The line went dead. I searched up and down the hallways, hoping, now that the distraction was over, to see a medic headed my way with news. No. In the brightly lit corridors, male and female employees wearing different colored jumpsuits to designate their various roles in the clinic scurried about. None approached me.

How long is this going to take?

How long before I would know whether my mate would live or die? How long before—

My phone buzzed again. Grateful for yet another distraction, I pressed the receiving button, only to hear Overlord Ithrigor's voice.

"Ellax."

"Ithrigor," I replied. He would be calling with important news on the Coalition's decision. I should be giving him all of my attention, yet I couldn't keep my gaze from wandering up and down the corridors, seeking anyone approaching with news of my mate.

"I wished to inform you that, due to yours and the Admiral's intervention, the Coalition has decided your plan is the wisest. Details will have to be worked out with the strike force and the Elite, both by air and land, but there will be no war waged against the wild humans in general. We will dispatch a reconnaissance team to locate the leaders and take them out. They will also seek out any strongholds of the wild humans, which Abidah and a team he selects will dismantle from the air. All measures will be taken to keep loss of life to a minimum, while also subduing the rebels."

I felt relief. We had done it. Circumvented Sirena. Protected Lorelai's species. Hopefully, ensured lasting peace for the humans and Asterions on Earth, including my son and his wife.

And yet…nothing would bring me peace. Not until I heard word on Lorelai's condition.

After signing off with Ithrigor, I continued pacing the hall. One-hundred-twenty paces to the west. One-hundred-twenty paces to the east. Those double doors with their glaring red signs were a barrier I wished to tear down with my bare hands. Common sense restrained me. Those doors were there to help Lorelai, as much as keep wanderers like myself away.

Just when I feared I would truly implode, that the news must be terrible, considering how long they'd been working on her, my phone rang for a third time. I glanced at the number of origin, puzzled. Who was this? Could it be medical personnel calling from within, rather than bringing me news in person?

A sick mixture of dread and hope filled my stomach as I pressed the button and lifted the device to my ear. Only to hear the last voice I'd ever expected to hear.

"Father?"