Chapter 36

There are faint whispers in the vicinity as two men engage in a low conversation. One is gripping my hand, his thumb running circles over my tender skin.

"DaR, when she awakens, I want you to take her with you back to Darverius. The place is absolutely beautiful compared to this wasteland me and my people live in. She deserves to be with her kind and you can provide her with a world that I can't. The very thought of sending her away feels like someone is tearing my soul out, but look at her. I could not have failed her more miserably if I had tried."

"You have a lot to learn about these little human females ZoD. Now if she wants to come with us, she is welcome to, but I will warn you. They don't take instructions well, nor being told what to do. They are little fireballs in a small package, but they are worth every minute of it."

"At least one of you has a little sense about ya." I no more than get that out when I start coughing. My eyes are so heavy I am having a hard time waking up, but a strong hand lifts me up high enough that I can swallow. The cool water is so refreshing I almost choke trying to drink it so fast. WhenI get my eyes to focus, the first thing I see is ZoD's worried face hovering over me.

"Hey, big guy. HereI just woke up from being tortured by worms and you're already trying to get rid of me. You're hard on a girl's ego you know?" Panicking, I try to get up. "OMG, there was a guy with me, Taze, did you find him?"

"Tessa, calm down everything is fine, SiN brought him here right after he made sure you were stable. Taze is under right now as the med bots are trying to repair his legs. We will send him to the best physicians, although I'm unsure if he will ever walk again."

"I don't want to interrupt; I have two of the very best right here with me. No one told me about any major injuries during the battle."

Ilook up at ZoD first. "What did I miss? There was a battle?" ThenI point at the other guy. "And you have people who can fix Taze with you! Then what are you waiting on? … Wait a minute, you're the guy who came out of the wall. Cool trick, by the way. AreZllera and Wynd ok?"

DaRstarts laughing. "Tessa, that wasn't me, it was my son, SiN."

"Oh yeah, I remember him mentioning that now. What would make you name your child that? Don't you know that could mark a kid for life?"

"That's a story for another day. I am pleased that you have awakened. Now that I know they are needed. I will leave you two alone and go find Tordan and SCOUT. I assure you they will have the male up and at it in no time. ZoD good luck with those million questions." He nods his head and just as he is walking out, I yell out.

"Sorry for the mixup, but you guys could be twins, and if Taze needs a nurse, send Elexa; he has a crush on her." I watch the tall, dark drink of water walk out before turning back to ZoD. "Who was that?"

"That is CommanderDaR."

"From the look on your face, it appears that you don't care much for him."

"No, I highly respect the male, I don't like the way you were looking at him."

"Well, hell, I might be weak as a kitten right now, but I ain't blind. That man is beautiful, but just because I'm looking at the menu doesn't mean I plan on ordering off it or taking him home to Mom."

Ican't help but giggle when ZoD starts laughing. "I never know what is going to come out of your mouth. Lord of Light, how I have missed you."

"I wasn't gone that long. At the time, it felt like it, but now it's not so bad."

"I suffered an eternity, then when I walked in here and saw what kind of shape you were in… Tessa, I feel like a failure, not worthy of you."

"That's a matter of opinion. At no point did I lose faith in you, ZoD. I knew you would come. Now quit stalling. I am worn out and hungry, but my ears work and so does my brain. Now, tell me what I've missed. Did you kick those worms' asses?"

"Here let's make you a little more comfortable before we get started." His strong arms pull me up effortlessly in the bed, placing pillows behind me. I can't help but stare up at his strong, exotic features. The man is a God, he just doesn't know it. There is a dark spot on his side. "What's that?"

"Just like all males, I got distracted looking for a female and someone reminded me rather abruptly that I was in the middle of a battle."

"Was that your idea of humor?"

"Did it work?"

"Not in the least."

"Better luck next time, now let me see if I can recall the thousand questions you ask in a single breath. Zllera and Wynd are fine. Onyx got a little roughed up, but he is healing nicely. Wynd took a while to settle down, according to Raya she just kept saying your name over and over. As soon as we land, I'll have Raya go tell them how you are. TheWaldrin are now gone, we have a few crews making sure that their entire environment is destroyed and that part of the caverns will be reworked. The worms won't be hurting you or any other now."

"So now what?"

"I have no idea. From the moment I took on the Commandership, I have been fighting them. It's been so long I have lost track of the things I wanted to do for my people and this sector." He reaches up, tracing the mark on my face. "This is beautiful on you."

"I think I have several more, but I haven't seen them plainly myself, so I will take your word for it. Now, let's address the elephant in the room. You were going to send me away without talking to me about it. Did you get what you wanted from me and now it's off to the next piece of ass?"

"No … why would you say something like that?"

"What would you think if you were in my spot, ZoD? You don't need me anymore! The monsters are gone, and now you no longer need to keep me here to save your people. I will say being able to feel you in the beginning was a comfort, but as time went on, that started to fade. The loss was … well it was harder than I imagined it would be, especially since we just met."

Hegrabs the back of my neck, pulling me up to where he can lower his forehead to mine. "Tessa, I was torn apart when I lost my mother and I thought nothing could be worse than that feeling, but I was proven wrong. Because the devastation of failing to keep you safe has ripped me apart on the inside. WhileI never want to be separated from you again, I won't pressure you to stay here. I took your choices away the first time when I stole you from that research center. I won't do that again, but I want you more than my next breath."

"You could have just led with that last sentence and skipped all the rest … ZoD honey, you didn't take my choices away, the Korgons did. That is a blame you can lay elsewhere, and I don't want to be anywhere else you big lug. I thought I was going to die out there, ZoD, and do you know what I thought about while all that was happening? NotEarth, my so-called friends, or even all this shit that's happened since … I missed you. The entire time I was waiting for you to come charging through those gates, sword in hand. Even when the next breath was hard to breathe, I knew alive or dead you wouldn't stop until you found me. What more could a girl ask for?"

Theentire room seems to shimmy slightly, and ZoD takes a weary breath. Just as I start to ask him what's wrong an eye comes floating out of the ceiling, lowering itself right in front of me, and without a second thought I hit it, trying to knock it away. "What the hell is that?"

ZoDstarts laughing so hard that he is practically leaning against me. "Lord of Light, give me strength. Tessa, stop hitting the med bot, they have done a fabulous job piecing you back together."

"Well, how in the hell was I supposed to know what the damn thing was? You know this shit ain't normal where I come from. I have a feeling you are going to be praying a lot if you keep me around. Maybe the first thing you need to learn is, IDON'TJUSTKNOW!"

"MistressTessa, your heart rate is accelerating and with your low blood levels we don't want anything to stress your heart out, so please try to remain calm a little longer."

"Did that eyeball just talk?"

"This is a medical chamber; it's one unit. Think of it as the whole room is one big body working to fix the person inside. We just landed outside the main dock, so I am sure you will have visitors soon."

Heno more says that than I hear Wynd yelling, "Tessa!"

"Zllera, we are in the first bay," ZoD yells out.

Zllerasticks her head in the room slowly, a smile on her face when she sees me lying here. Wynd is squirming so hard in her arms she is forced to put her down. She immediately starts trying to climb up in the bed. ZoD is watching her, a small frown on his face. She turns towards him and I have to hold back my laughter when she holds up her arms and stomps her foot. "Me up!"

"Help her onto the bed, ZoD. I don't think I can lift her right now."

"She might hurt you."

"Really, I just lived through the worms. I think I can handle a toddler."

"A what?"

WhenZoD doesn't immediately reach for Wynd, Zllera lifts her up on the end of the bed. She crawls quickly to my side. Her little hands pat my face as she looks me over.

"Did the WallMan come get you?"

Ittakes me a minute to realize what she is talking about. "Yes, I believe he did, are you alright? Was it scary going through the wall?"

"More scared, Tessa not come too."

"You were worried about me?" Shaking her head yes, I can tell she is as tired as I am. So, I raise my good arm up, motioning for her to lay down. When she does, she tucks into my side, her little fingers twirling my hair. Zllera pulls the edge of the blanket up over her and I swear the child closes her eyes and is instantly asleep.

"She has been awake since the moment we returned. No matter what, I couldn't get her to lay down. This has really traumatized her, but now that you're back I think she will do better."

"I'm sure she is not the only one; are you ok, Zllera?"

"Everyone is home, and I am grateful this nightmare is over."

"You look as tired as I feel, Zllera, why don't you go on and get some rest?"

"Do you want me to take her? I don't think she will wake up now."

"Nahh, she's fine, you go on."

ZoDhugs her before she walks slowly out of the room. "That's one brave little girl right there. She never one time lost her shit like some would have. I probably still have this arm because of her quick thinking."

"Zllera has always been mature for her age. I don't believe I have ever heard a bad word about the youngling."

Ican't stop the yawn or the fatigue that seems to be dragging me down. I am struggling to stay awake even with ZoD talking.

"RestTessa, I am going to step out and check on Taze."

"You're not planning on shipping me off or leaving me here while I'm asleep, right?"

"I will never willingly let you go again, and if you are willing to ride this path with me. I would be honored to have you by my side."

"Gonna hold you to that big guy."