Chapter 3 #2
“Saxon, it’s Link,” a voice calls through the door before it slides open slightly.
“I’m here to check on Lila just like you asked.
” I can hear murmuring behind him, but I can’t make out the words because of the shower and the growl still vibrating through my chest. I guess it’s one of my clan members doing what I asked, as well as making sure I don’t attack him.
I take a few deep breaths, knowing they are not here to harm her.
“Come in,” I call back, unable to stop the snarl in my voice. “But just you, Link.” There is no way I want anyone viewing my mate while she is in such a vulnerable state.
He slides in and quickly shuts the door behind him. He’s carrying a bag, which he sets on the floor, and then he studies us through the glass shower screen. His eyes widen when he sees me, but then he quickly schools his features. Fuck. Do we look that bad?
“How about you pass her to me and you can wash yourself?” he suggests gently, slowly holding out his hands so as to not antagonize my feral side.
I look down at my own frame and realize that although the blood was washed from Lila, I still have it on parts of my body.
I’m sure he’s wondering if Lila was as bloody as I am.
“And I can look her over and see what she needs to fully recuperate.”
Nodding, I gesture for him to come forward, and he does, sliding the shower door open and holding out his hands.
Pressing a kiss to her cheek, I cautiously slide my naked wet mate into the arms of another.
I take stock of how I’m feeling, because I expected a reaction.
It’s easier than I thought it would be, and when I catch a glimpse of her shoulder, I realize that’s why.
Link is one of the marks on her skin, I know this, and for some reason, my monster is okay with it.
He has accepted he will be one of a few and that she made the change for him and didn’t just let him die, which means everything to the both of us.
Who are we to deny her nature when she’s done nothing but accepted and adapted to ours?
Link wraps a towel around her limp and shaky body before scooping her up.
“Your brother cleaned your bed and changed the sheets, so I’ll dry her off and put her in your bed while I check her over.
Is this okay?” Link is still being very slow and deliberate about how he’s interacting with me, like he’s afraid to move too fast or use the wrong words and upset me.
I guess it’s understandable, considering what state I was in when he last saw me.
“Yes, that’s fine, I won’t be long,” I tell him, reaching for the soap, and his eyebrows jump in surprise at my rational response. Fuck. Me too.
“Well, ah, good then.” A hint of disbelief laces his tone, and he appears to be at a loss for a moment before shaking his head and retreating into my bedroom as I hurry through cleaning myself up.
God, she’s only been out of my arms for barely a moment and the need to be near her almost overwhelms me.
I also want to be there when Link checks her over.
I want to be able to watch him and listen to his heart for signs of untruths.
Although I’m sure the doc could hide it, I’m hoping out of respect for me and the fact that I’m her mate, he won’t.
If I have to threaten him just a little, well, that won’t be a hard ask either.
Once I’m done, I turn the shower off and dry myself, wrapping the towel around my waist before joining him and Lila back in my bedroom.
He’s dressed her in one of my shirts, and she’s lying on my bed, her eyes closed and chest rising slowly as he examines her.
I’m not sure if she’s asleep or actually passed out, and I pace back and forth while he runs a hand scan, muttering to himself as he goes.
It’s so quiet that even with my advanced hearing, I can’t make it out.
It kind of makes me want to shake him or smash my fist into a wall, but I clench them instead and try for patience.
“Wow, I’m not sure what happened, but Lila’s whole physiology has changed.
Her muscle and bone densities are bigger, and so is her heart.
It looks like it grew to compensate for all the extra blood her body will make to feed you.
Her stomach is also adjusting to digesting your blood.
I think her body has kind of shut down while it does all that.
” A thoughtful yet fascinated look passes over his features.
The doctor side of him is clearly loving this new knowledge.
“Other than that, it seems to be just exhaustion. She needs to rest, eat some real food, and maybe lay off the blood drinking for a few hours so she can recover.” He fists his hand and steps away from her before turning to face me.
“We will have to monitor your blood intake and her vitals over the next few days. Vilaxians have two hearts to compensate for the extra blood production, but she doesn’t have that, and even though it seems to have grown, I’m not sure if it will be enough to keep her healthy.
The Vilaxian queen sent me a few studies on non-Vilaxian blood roses.
Sometimes the Vilaxian mate would have to supplement their blood intake by taking from others.
That will be something you will have to discuss with Lila.
I’m not sure she will be happy if you use a Vilaxian donor, so we may have to organize blood deliveries.
” He stops and thinks about it. “Or she may be okay with you drinking from one of her other mates. It’s something you will have to talk about, but for now, she just needs rest.”
I heave out a breath of relief I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. I was just going through the motions in an attempt to not think about the possibility that I may have hurt my mate during our bonding.
“Why don’t you climb into bed and rest with her? It’s five in the morning, and neither of you are needed right now.” He pats the bed next to Lila, encouraging me to get in beside her.
I frown slightly. I’ve never been a cuddler, but I guess I can give it a go for my mate. Then I remember something that happened back in the Adams brothers’ office, now that my mind is clear of the bonding frenzy. Fuck. “Is John okay?
Link sighs heavily, his brows pinching together, and shakes his head.
“Yes and no. For now, he is in no immediate danger, but he has been poisoned. It is very slow acting and nothing I’ve ever seen before.
I’ve settled him into an induced coma to slow down the poison’s track through his body, but it is beyond my capabilities to fix.
I don’t know what it is, so I have no clue what the antidote is.
Xavier also had no luck pitting his magic against whatever it is.
He is going to need to see a Celestian. They are the only ones who may be able to help him now.
Eric and William have decided to cancel the rest of the Earth shows. ”
How will Lila react to this news? Guilt starts to eat away at me since I kept her away from her family for so long. Will she be mad at me?
Link pauses before clearing his throat. “Take today to rest up and connect with your new mate. Tomorrow, we’ll receive the detainee the Earth authorities are holding—William says Lila needs to know that process—and then we’ll leave Earth.
We have a number of stops we need to make on our return to Skarr.
It’s going to be a busy few weeks, and Lila is going to see things she never imagined.
She’s going to need all the support she can get, especially with no powers. ”
I feel a smile cross my lips, and my monster preens within me.
Link raises a questioning eyebrow. Smiling is not my thing, so I can’t help but be proud of how I helped my blood rose.
“She may not have any powers, but she is no longer vulnerable. She has the strength, speed, and senses of a Vilaxian now. Not full strength, but better than she was. I will work with her on her self-defense. I promise, she is no longer as vulnerable as she used to be.”
I watch Link sag minutely, his own breath of relief audible to my ears.
“Well, that is some good news. Thank you, Saxon. Thank you for protecting our girl.” He pats me awkwardly on the shoulder, and I decide to give the poor cyborg a break.
I reach out and grip his forearm, shaking it in the Vilaxian way.
“I am honored to be her mate, and I look forward to getting to know you better,” I tell him formally, and a small smile lifts his lips.
“Alright then. I’ll leave you to it. When you wake, will you let us know? Eric and William want to be the ones to tell her about John.”
I swallow roughly but quickly agree, and he takes his leave.
I pull back the covers and slide in behind my girl.
She’s curled up on her side, and her breathing is even.
When I tune into her heart, it is beating in a steady rhythm again and synced with one of mine.
I feel a deep sense of contentment when I hear it, and I reach around her waist before snuggling into her back.
I breathe in her delicious scent and sigh in bliss before closing my eyes.
Vilaxians don’t need a lot of sleep, but I can certainly see the appeal of snuggling with one’s mate.
I may just rest my eyes for a little while as I wait for my mate to wake so I can feed her real food.
I can’t wait to discover all her likes and dislikes.