21. Char
21
CHAR
I understood. I really did.
But I didn’t want to see my friend die.
Ryoch shifted to look human, and we rushed next door. Every step I took felt too slow, even though we were running. My heart raced as panic and grief threatened to overwhelm me. I had a spare key, but I had to stop my hands from shaking before I could use it.
We finally burst into Naomi’s bedroom and found her lying very still, staring at the ceiling. Her breaths were shallow, chest rising and falling in a weak rhythm.
The text had been short. It’s time .
Ryoch sat by her side and took her pulse. She didn’t react to his presence, her eyes glassy. I wanted to collapse, to curl in on myself and scream at how unfair it was. But that wasn’t what Naomi needed right now. She was brave, and I had to be brave along with her.
With a brief shake of his head, Ryoch made room for me to sit. I took her hand, willing myself to stay in the moment, to breathe through the pain. I’d fall apart later.
“Naomi? Should I call someone?”
She squeezed my hand. “No, Char. It’s okay. I’m ready.” Her voice was raspy and faint.
I bent my head to her shoulder so that she wouldn’t see me crying. My throat was tight, my lungs pinched for air, and I was losing it. Ryoch rubbed circles on my back. I was so distraught, I almost didn’t notice when he stood, swearing under his breath.
“Fuck this.” He paced away, and I heard him calling someone. “Can you come back over here? Yes. Remember Charlotte’s friend from the bakery? I changed my mind. Come to the yellow house. The door’s open.”
The bakery? I lifted my head in a fog, unsure what was happening. Ryoch ran out of the room and reappeared a minute later with a small duffle bag. He took out a glass vial and removed the lid, bending past me to pour a few drops into Naomi’s mouth.
Her color and breathing instantly improved, and she blinked, her gaze clearing. She looked over at us, eyes wide in surprise, as though just noticing we were there.
I turned to Ryoch, stunned, torn between disbelief and hope. “What are you doing?” After everything he’d told me, he couldn’t be…
“I’m saving her life. The tincture will keep her stable until we can get her to the ship. We’ll have to bring her to Vytaris, it’s the only way this will work.”
Thank fucking god . Relief made me lightheaded. “Why?” I wasn’t about to argue, but it was such a complete turnaround.
He cupped my cheeks in his hands. “You’ll find there isn’t much I wouldn’t do for you, sta’la .”
Was I selfish for wanting him to save her? Would it have horrible consequences?
I didn’t fucking care. Naomi was going to live, and my heart soared.
“Thank you, Ryoch.” I love you .
The words were right there, but then a loud knock came at Naomi’s door. Ryoch straightened, letting his hands drop to his sides.
Soon. I’d tell him soon.
“What’s going on?” Naomi asked me. Her voice was much stronger, and she was trying to sit up. “Char? Who is this? Who’s at the door?” She sounded more and more alarmed.
Fuck, where to start? I got up, wiping away the last of my tears. “This is Ryoch. He’s a doctor, and he’s going to help you. But it’s a little complicated…”
Before I could say more, a huge muscular guy barged in, looking frantic. I recognized him as one of the aliens who’d been hanging around, watching my house, but I didn’t know his name. Naomi’s jaw dropped.
Ryoch stood next to him. “This is Mathol. He’s going to help us.”
“The baker ?” Naomi whispered. “Am I dead?”
Mathol smiled broadly and came to kneel next to her.
“Nope, not today. Come on, little one. Let’s get you better.” He scooped her up like she weighed nothing and carried her out of the room. Ryoch and I followed on his heels, and we all loaded into Mathol’s SUV.
I sat in the back with Naomi and spent the next thirty minutes doing my best to explain. But I knew she’d have to see it to believe it.