24. Ryoch
24
RYOCH
A n excited buzz of voices filled the bar. Rumors were spreading. Three new mates had come in last night, and the males who’d scented them were getting pats on the back. They all looked like they’d rather be somewhere else.
Gravod called out for quiet. Jess stood next to him, a faint bond mark visible on her neck, and I knew all Lydaxian eyes lingered there. As xa’xans who’d believed that bonding was unattainable, everyone was in awe at the proof that this mission might actually work.
It was Saturday afternoon, still early for customers, but we had a “Closed for Private Party” sign on the door. Besides Jess, the only non-Lydaxians present were Jake, as alpha of the local wolf pack, and Hal, a bear shifter. They’d been helpful allies, and we wanted them to be informed about our plans.
I was anxious to get this meeting over with, my muscles tensing as I stood waiting. After the gathering ended, Gravod and I were going to have a serious talk about the human convalescing on our ship. I didn’t know what to expect.
He’d found me monitoring Naomi’s vital signs two days after we brought her aboard. I hadn’t expected to see him for at least another day, since I could scent that he and Jess were still…active in his quarters. But he must have emerged for food, then followed his nose to the medical bay when he picked up our scents.
I’d explained everything while he stood with his arms crossed, glaring. I knew he wasn’t pleased with me, but he wasn’t a monster. His gaze held no anger when he looked at Naomi, sleeping deeply after another treatment, and he sighed and spoke in our native tongue.
“ You’re a doctor, Ryoch. I’d be worried if you didn’t give a shit about human life. But this is a fucking complication I don’t need. I have to get back to my sta’la, and then I’ll think it over. We’ll figure something out.”
He’d stomped off, back to his quarters, no doubt still feeling the pull of the frenzy after bonding. I knew I wasn’t going to hear his thoughts on the matter anytime soon. All I could hope was that he would’ve made the same choice in my position, that he’d understand. I was about to find out.
Gravod started talking about returning to Vytaris, but I was barely listening. My thoughts were in the medical bay, where my mate had been selflessly caring for her friend over the past week. We hadn’t had time to be intimate, except for a few chaste kisses, and I needed to see her again.
The door at the back of the bar opened and closed, letting in a breeze. My nostrils flared and my heart raced as her familiar scent wafted in. I made my way quickly through the crowd, knowing I’d find Charlotte.
“Hey.” She smiled when she saw me, and my heart beat even faster.
“Hi.” I took her hand and pulled her close, giving in to my possessive instincts. She didn’t have my mark yet, and being in a room full of unbonded males had me on edge. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Mathol told me I might be needed.” She looked past me toward Gravod. “It seems like I missed most of it.”
My phone vibrated in my back pocket, but I ignored it and brought my attention back to the ongoing meeting. She was right. Jess was reassuring some of the males that she would be happy to talk to any mates who were unsure about leaving, but overall, the group seemed cautiously pleased at the change of plan. It didn’t appear to be controversial.
But I couldn’t feel relieved. I still didn’t know what Charlotte intended to do.
While the rest of the crew fell into animated discussions amongst themselves about returning to Vytaris, Gravod pulled Jake and Hal to the side. He wanted to tell them what had happened with Naomi. My stomach clenched as I watched from afar. But then Charlotte was tugging me through the crowd toward Jess.
“You’re here!” Jess threw her arms around Charlotte’s neck and rocked side to side in a hug before pulling back with a wide smile. “That went well. Everyone seems to agree with me about going back.”
Since I didn’t know what Charlotte wanted yet, I just nodded. Jess’s expression turned serious as she looked over at me.
“Gravod wants to talk to you. I told him that of course you had to save Naomi. It must be a nightmare knowing you can cure diseases here and not being allowed to do it. Yet another reason why you all need to find your mates so we can leave.”
Charlotte stiffened next to me. “What did Gravod say?”
“I said I agree.” Gravod’s hand came down on my shoulder with a heavy slap. “Ryoch confronted an impossible dilemma. We’ll cover for him. I’ve managed bigger fuck-ups.”
I wondered if the humans had any idea who they were talking to. Gravod was a highly trained intelligence officer, with years of off-world assignments under his belt. I didn’t really want to know what kind of fuck-ups he’d dealt with, or how. But if he said he’d cover for me, I trusted him completely.
It meant no tribunal if I returned, and I dipped my head in gratitude. “Thank you, Captain. And Jess,” I added. With the way Gravod looked at her, as though she was the air he breathed, I imagined her opinions held a lot of sway.
Charlotte visibly relaxed, leaning against me in relief. She started chatting with Jess, and I was distracted again by my phone. I pulled it out to turn it off and glanced at the screen.
Then I froze.
“What is it?” Gravod looked over my shoulder, and I could sense his body going rigid.
It was a video, playing on a major news website. The link had been sent to me anonymously. A male stood in front of a nondescript beige wall, topless, his face blurred. I still recognized him. A caption filled the bottom of the screen.
“Lydaxians are among you.”
With that, he shifted, showing his true form. Horns and stark white hair appeared above the blurred face, burgundy skin and clawed hands below. Ta’laps emerged from his torso, swaying in the air around him.
Thylor. He’d set total chaos into motion. I felt like I was going to vomit.
The video cut back to a news reporter. She said its authenticity was being studied, and that the government planned to hold a press conference.
“That’s not good,” Jess said. She and Charlotte were watching too. They looked up at each other at the same time.
“Annabelle,” they said together.
“Who?” I asked.
Jess got out her phone, and I saw her texting someone about coming to the bar.
Charlotte smiled at me. “She’s the woman who can save the day.”