Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Since earlier in the day Helaine had been in and out as far as her awareness of her surroundings.
She vaguely remembered Latham getting her safely set up in the tree and she was happy not to have detailed recall of his battle with the wolves.
Her joy at the arrival of the rescue team was a good memory snippet and she shuddered when she thought even slightly of the ascent in an antigrav litter.
The experience had been terrifying but she’d been so ill with fever it was a blur.
She did remember being placed in the big scary medical machine but nothing about the actual treatment stayed with her.
She’d had dreams but couldn’t remember them.
Coming awake with a start, the first thing Helaine realized with relief was her leg was completely healed and pain free.
She moved it out from under the covers to be sure and was relieved beyond words to see a normal leg, not the broken appendage it had been.
Latham was asleep in a chair next to her bed and had a frown on his face even in sleep.
With increasing confidence as she experienced no pain, Helaine got out of bed and leaned over her mate, kissing his cheek.
“This chair can’t be comfortable for a big guy like you,” she said as his eyes opened. “You can join me in the bed, even if there isn’t much room.”
He rocketed to his feet and embraced her in a bear hug. “How do you feel?”
“Like a new woman actually. Amazing what a peaceful vacation will do for a girl.” She laughed at her own joke. “Thank you for everything you did.”
“You’re my mate, the woman I love, of course I did everything possible to save you.”
Knowing what he was going to say next, she laid her finger across his lips. “And don’t start in again about how it was all your fault we got caught in the tsunami and then more catastrophes happened. How were you to know I’d bring you so much excitement and disaster?”
The skin around his eyes did the cute crinkly thing she loved as he appreciated the humor of her last comment. “True enough. Do you think we’re done with your status as an attractor of unique events? Or does the universe have more surprises in store for us?”
“No idea. I say we enjoy life while we can. Where are we by the way?”
“On the Ardannan battleship Famptror.”
“They named a ship after you already?” She tilted her head and gave him her sauciest smile.
“No, it’s named for my species of shifter. But it is a nice coincidence. The prince agreed you should come here and receive the best treatment Ardanna offers.”
“I owe the prince a debt then. I hope I get a chance to thank him.”
“He’s dealing with a lot at the moment but he did say he’d be on the ship at some point soon and would try to stop by.”
They arranged themselves on the narrow medbay bed, wrapped up in each other, reconnecting and reassuring themselves everything was okay.
Helaine found it hard to restrain herself from taking off all his clothes and shedding her hospital gown but in the first place she was afraid they’d fall out of the damn bed and in the second place she’d never been in any kind of medical facility where the staff didn’t pop in and out of the rooms without warning.
Sure enough, the doctor came in a few minutes later with an abrupt knock.
She paused on the threshold, clearly suppressing her amusement at the position they were in on the bed.
“Well, I see my patient is pretty much recovered. If I can interrupt you, I’d like to do my exam and discharge you from the medbay.
I understand the prince has ordered suitable quarters for you in officers’ country, which comes with complete privacy. ”
Latham adjusted his clothing and slid off the bed, moving to the chair. “We’re ready to get out of your hair, doc.”
“I can tell.” Unperturbed she stepped to the bedside and did a thorough scan and exam of a blushing Helaine before pronouncing her fit to leave medbay.
There were no follow-up prescriptions or instructions, since the rejuve resonator produced complete cures for simple events like a broken leg and infection.
“I would advise against any vigorous physical activity for twenty-four hours, however. The resonator ions will still be active within your tissues and it’s best to let them process out peacefully. ”
Helaine knew Latham wouldn’t do anything more than hold her, and maybe a few kisses, now he’d heard the doctor’s ‘suggestion’.
Within half an hour Helaine and Latham were on their way to their new cabin, where their packs and her luggage from the resort had been left by the crew. As the door closed behind them, he pulled her close.
“You’re coming home with me to Ardanna Prime, right?”
“Absolutely,” she said. “We’ll figure it all out together once we get there. Are we going there on this ship?”
“It’s my understanding the prince plans to take his fated mate home on the Famptror and we’ve been invited to accompany them.
Of course the other Ardannans who were here for their ‘dates’ will go on the civilian ship which brought them but this battle group will be their escort.
And any other couples who became attached and wish to do so will be accommodated on the civilian cruise liner.
” He assessed the relatively small cabin, as if trying to see it through Helaine’s eyes.
“Are you all right with staying here or would you rather transfer to the liner? We’d probably have more room. A bigger bed.”
“And more people, all wanting to know about our adventures with the tsunami. I’d rather stay here—it’s cozy—and just be alone as long as we can be,” she said.
“Was traveling aboard a battleship on your bucket list?” he asked.
“Actually, no. I didn’t think that big in my goals. But on the other hand it’s not on my antibucket list either.”
They shared a companionable laugh.