Chapter Twenty-Nine
Aphrodite sat next to Xexis on a bench at Reevar’s side.
They’d been there more than an hour. The anesthesia had worn off but apparently Reevar needed the rest. Xexis laid his head against Aphrodite and dozed in and out while she kept herself busy on her data pad.
Buddy ran place to place, scanning and gathering intel the best he could without being caught.
In between patients, Vivian returned to ask her about being Mphronatch and how things had been since they grew apart.
It’s like there was never space in the first place.
They were right back where they left off.
Vivian’s snark was comforting to hear as she checked on Reevar again. “And then I was telling him, you break the heel off my designer shoes and I’ll break your—oh hey! Big guy, looks like you’re coming around.”
Aphrodite and Xexis lept to their feet. Hovering over Reevar, his eyes fluttered open. At first, he saw Xexis, his pincers weakly wiggling.
“Kannatch?” he croaked.
“Yes, Reevar,” Xexis exhaled heavily, putting a hand to Reevar’s chest.
“Mphronatch?” Reevar smiled sleepily to Aphrodite. “Are the? Er-max dead?”
She snorted, stroking his arm tenderly. “Yes, the Max is dead.”
“Good, I dislike that one,” Reevar groaned.
Stiffly turning his head and arms, he bumped a fist into Vivian’s hip.
He glanced her way. His mouth opened to speak but nothing came out.
Vivian smiled down at him, taking his hand gently.
A weird shock and awe fell over Reevar as Vivian inspected his face.
“Reevar, can you tell me where you are?”
“Council station,” He breathed, chest rising and falling quickly.
“Good, that’s good, big guy.” She pulled out her stethoscope and pressed the round disk to his chest. The healer worried her lower lip as she stared at his bare chest. “Heart rate’s a little elevated.
I need you to take a deep breath, that’s it, breathe with me Reevar.
Don’t want to shock your system too much.
As things start to come back online, you need to take your time. ”
Vivian pulled back, placing a tender hand to his bicep.
Reevar’s hand trembled as he clasped it around hers.
Aphrodite devoured the moment between them and knew.
She saw it. The moment the knowledge came to Reevar.
His face softened and he leaned toward her.
Only, he hissed, wincing with pain. Vivian jerked to life, “Oh, no—don’t you dare move yet, mister.
Your stitches haven’t fully settled yet. Hold on, big guy.”
She cranked the bed up a notch or two before excusing herself to get him water. Reevar reached for her with two of his hands before they fell limp at his side.
Aphrodite let out a low whistle before she glanced up at Xexis. “Is that what it looks like?”
“Reevar has found his mate,” Xexis teased, poking his friend in the arm.
“She has the prettiest blue hair,” Reevar croaked, rolling his head to face them. He was tinted lime green in the cheeks. Aphrodite beamed, petting his arm. Oh shit, wait. Reevar stared past them dreamily as the reality set in.
“Reevar,” she hissed, bending to meet his glassy eyes. “You have to tell her, before the hunt.”
“Her lips are like the sun,” he murmured, blinking sluggishly.
“He’s a goner,” she grumbled.
Xexis pulled Aphrodite in tight and pressed his forehead to the side of her head. “Do not fret, my mate, Reevar is far more elegant than I. He will not be as foolish.”
Vivian returned with a water cup and bendy straw, helping Reevar move his head. He stared at her ravenously as she helped him take slow and steady sips. Vivian’s cheeks turned to dusty roses as she nervously laughed. “You guys are intense when you first wake up, huh?”
“All the time,” Aphrodite corrected.
“Vroz are passionate,” Xexis proclaimed, tossing a hand to the air. Aphrodite tried not to flinch as Xexis spoke again. “On a hunt and in bed, the Vroz are—”
“Ooookay, that’s enough,” Aphrodite put a hand over his pincers and smiled at Vivian. Her friend stared at her with wide eyes. Aphrodite mouthed ‘ignore him’. Then she turned to face Xexis. “We should go find Xnasis and figure out what the plan is now or something not here, let Reevar recover.”
“Since he’s still under the effects of the anesthesia, I’d say you’re probably staying the night. Big guy’s gonna need time to get his strength back before he’s clear for take off.”
“She thinks I’m big!” Reevar sang, his head flopping back against the bed.
Vivian stared at Reevar in confusion before returning her attention to Aphrodite. “I’ll send a heads up to the Vroz communication line when he’s fully lucid and recovered.”
“Good luck with that.” Aphrodite waved to Vivian before leading Xexis out of the room. He licked her palm furiously. Finally, she huffed and ripped it from his mouth. “Seriously?”
“Why were you upset that I was proclaiming the Vroz? I was trying to help.” Xexis nodded to the guards as an acknowledgement. The guards whirled on their large, dinosaur-shaped feet, and stomped through the medical bay. Xexis and Aphrodite followed after them.
“Because humans aren’t as proud about their sexual prowess as the Vroz.
” She shook her head, hugging his arm against her.
“I am very proud of your prowess and passion, but Vivian’s gonna have to adjust. I just hope Reevar doesn’t slip up and say something goofy while he’s coming down off the anesthesia. ”
Because I’m not even sure if Vivian wants a mate—hell, I didn’t know if Vivian ever dated after college.
Things changed in the last 7 years. She was flooded with the memory of her roommate discussing how she was never getting married unless the person was rich, good in the sack, and emotionally mature.
“Would you say Reevar is wealthy?” Aphrodite blurted out.
“I am missing context, but sure?” Xexis eyed her suspiciously. “He is a hunter, and once he’s mated he can choose where to claim his living, either on the station or on the home world. Hunting is very rewarding in more than just honor, but I do not believe Reevar has debts? Why?”
“No reason.” Well, that was basically three out of three. “He’ll be fine.”
She hugged Xexis’ arm as they wound through the medical bay and out into the spinning rings.
They were led upstairs and into a ring that took ID scanning to step into it.
Floating platforms full of people spun up and down behind them slowly as Xexis then Aphrodite were hit with a blue scanner beam.
Then, after a long day, they were let into a large living space with three rooms off the main room.
Xexis visibly relaxed as he slumped down into a beanbag like chair.
Aphrodite dropped into his lap and lay against him.
The intention wasn’t to fall asleep. However, Xexis drifted near immediately, and she dozed in and out of consciousness till she was dragged completely under.
Aphrodite awoke to a soft hand wiggling her shoulder caps. She blinked bleary eyes till Xnasis came into view. His eyes crinkled and pincers wiggled playfully, “Mphronatch, come.”
She clambered to her feet, careful to let her slumbering mate stay.
Xnasis offered an arm to her and led her through the living space.
Prior to sitting down, she hadn’t examined it.
Like a suite in a hotel, it had a kitchen space, a couch and beanbag chair lounging area, a dining room table that also worked as a desk, three rooms, and a balcony.
The room was clean and clear of personal effects.
The only thing that held any significance to the Vroz was the carpet had designs much like all their clothing. Sharp, knife's edge drawings.
The glass door to the balcony slid open and they were on a small platform that reached the crystal keeping everything inside the station.
It felt like she could reach out her hands and touch the stars.
Aphrodite stepped forward, slipping from Xnasis’ arms and touched the cool surface.
The rings and floating hangar spaces danced between the stars around them.
“You like the view?” Xnasis teased.
“It’s amazing,” she breathed, stepping back from the glass.
“It’s my favorite place to come and think.
” Xnasis folded his arms over his slender chest. He stared out past the rings.
The glimmer was gone and instead his features were washed with contemplation.
The crown prince tapped his fingers against his bicep.
His pincers writhed pensively. “Earlier, when you asked if they got back up, this was because you believe the pest controlling the bodies is able to reanimate the dead?”
“Yes.” She twisted to face him fully. “Max was dead, Xnasis. I watched Danny stab him in the brain and kill him. I’m certain.”
“That explains the report that never made it to our desks that the human Council woman was dead. They said it was a mistake, that she had a heart attack, but I think they were attempting to cover up the infiltration. However, I can not guarantee how deep the infection goes.” His face pinched in fury.
Aphrodite put a hand to his bicep tenderly and watched his face melt to a softer, pensive expression. He glanced at her for a moment. Studying her face, he searched for something. Then his gaze returned to the stars. “Fate is always deadly accurate.”
“Oh? And how is that?” She chuckled, taking her hand back.
“In the time my sibling has mated you, Xexis has become the Kannatch I knew he was capable of being. Before you, Xexis was wild, unrestrained, unfocused. Yet, one day he stumbles upon you in a forest and everything changes. He is doing paperwork, he’s studying languages diligently, he’s delegating hunts to other hunters and being strict on protocols.
Xexis even began asking me about expectations, rules, domains, and then now?
He is investigating? Instead of just hunting?
He’s thinking before he strikes and is strategic. He is the Kannatch.”
She frowned. “Then why did you not trust him?”
Xnasis let out an airy chuckle, “Because I am to be Korzavic, and I still see him as I did. In some moments, he’s still a youngling.
I’m still teaching him to hold a blade, and how to climb trees with his bare hands.
Then in others, I am nearly Korzavic and he is already Kannatch.
And I’m bleeding with him as he grieves his mistakes and failures. ”
Nodding, she stood quietly, searching the stars with Xnasis.
They stood arm to arm, watching the rings orbit the station.
Ships were no longer coming, but many were leaving.
Aphrodite wasn’t a politician, but she could see the strain of being princes, being officials, and siblings was heavy.
She put a hand to Xnasis’ bicep before excusing herself back inside.
Xnasis reached and took a hold of her hand.
She stopped, giving him a chance to explain.
He stared pensively out into the stars but his grip tightened on hers.
“For what it is worth, you are proving to be a natural Mphronatch.” He released her hand before a weak chuckle broke through his mouth. “Not that there was any question. You were clearly made to be his Mphronatch.”
She bit inside her cheeks to keep her lips from betraying how much that hit her deep in the chest. Xnasis inhaled deeply through his nose before turning to face her. Aphrodite smiled, hugging her torso. “Thanks, but I have no idea what I'm doing.”
“Neither did my mate, and yet, there’s something so natural about how she took on being my Mphrovic.” He offered her a gentle shrug. “And Quagmor’s mate; they are a being of unending patience, perfect for aiding with giddy younglings who enjoy climbing people just as much as they do walls.”
Aphrodite stepped back, allowing him inside the suite. Xnasis bowed his head and headed for one of the many rooms within. The confession fell out of Aphrodite’s mouth without permission. “Reevar just found his.”
Xnasis wheeled to her, a bemused look reflected in his obsidian eyes. Aphrodite let out a nervous laugh as she shrugged. “My old friend, Vivian, she’s a healer in the medical bay. She’s the one who stitched him up.”
“Good, then she’s already good at it.” Xnasis shook his head with an entertained chuckle, “Reevar is always getting stabbed.”
Fate is deadly accurate.
She watched her brother-in-law disappear into a room before she headed for her mate.
Rousing him was hard, as he was deep in his sleep.
However, as he sleepily climbed to his feet, she led him to a different room.
A simple bed and dresser room with nothing else special.
Xexis didn’t even change, merely dropping into the bed and descending back to sleep.
Aphrodite took the time to undress and set her data pad aside.
Good night, Aphrodite Kerso.
Buddy’s text was a softer green on the text screen.
She smiled up at the drone and gave his round head an affectionate pat. “Good night, Buddy.”
Do not worry, Crown Prince Xnasis is also free of pest. As is Reevar and Vivian. I haven’t yet scanned Quagmor, but I shall when he returns. We will find their nest and destroy them.