Chapter Thirty-One
Xexis
Xexis stood outside the medical bay as Vivian and Aphrodite shared information and hugged. Reevar was at his side, winded and ashamed.
“I apologize for the fear, Kannatch,” he wheezed, all hands to his sides.
“No need to apologize, wounds are a part of the hunt.” Xexis placed a loving hand on his friend’s shoulder.
“I am still unsure what happened, Kannatch,” Reevar shook his head. “I have been stabbed before, but the Max had no weapons. He punched me with his fingers like they were claws and they broke my flesh.”
Xexis cocked his head, eyeballing his friend. The two shared an equally horrified expression. Reevar’s face paled, his pincers writhing against his mouth. Xexis exhaled, “Aphrodite told me that the Max, when he was alive, did not own that kind of strength.”
Reevar shuddered violently. “I shall have to speak with Grooug about the Brexzkit and their strength. He’s the only one to have ever fought one.”
Xexis nodded. “Wise idea.”
The pair shared a head nod and slap at each other’s biceps. The first thing Xexis brought Reevar up to speed on was the enemy. They needed to be focused.
When the pack was together, they would need to discuss everything that transpired.
Poor Kiefgr would be distraught to hear Reevar had been attacked and his precious Mphronatch was hurting.
His mate was in pain. He saw it not only in her face, but the slope of her shoulders.
Aphrodite stood softer, eyes wider, lips spread and quivering when she was fighting to control her emotions.
His mate did that often. When she was overwhelmed, she would tense up and reprogram her face and outward appearance.
Like applying a shield to her as if she were a drone she could control.
It was amazing and horrifying at the same time to witness.
Because she could go from gushing with feelings to cold as space.
Suddenly, the pair heard a small ‘No, wait, no!’ from behind them.
The pair twisted to stare into the frosted glass office of Vivian’s office.
She tossed herself into Aphrodite’s arm and the pair cried quietly.
Reevar lurched but Xexis held him back. He shook his head, sighing heavily, “Their station was crashed into Orvian.”
“What?” Reevar paled to a pastel mint, his mouth dropping open. “How?”
“The Brexzkit infected more humans. It looks intentional.” Xexis sank back against the glass, closing his heavy eyes. The weight of their discovery was enough to drown him. His thoughts swirled in the whirlpool of his mind.
There were too many things to think at once and it hurt.
It hurt that his mate was mourning her people.
It hurt that his friend was mortally wounded, barely stitched back together.
It hurt that his brother had believed him sloppy and incapable.
It hurt to know that their enemy plotted further harm to his loved ones while they scrambled to figure out their plans.
They needed more advantage, and he feared there were none.
“My Kannatch…what can I do?” Reevar breathed.
“We return home, and we plan a new, grand hunt.” Xexis ground out the words out between sharp teeth.
Glancing up to Reevar, he saw the spark of angry determination fueling the fires inside him.
His friend slapped a fist to his chest and bowed swiftly to Xexis.
The Kannatch clapped a hand over his shoulder.
“I need you and the pack to do something special for me as well.”
“Anything.” Reevar mimicked Xexis’ touch, the pair placing their foreheads together.
“I fear I may have to be away from my mate for a lengthy amount of time while I am undoing this chaos. I want you and the pack to promise to keep her close, use Rexna if you must, but…she must stay safe.”
Reevar cocked his head slightly. “Do you fear anyone at court will mean her harm?”
“I do not know, but I would rather not find out.”
“Understood.” Reevar cupped Xexis’ shoulders and they shared a moment of silence before they pulled away and went to separate their weeping mates. There was a hunt awaiting them and it was going to hurt.