Chapter 42
I hate leaving Zorin’s house behind when it is so lovely. But he assures me the rooms on Viriden’s ship are nicer. Emarza’s mate and Onidus help pack up everything on Zorin’s property in a matter of minutes. When the Lunas begin stalking up the hillside, we leave the rest.
Azrim flies us into space alongside Onidus. No one speaks. We just sit and watch the stars go by. Rhysan sleeps on my chest. Zorin takes the seat beside me and rests an arm over my shoulders. Radar lies at our feet. And once we’re in orbit, Azrim eases a hand back and settles it on my knee.
I lean my head against the backrest, planning to just close my eyes for a moment and awaken to a bright white hangar, and Azrim shutting off the engines.
“Esrynne and Rorsar?” I ask them.
“Good idea.” Zorin helps me up.
When Azrim stands and looks at Rhysan, I motion for him to take over.
Azrim eagerly obliges. “It is not something we usually request. If the female wants to hold the pup, we let her.”
“You hold him as long as you want.” I could use a break. My arms are tired after the battle and clinging to Zorin as we evaded the rogue Neb.
Azrim cradles his son with love shining in his gold eyes and then nuzzles him with affection. I think giving them some time alone will help them both heal.
Zorin notices too and silently motions me after him. He takes my hand and leads me through Viriden’s ship to the infirmary.
“Not your first time on Isonian ships?” I ask him.
“No.” Zorin scans the room and finds Carnas. We walk toward his location in the corner, passing fifty other filled beds. The devastation to the Isonians is heart-wrenching. But several soldiers salute Zorin as he passes.
He gives them comforting words and a touch on their shoulder. I’m not in a position to transfer feelings between them, yet I still sense that Zorin and the Isonians share mutual respect and willingness to endure pain to build a better future.
Carnas is holding Esrynne’s hand when we arrive. His eyes are red, and it doesn’t look like he’s moved in hours.
When Zorin asks about her, Carnas shakes his head. “I don’t know. They don’t even know.”
I ease myself around Zorin to Esrynne’s side and gently rest a hand to her bare shoulder. Bandages wrap around her core, and her pale face is concerning. There isn’t much emotion I can pull from her in her unconscious state, but a sense of defeat fills me, mixed with hopelessness.
Lifting my hand to Carnas, I break my contact with her so I can just feel him. He looks up at me with doubt but takes my hand. The moment he does, I know his concern and care for her will help.
I take her other hand and close my eyes, emptying my mind of thought. Carnas’ emotion flows like a river through me, more powerful and urgent than I expect.
Esrynne chokes in a breath. Her eyes crack open. She rolls her head, sees me and smiles weakly. Then she looks to her other side, sees Carnas and swears.
He brushes the hair from her face and then wipes the tears from his eyes.
“Were you crying over me?” she airily asks.
He sweeps the backs of his fingers over her jaw. “So? Bite me.”
She scowls at him in mock disgust.
“Please?” he asks.
Esrynne closes her eyes, sniffs the air, and opens them, exposing predatory slits. “Let me get the fuck out of here first.”
I covertly draw the claw blade from my boot and slip it in to her hand.
Esrynne looks over at it and smiles when she notices the blood. “You used it.”
“To help save Zorin.”
The admiration on her face makes me feel like I might just fit in with their pack someday. “Proud of you.”
“Get some rest.” I slip away from her to check on Rorsar, who is two beds down from hers, while Zorin turns to answer a call on his earcom.
Rorsar is conscious now and has an illuminated device over the injury on his head. I take his hand, curious where he’s at in his headspace.
He gives it a squeeze and lets go to scratch a bandage. “I’m fine, except for these horrid things.”
Zorin chuckles as he passes us. “Bandages?”
“Ugh.” Rorsar wrinkles his nose.
I frown at him until I see the way he looks up at his Isonian nurse.
“I prefer boosters instead,” he says like he’s drunk.
His nurse, a radiant woman with white-gold hair, draws an injector from her pocket, flicks off the cap, and jabs it into his neck. Rorsar sucks air in through his teeth and hums a note of lust. “That’s it.”
Rorsar is definitely in love.
She checks his eyes with a pen light and lingers over him as they quietly talk.
I hope my bond with Zorin will make it easier for Isonians and Shifters to find a way to be together. They have the technology to make it possible. And I think now, Viriden sees how strong we can be when we work together.
And working together might lead to other things.
I hope Rorsar finds peace with her.
Zorin releases his earcom and meets me in the middle of the floor. “Azrim went to our quarters to shower. Are you ready for a day off?”
“Hell yes.”
Zorin leads me through the hallways to a wing of residences. He stops outside a door, and it opens for him. “Biometrics everywhere.”
Inside, I find a gold-trimmed fireplace, a white open-air kitchen with a long island, and two large sofas around a holoscreen along with a view of the stars.
Radar is already curled up on a sofa. Sounds of water spray echo through a cracked doorway down the hall.
I can hear Rhysan’s yips through the opening.
Zorin picks me up, sits down on a sofa and nestles me into his lap. “All I want to do right now is sleep.”
“In Shifter form?” I ask.
He smiles, shifts, and stretches out on the sofa.
I lie down with him, curl myself into his soft fur and stroke his coat. After all the fighting, I know I’m going to have a rough night’s sleep. “Do Shifters dream when they sleep?”
He makes a mouthy noise I interpret as a yes.
“What do you dream about?”
“You. Stars. Rhysan. Love.” He pants a few times. “This.”
I hook a leg over his side and nuzzle into his neck. “I always wished my life could be better. I definitely never dreamed of Shifters and space battles and a pack. But there’s nothing else I want more than to stay right here with you forever.”