Chapter 42
Cyra openedthe door to Dez’s recovery room and dropped her bag in the only chair. In the few hours since she’d last been in his room, he’d gotten noticeably worse. His skin was peeling. Angry red wounds that should have been healing were opening up. His eyes were closed, and he’d made no acknowledgment that she had entered the room. He had never been unaware of her before. Something was terribly wrong. She softly walked to his bed and took his hand gently in hers. “Dez?”
He took a rasping deep breath. “What are you doing here?”
“What I should have done before. I can’t leave you here alone.”
“Why?”
“You know why. You knew long before I did. We’re supposed to be together.”
“It doesn’t matter. If you don’t want me, it will end the same way some time in the future. I would rather just have it end now.”
“Are you dying?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Of course it matters. Why aren’t the doctors fixing you? They should be here. Giving you medicine and doing things. I thought you were healing.”
“I was healing from the bomb blast. I’m dying because of mate sickness.”
Veda’s words came back to Cyra, but she had to hear it from him. “I’m making you sick?”
“Once a Din’Gale male finds his mate, he needs to bond with her permanently or he must be in her presence constantly. It was fine while we were on the ship, in reasonable proximity.”
“Why didn’t you tell me.” She grazed her fingers across his furrowed brow, seeing his pain and hating that she was the cause.
“Every time we talked about it, you insisted that we were temporary and you would be leaving me here. I did what I could to convince you that we should be together, but ultimately, it’s your decision.”
“Veda was right. I’m an insane idiot. I didn’t believe you would die. I didn’t realize that I love you.” She grazed her fingers down his sunken cheek.
“You love me?”
“Yes. I hurt so much, knowing I was never going to see you again. I couldn’t channel any emotion to leave. I’m not supposed to go without you. I believe that, the crew believes it, and it seems even the ship knows better than me.”
“You came for me because you couldn’t take off?”
“No, I came for you because I love you. I couldn’t take off because I was trying to leave the best thing that has ever happened to me. I’m sorry, Dez. I’m so sorry.” She clutched his hand where it lay on the hospital bed. She wasn’t looking at him, but she was sure he knew she was crying anyway. She hated crying, especially if someone was watching, but she couldn’t help it.
“What do you want to do?” He asked her.
“I already did it. I transferred ownership of The Treasure to the crew. And you. They have to make deposits to your account here so that we have warm clothes and good food.”
“We?”
“I’m staying. I’m your mate. You can’t live without me, and I don’t want to live without you.”
He turned his hand and gripped her tighter. “You can’t give up The Treasure. It’s your dream, your future, your freedom. My captain?—”
“Your queen.”
“That too, but you can’t. There’s no way you can live on Kolben. They don’t have water tanks. Your beautiful skin will suffer. And it’s dangerous. I might not survive very long here. You’ve seen the statistics.”
“My parents were very traditional. They clung to the NOAH traditions that were carried from Earth. Things like being wed to one person forever until death do you part. And I rejected them and all they wanted for me. But the teachings, the beliefs, don’t disappear so easily. I don’t care how long we have Dez. I’m here with you. Until death do we part.” Cyra bent and pressed her lips to his. Warmth, peace, the sense of being home flowed through her. Sadness and regret no longer swamped her. He was her future and her dream for as long as it lasted.
“I love you, Cyra. I don’t want this for you.”
“I do. I want this because it’s you, Dez. I don’t want a life that doesn’t have you in it. Even if from the outside it looks like the worst possible situation, it will be my heaven. I don’t care what anyone else thinks. We belong together because you are my treasure not the ship.”
“My beautiful mate.” Dez sighed and closed his eyes.
She lay her head next to his on the pillow, bent over his bed. She wouldn’t leave the room. Not until he did. And then they would figure out what came next. His breathing deepened. She matched her breaths to his and settled into the rightness of being exactly where she was meant to be.
“Mr. Cuocua?”
Cyra jerked awake. Her back screamed at her. Two medics had entered the room, one with the rolling cart of scissors, bandages, gloves, and other supplies.
“We’re here to change your bandage.”
“I’m not leaving,” Cyra said before Dez could kick her out.
“Yes, my queen.”
“You’re looking better,” the medic with the comm screen commented, tapping away.
Cyra frowned and inspected Dez’s skin. Not so ashy. His wounds were scabbed over. Even his eyes were brighter. “You’re healing.”
He tilted his head in acknowledgment. “For you.”
Their life would be hard, she had no illusions, but she didn’t want him to feel bad about it. “How long will he have to stay here?”
“You are?”
“His mate.” Cyra puffed up her chest, proud to be mated to such an honorable male.
“So he is mated.” The medic tapped faster on the comm screen. “I’ll to have to talk to the director.” She rushed from the room. The other tech remained, cleaning the raw stump of his arm before bandaging it again. The loss of her ship was nothing compared to his sacrifice to save it and more importantly the crew. He was a true hero.
Veda burst through the door. “You can’t do this.”
“What are you doing here?” Cyra blocked Veda’s view of Dez’s injuries even though Veda was her friend, a doctor, and had already seen his wounds. The instinct to protect him was too compelling to ignore.
“Do you know what she did?” Veda moved around Cyra to the end of Dez’s bed, pushing the medic and her tray out of the way. “She gave up The Treasure. Transferred ownership. Well guess what, we took a vote and we aren’t leaving without both of you.”
“Veda, that’s ridiculous.”
“Excuse me.” A stern man with dark-rimmed glasses and a shock of white hair came in the crowded room. “What is going on here?”
“Director.” The medic shifted her cart. “I was just leaving. This woman…” The medic pointed at Veda. “…burst in uninvited.”
“Everyone out.” The director swung his arm out toward the door, nearly smacking Veda.
She ducked and left. The medic followed. Cyra tried to tug her hand free, but Dez didn’t release her.
“She stays,” Dez told the director.
“So it’s true.” The older man’s eyes narrowed and his frown didn’t bode well for them. “Lying on the contact form has some serious consequences.”
“I didn’t lie. I discovered Captain Maejzur was my mate while traveling here.”
“Well, you’re useless to us now.”
“I’ll stay.” Cyra wasn’t sure what the consequences were that the director threatened, but Dez didn’t deserve them.
“We don’t have any facilities for married couples. As it is, the few Din’Gale and other tropical-planet workers have to share tight quarters within the entrance to the mine. It’s the only place we can keep them warm enough overnight to be able to work.”
Cyra glanced at Dez, hoping for reassurance or a solution.
“You were injured during the bombing,” the director stated.
“Yes,” Dez replied.
Cyra held her breath.
“Lost your hand.”
Dez nodded.
“Prosthetics are expensive, and in these conditions, have limited viability. Meaning we have to replace them every few months. You’re going to be far more trouble than you’re worth.”
Cyra gasped. How dare he? Dez squeezed her hand, and she clenched her jaw, settling for a good glare.
“The bomber was caught?”
Cyra refrained from rolling her eyes. The man was the damn director. He already knew the answer.
The director pressed his lips together, the tip of his tongue running in a line along the seam. His gaze traveled over Dez and then to Cyra. She scowled at him.
“Captain,” the director addressed her. “Do you have medical facilities on board sufficient to care for this man?”
“Ye…Yes.” What was he getting at?
“If we reject his contract, will you provide transport for him off Kolben and see to his medical needs?”
The man was running equations. Profit and loss. Dez was no longer a profit with his ongoing medical expenses and the need to house Cyra with him if he wanted Dez to live. And the man had the bomber instead. Ardkin. He would take Dez’s place. Had probably already been tried by the local court and sentenced to a life of servitude.
“My captain?” Dez sounded nervous.
Shit she’d been silent too long. “Of course, we’ll provide transport and medical care.”
The director tapped his screen several times. “I’ve terminated his contract and authorized his transfer to your ship effective immediately.”
Before she could ask about the prosthetic or even respond, the man left. What the fuck had just happened? She faced Dez and joy burst through her veins. “You’re free.”
“No.” Dez shook his head. “I’m yours, my queen.”
She pressed her lips to his. It was true, he was hers, but she was just as much his. Dez threaded his fingers through her hair, holding her to him. The kiss went on forever but was cut short when he gave a subtle tug. She lifted her head enough to meet his hot, golden gaze. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Dez. Always.”
“Aww. That’s so sweet.”
Cyra jerked up, ignoring the slight sting of her scalp as she freed herself from Dez’s grip. Her crew stood in a semi-circle around the end of Dez’s bed. Rhysa fluttered her pink eyes and wore a sappy grin totally fine with having interrupted the best kiss of Cyra’s life.
“Is it true? Are they letting you go? You’ll come back with us right? I mean, I don’t know exactly where back is. We have that load of ore to deliver to Morgual, but we really need to take a wormhole this time. I was telling Rhysa, with the extra weight, we might be cutting it too close, but I know the captain hates ER Bridges, so maybe we risk it. I don’t even know what I’m talking about. I’m just so happy you don’t have to stay here, Dez. Except you lost your hand, and that sucks, but I know a guy who had a similar injury and his prosthetic is totally integrated with skin sensation and everything. So once we make our fortune, we should be able to pitch in together to buy you the very best. In fact, we all agreed, since we all are owners now, that we shouldn’t count profit until everyone on the team is taken care of, like the basic needs, and then we can divvy up any extra. And a hand is a pretty basic need—” Blaize paused to suck in a breath.
Veda put a hand on Blaize’s shoulder. “We’re so glad you’re okay. I’ll find out how soon we can get you released. You can stay in the med lab for as long as needed until you’re healed. And we have plenty of supplies thanks to your family.”
“Thank you, Veda.” Dez’s deep voice resonated through Cyra. Her partners were as happy to have Dez back as she was or at least close to it. No one could be happier than her.
Bodi’s wings fluttered. “I’m thrilled for you both. Now let’s get the fuck off this ice hole of a planet.”