Page 41 of Right on Time

He managed a smile. “Your presence is… everything…. I do not… deserve it.”

“What are you talking about? You’re my hero!”

“I exposed you to danger… Failed to protect you.” Nitiel closed his eyes on a pained sigh. “My leg never healed… completely. It acts up… Now it took a hit… I am not fit for active duty, Loe... Have not been for… some time…. Commander Siriniel is helping me… retire with… dignity.”

Chloe gasped. “Your appointment as his representative on Earth? Is that why you want the job?”

“The Army is all I know… My parents died when I was… a baby. The Army… took me in.”

Chloe bit her bottom lip. She wasn’t sure it was a good idea for him to exert himself by talking, but if that could distract him from the pain… “So, you got Spartan training?” she prompted.

“Terra’s Spartan… training was… cruel. My trainers… were kind. They did not care for… my lack of… clan. They cared for… effort. I gave the… training… my all. I made it… higher in… rank than any… clan-less Gaenthian. But now… when it matters… most… I failed.”

“No, Nitiel, you didn’t!” She wanted to kiss him so badly to bring his smile back, to show him how much she appreciated all the times he had saved her in the past days. But that would have to wait until after her hands on his chest weren’t the only thing keeping the blood in his body. “You were amazing, and all this talk about clans and ranks and being fit for duty – I don’t care about those things. I care about you, Nitiel.”

“Niela… ” he said on a whisper. That single word was full of so much longing. “I wish… you… were… mine…”

His head lolled to the side.

“Nitiel? Nitiel!”

His eyes did not open. His chest rose and fell, thank God, but he had lost consciousness. He was slipping away!

Just when Chloe was on the verge of full panic, help arrived. Vrixiel and three unknown Gaenthians flew to the rescue, two of them carrying a black metal box each. One turned out to be full of medical equipment, including some type of bandage that they placed on Nitiel’s wound. The other box was full of the familiar blue jelly that expanded into a stretcher upon the box’s opening. Vrixiel pulled Chloe to the side so that the others could put Nitiel on the stretcher.

“Is he going to make it?” she asked, voice shaking. She knew she had to stay positive, but now that she felt as though her heart was being torn, being positive was beyond her. She was used to seeing Nitiel full of so much energy and strength, not carried on a stretcher.

“It is not a serious wound, Lady Hloe,” Vrixiel assured her. “Just blood loss. Subcommander Nitiel will recover in a day or two.” He offered her his forearm. “Let me escort you to your cabin.”

“Like hell!” Chloe took a step back. “Not a serious wound, my ass! Khal Drogo said the same, and look what happened to him at the end of Season 1!”

“Drogo, my lady? Who–”

“Never mind. I’m not leaving Nitiel’s side, period. The only place you’ll escort me to is wherever he is being taken.”

“That would be the medical bay, but… of course.”

Chloe was taken by surprise. She had expected more arguing against her decision. “Um, okay. Thank you.”

Vrixiel bowed his head, then he picked her up so they could fly after the medical team carrying Nitiel. If she weren’t so worried about her man, she would feel pretty awkward being carried by Vrixiel like some bride on her wedding day. At the same time, being carried that way by Nitiel had felt natural.

What if she was never carried by Nitiel again? What if Vrixiel had lied to her, and Nitiel was badly injured? That would certainly explain why the soldier was giving her guilty looks. The thought of losing Nitiel made all the air rush out of her lungs. Her head spun.

Somehow, in the two days she had spent with the Sumcommander, Chloe had begun to care for him. Deeply.

CHAPTER 20

Drooling over You

Nitiel woke up feeling disoriented. What had happened? He remembered talking to Loe, and then… Had he lost consciousness, leaving her unprotected? He had lost the ability to stand, let alone fight, but he could have put his body and wings between her and danger. Anything to keep his precious female from harm.

A look around revealed he was no longer in the Arboretum. Above him was a high silver-gray ceiling with soft lights. To his right were rows of beds, currently empty and thus not enclosed in a privacy bubble. His own bed was levitating by the wall, marking the end of the spacious room.

Though Nitiel was well familiar with the medical bay, there was something new that he had never had on the many visits here during his previous recovery. Someone new.

Loe was sitting in a levitating seat by his bed, her head resting on the edge by his forearm as she snored softly.

A relieved smile tugged at Nitiel’s mouth. Despite his failure – yet another on an ever-growing list these days – Loe was alright, and she had stayed by his side. His naked chest was bandaged, and they must have done something to numb the pain in his hip, so there was no reason for her to be here. Yet, here she was, her soft hair spilled over his hand in her sleep. A sensation he was growing addicted to.

---