Page 18 of His Reluctant Mate

MELINDA

Melinda realized she must have passed out. She came to propped up on a cot. Her side where she’d been wounded by a stray bullet hurt.

“You’re going to be fine, Melinda. You scared the shit out of me when you went for the general. Don’t do that again. Kallik was able to stop the blood, but you lost a lot.”

She grinned. “What was I supposed to do? Let him kill the man I’ve grown to love?”

“You’re supposed to do what I tell you… wait, did you just tell me you loved me?”

“Yeah, I did. And for the record, I will not be doing what you tell me. I’m rather reluctant to do that. Any chance I’m going to hear you tell me you love me, too?”

He grinned. “You’re a bright girl. You know we’re fated mates. Besides, the bonding link should be kicking in, so you should be able to feel what I feel.”

“All of that is true, but still, a girl likes to hear that her mate loves her.”

Joe smoothed back her hair, kissing her forehead. “For as long as the aurora borealis dances across the skies, I have loved you, and I always will. Now, shut up and save your strength.”

“Always with the orders,” she quipped.

She perked up, trying to identify what her heightened sense of hearing told her was out there. It sounded distinctly like the choppers and paramedics were closing in on their location.

“On the way,” said Joe, “Kallik bound the wound and while you were out, I initiated the change.”

“You bit me?” she asked incredulously.

He grinned. “No, sweetheart. You lost a lot of blood. Kallik just transferred some of mine into you. I figured it couldn’t hurt and might actually help. Besides, you’re going to need to take it easy for at least the next week or two, so I figured the timing wasn’t too bad.”

Melinda nodded weakly, her vision blurring. She focused on Joe’s voice, the calm confidence and determination in it giving her strength.

Kallik moved beside her, his hands were steady, his grip firm. "You’re strong, Melinda. Just a little longer. Help is on the way."

She could hear the distant sound of rotors, the approach of their escape. The pain was intense, but she held onto the sound, letting it anchor her to the present. Joe’s hand found hers, squeezing it tightly.

"We’re getting out of here," he promised, his voice choked with emotion. "Just hold on a little longer."

The room spun around her, but she held onto Joe’s words, his presence. The fight wasn’t over yet, and she wasn’t ready to give up. As the sound of the evac grew louder, Melinda felt a flicker of hope. They had made it this far together, and she knew they would see it through to the end.

“You will be fine,” said Kallik. “The two of you have each other now, and what you uncovered will keep the world in balance.”

The sound and tone of his voice was soothing, but somehow strange. The old man stood and headed for the exit, laying his hand on Amy’s sleeping brow. “Forget,” he whispered.

Melinda propped herself up on her elbows as Joe rose to follow him.

“Where are you going?” Joe asked.

“My time with you is done. It is time for me to go,” he said, pointing to the wilderness.

“Wait, I don’t understand,” said Melinda.

Melinda lay on the cot, the pain in her side throbbing with every beat of her heart. Kallik’s hands were steady on her wound, but she could feel herself growing weaker.

“You’ll be fine,” said Kallik. “Try and keep some pressure on the wound.”

He stood up and Joe followed him. Kallik’s face a mask of concern and determination.

Kallik looked up, his eyes meeting Joe’s. “I need to go,” he said, his voice calm but resolute. He continued to move toward the door.

“Wait,” Melinda croaked, her voice barely more than a whisper. “Where are you going? Why?”

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