Page 70 of Sy

Steady. Almost there.

The rain was finally easing as they reached the garrison’s entrance, though water still dripped from his hair and clothes.They were barely through the door when Kraath’s imposing figure blocked their path, his expression hard. “Report. Are the Purists neutralized?”

Sy froze, Ashley’s limp form in his arms. Before he could respond, M’aac, one of the warriors who had fought at his side on the construction site, stepped in front of him.

“Commander.” M’aac inclined his head. “I’ll provide a full briefing on the invader situation.” He gestured toward a side corridor, already launching into a detailed account of the battle.

Sy nodded his thanks to the warrior and carried Ashley to the main hall, now transformed into a medical ward with cots lined up in neat rows. He laid her down with infinite care, his hands lingering on her shoulders. The side of her face was caked with dried blood, mixing with the rain water that had soaked them both. His chest tightened at the sight.

She’s safe now. Let Zeke work.

Zeke moved with practiced efficiency, his hands gentle but sure as he examined Ashley’s injuries. The minutes stretched like hours as Sy watched, unable to do anything but stand guard.

She’s strong,his legion soothed.Your mate will survive this.

His hands clenched into fists at his sides, every gentle probe of Zeke’s examination feeling like an eternity.

Breathe,his legion commanded softly.Your fear serves no purpose here. Trust in her strength.

“Head wound, but not as severe as it looks,” Zeke finally said, cleaning the blood from Ashley’s face. “Likely concussion, some burns, but nothing life-threatening. She’ll?—”

The hall’s entrance filled with another arrival, cutting off Zeke’s words. Tor burst through, carrying Lila. Like her mother, she was unconscious. The sight of her pale face sent a fresh wave of fear through Sy’s heart—not just for his mate now but for her offspring.His new daughter.

Tor laid Lila carefully on the cot beside Ashley, his movements gentle despite his size as Kal hovered anxiously on the other side. Sy found himself caught between them, one hand reaching for each of them instinctively. The gesture felt natural, protective—a father watching over his family.

She carries a legion now,his own legion observed as Lila’s eyes flickered open briefly. The dull red of her irises confirmed what his legion had sensed.Like you. Like the two younglings.

“What happened?”

“She was perfect,” Kal said quietly. “Took control of the weapon, destroyed them all. Then just… collapsed.”

Sy’s throat tightened as he watched Lila turn her head slightly, her dull red eyes finding Ashley beside her. A faint smile curved the girl’s lips before she closed her eyes again.

Zeke moved between the cots, his examination of Lila as thorough as it had been with Ashley. Tor and Kal stood nearby, their presence a silent support as Sy kept his vigil between mother and daughter.

The defense guns had fallen quiet now, the worst of the orbital platform’s debris dealt with, leaving only the soft sounds of breathing and medical equipment in the hall.

He sank to his knees between the cots, his hands finding Ashley’s and Lila’s. He began to pray, calling on every god and goddess he knew, every power that might listen. His legion’s presence wrapped around him like a warm blanket, its voice joining his silent litany.

They will recover,it assured him.Your family is here. They are safe.

22

The steady beeping cut through the cotton-wool fog in Ashley’s mind first, mechanical and rhythmic. Pain followed—a deep, throbbing ache that pulsed through every inch of her body. Her right side felt like one massive bruise, each shallow breath sending sharp twinges through her ribs.

She tried to shift and immediately regretted it. Lightning bolts of pain shot from her hip to her shoulder, drawing a soft hiss through her clenched teeth. Memory flickered—the thunderous roar of the explosion, searing heat, being thrown through the air like a rag doll. She pushed the images away, focusing instead on prying her heavy eyelids open.

The familiar contours of her quarters slowly materialized, softened by dim light. Medical monitors cast a pale glow across the room, displays showing a constellation of steady lights and rolling data streams. She frowned. Her mouth felt stuffed with cotton, her lips cracked and dry.

She turned her head.

Sy was slumped in a chair to her right, pulled close to her bed. His usual rigid posture had abandoned him in sleep, hishead tilted at an angle guaranteed to leave his neck screaming when he woke. Even unconscious, worry shadowed his features—brows slightly furrowed, jaw tight. His hand rested on the bed near hers, as though he’d fallen asleep reaching for her. Something warm unfurled in her chest at the sight of him there, keeping watch even in sleep, despite the pain.

Another memory fragment tried to surface—Sy’s voice calling her name, desperation raw in it—but she shoved that away too. Not yet. She couldn’t handle those memories yet.

She inched her hand nearer, folding her fingers around his.

“Good to see you awake.” Zeke’s quiet voice drew her attention left. He stood checking the medical readouts, his movements precise and controlled. When he turned, his professional smile held genuine warmth. “How’s the pain? Scale of one to ten?”

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