Page 48 of Heart's Keeper

When the light was nothing more than an orange haze over the horizon, the door at the end opened, and the vrisha surgeon from before approached.

Lana didn't even rise from her seat as she followed him with her gaze and watched him stop before her. She looked up into his face and saw the glint in his eyes as he bowed his head.

"It is done."

***

They spent seven days at Mavika's haven so that Xerus could rest and so that they could monitor his condition. He was in too much of a daze in the beginning to say much, and he was asleep more than he was awake in those first few days. But after a time, his mind began to clear, and he became more coherent. They asked him questions to gauge how severely his mind might have been affected and were so far satisfied that he had suffered no major injuries in response to his treatment. When Lana had gone back to him after the surgery and had sat by him, he had stared at her for a long while, and she feared he didn't recognize her. It was only when he reached for her and took her hand that she realized he knew who she was.

She never left his side after that. She brought him food on the days he felt good enough to eat and washed his scales and horns until they shined. He complained little about being pampered by her and mentioned more than once how he wouldn't be so upset if she bathed him and fed him back home as well.

"Don't push your luck," Lana said one day as she filed his nails while they watched the sun pass by from the balcony of their guest room. Still, she couldn't help smiling. "But maybe on those days when I'm feeling generous."

"A queen's generosity makes her well-liked," Xerus said as he reclined in his seat, watching her carefully, his tail skimming across her back.

"Yes, but those who expect too much of her will take advantage," Lana said, fixing him with a critical gaze.

Xerus grunted, meeting her eyes with a sly, amused sort of expression. "I would never think to take advantage of your kindness, kissala."

"I should hope not."

"But it is well appreciated. I shall hunt down agrisand bring it back in your honor as a token of my gratitude."

"You will do no such thing!" Lana snapped, thinking of that awful poisonous, tentacled beast and the many vrisha who'd died trying to hunt it. "If you wish to honor me, you will not put your life in danger ever again."

"Ah, that, I can't guarantee."

"Xerus."

Xerus smiled down at her with a sorry sort of expression. "Only for you would I ever. Though it will be difficult on our future missions to keep from such a risk."

Lana went quiet, her gaze falling. She didn't respond at first as she focused on the sharp nail of his thumb. After a moment, she said, "I was thinking that maybe...maybe we could stop now."

"Stop what?" Xerus asked.

"Missions." She glanced up at him, then quickly looked away. "At least take a very, very long break."

"You wish to retire?"

"No....and yes," she said. She paused in her filing and looked back at him. "I'm not saying we have to quit entirely but...honestly, I'm tired, Xerus. And I want to focus on home now. Just home."

Xerus studied her, and Lana could see he was thinking it over.

"I know we can't stop entirely as it's a vrisha's duty, but I want to remain here for a while. And focus on our haven and our family.” Lana went still as the words spilled out. "I mean...in our own way," she said nervously. "If I could have forever, I would, but if we must take more missions, I don't want them to involve risking any more than we already have. You've done so much, Xerus, for this world. And you've had to deal with the aftereffects. I don't want you to have to deal with more. Do you understand?"

Xerus stared at her for a long moment, then gestured for her to stand beside him. Lana rose from her seat and allowed Xerus to take hold of her arms.

"I understand," he said and smiled. "If it is what you desire...then it shall be so."

"You really mean that?"

"I do," he said. "And perhaps it's time we worked solely on what we have here."

"I'd really like that," Lana breathed. She lifted a hand and brushed her fingers along his jaw. "Just you and me."

Xerus smiled, showing off his fangs. "I remember when you were just a frightened but ambitious woman, determined to get through to me, an unmoving warrior. You are truly beyond anything I could have imagined, my Lana."

Lana grinned, then brought her face down to brush her mouth against his. "I am full of surprises." She straightened. "Just to keep you guessing."

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