Page 17 of Alien Engineer's Mate

"But I can understand you perfectly," she frowned, watching as he prepared the patches. “Why do I need this… matrix?”

"That's due to my healer’s matrix." He tapped his temple with one finger. “It’s a more comprehensive version required for my position. Your matrix will allow you to understand all species aboard the station who use Imperial Standard or related languages. May I?”

She nodded and tilted her head so he could put the patches on. He was so gentle, she barely felt him touch her, biting her lip as she felt them dissolve with a faint tingle. By the time she put her hand up to her neck, they were gone. No trace of their presence left.

“The matrix can take between 6 and 12 hours to settle into place, but after that, you should be able to understand Latharian and most of the galactic common languages,” he told her.

She nodded, then her thoughts turned to Kyle. "What about medical care for my children?” she asked worriedly. “Kyle especially. He needs regular monitoring and all the paperwork on the mate program said that medical care for dependants was covered.”

Sheneededit to be covered.

“Hold on, I’ll just check.” He typed something else into his console and a new file showed on screen. It was in an alien language, so she couldn’t tell what it said. "Ah, yes. I see here that appointments have already been scheduled for all your children with Healer V'Raav following this intake.” S’aad smiled as he turned back to her.

“You’re in luck. V’Raav is one of the empire's most accomplished healers, particularly in pediatric care." He paused, and then something like pride entered his voice. "Healer V'Raav has declined multiple positions at the imperial palace to continue his work here on Devan Station."

A small knot of tension loosened in her chest. "He specializes in children?"

"Indeed. The health and well-being of all children, both human and Latharian, are sacred to us. And V’Raav believes his skills are better utilized helping children than attending to warriors who, in his words, 'behave with less maturity than the offspring they hope to have one day.’” S'aad's professional maskslipped just enough to show genuine conviction. "Your offspring will receive the finest care available in the empire."

He made a final notation on his display before turning back to her. "The intake portion is complete. Sarah will escort you and your children to the medical bay…” He pressed a small communication device on his wrist. "Sarah? Lady Coleman is ready for escort to the healer's bay."

A young woman in an LMP uniform appeared in the doorway moments later. "Ready to collect your children, Lady Coleman? The healer's bay is just a short walk from here."

Back in the nursery, Kyle proudly showed off his spiral of glowing blocks while Grace chattered about her new friend with the red dragon toy. Leo descended from the teen area, gathering their things with practiced efficiency.

“Where are we going now?" Kyle asked, his small face serious.

“We’re going to see a doctor, sweetheart." She smoothed his hair. "Remember how we talked about the special doctors here who might be able to help you feel better? We're going to meet one of them now."

"Will it hurt?" Grace pressed closer to Leo's side.

"Healer V'Raav is very gentle with children," Sarah assured them as she guided them toward the door. "And he has all sorts of interesting things in his office to look at while he works. Would you like to hear about the little fish that swim in the lights on his walls?"

“Fish in lights?”

“Yes, they’re so pretty…”

Eira tuned the conversation out as they followed Sarah toward the medical bay. One step at a time, she reminded herself. Get the children's health sorted first. Everything else—including whatever warrior they might match her with—could wait.

6

Maax strode toward the nursery, his long legs eating up the distance as he checked the time again. He was running late, and Emily would be waiting. The thought of his daughter sitting alone, wondering where he was, made his chest tighten. She'd already been through so much in her young life that the last thing he wanted was to give her any reason to doubt that he would always be there for her.

"Maax!"

He barely contained his grimace as Aisha stepped out from a side corridor, right into his path. Her painted lips curved into what she probably thought was an alluring smile. As a mate program candidate, he was technically off-limits to her in case she matched with another, but she didn’t seem to care, and her persistence was beginning to wear thin.

"How lovely to see you." Her voice dripped with honey as she shifted closer. “I know you saw me earlier, but you seemed in a hurry to get somewhere else…”

His jaw clenched, the muscle pulsing at the corner. Hehadducked down another corridor to avoid her, and he wouldn't apologize for it. The mate program might be important for theempire's future, but that didn't mean he had to entertain every female who expressed interest. Especially not when his daughter needed him.

"I was rather occupied," he said, keeping his tone neutral while scanning for the quickest escape route. The nursery doors hadn’t opened yet though, so he was trapped.

Stepping closer, she forced him to either back away or allow her into his personal space. The sweet scent of her perfume tickled his nose, too strong and somehow wrong. "Perhaps we could have that dinner you mentioned?" Her hand reached for his arm. “Get to know each other better?"

She’dmentioned it several times, not him. But before he could answer to that effect, the nursery doors opened. The assistant appeared in the doorway with Emily in her arms. His heart stalled in his chest at the tears streaking his daughter’s face.

"What happened?" All thoughts of Aisha vanished as he brushed past her without a second glance, closing the distance to Emily in three long strides. His heart thundered against his ribs as he took in the little girl’s distressed state. Tears tracked down her round cheeks, and her lower lip trembled.

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