Page 58 of Rescuing Mara

When we walk into the room, I have a front-row seat to the massive destruction. We are at a healthy distance, and what I see is indescribable. It just doesn’t feel real. Debris is flying around everywhere. I can still see explosions in the distance, and ships are everywhere. Arracate ships, I presume, because I don’t recognize the build. Hesitantly, I walk up to the window, stretching my hand on the glass.

“Is… Is he out there?”

T’Rak and D’Var share a silent communication before T’Rak turns to me.

“We do not know yet. There is too much interference to get a proper connection. He could also have lost consciousness and be on another ship somewhere.”

I straighten my shoulders. I will be strong. I am O’Rec’s mate, and I will make him proud. He promised to give me the future he pictured me. I am going to be so pissed if he doesn’t.

Determination fills me as I look at the males. “How are you both doing? How is Lauren? Is she okay?”

D’Var smiles. “L’Ren is fine. She is safe with my mother at the Ring. The ship was easily fixed when we made it back with the Thealium. Thank you for keeping her safe.”

I bite my lip. “I’m so sorry for everything, I-”

“Do not worry,” T’Rak interrupts me. “It is not your fault. We understand. However, you are not fine, and you are bleeding in multiple places. We need to patch you up.”

I tentatively touch my cheek. Whitehot pain shoots through me. My adrenaline must have kept me going this long because suddenly I feel unsteady. D’Var rushes forward, capturing me before I fall over.

“Thank you. I uh…appear to have been injured. Also, I need food and water; I haven’t had that in quite some time.”

He nods and takes me to the medical bay. Gently, he cleans my cuts and gives me the nanos and healing injection. He then eyes my cheek with a troubled look.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“I am not sure if the cut will heal completely. It will heal, but I do not know how to prevent scarring. That is more O’Rec’s expertise.”

I wave his worries away. “I don’t care about a freaking scar. I only care about O’Rec being safe and sound in my arms.”

I try reaching out to him again, but there is still no response. The bond is pulsing, though, and I rub my chest.

“Can I ask you something, D’Var?” I say and continue when he nods. “This bond, this mating bond. It connects me to O’Rec in a way that’s unique to Arracate Warriors, right?”

“Yes…” He gives me a puzzled look, not sure where I’m going with this.

“Wouldn’t I know it if he was dead? Wouldn’t I feel it? Like would the bond break?”

D’Var is very still for a moment, then looks up at me, the stars in his eyes shining.

“My father died long before the fall of our planet. He was away on a mission with his crew, and something went horribly wrong. They all died. We never found the ship or their bodies, but something inside my mother died that day. I can still remember her cries of agony at what supposedly was the moment my father died. Since they never came back to us and the Zarra of his crewmate experienced exactly the same thing at exactly the same time, we believe it was an explosion.”

I reach out to him and squeeze his arm. “I am so sorry for you, D’Var.”

“It was a long time ago, and it also shows how strong the bond between a Warrior and his Zarra really is.”

I straighten my spine. “Yes, and if this is real. It means O’Rec is still alive. I feel it in our bond.

He perks up. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. So I’d suggest we go look for him. Because I have a feeling he needs us.”

CHAPTER36

Mara

D’Var suggests I clean up before I join them in Command. I quickly do so. My face looks like a mess, but I clean it with a wry smile. I don’t care. All I want is O’Rec.

When I return to Command, D’Var, and T’Rak are having a heated conversation with what appears to be multiple other Arracate Warriors on different screens. The conversation ends abruptly when I enter.

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