Page 110 of Home

Au'revele opened her eyes and slowly raised her head. Blinking to clear away the sleep from her eyes, she sat up, stretching her aching back as she realized what had awakened her. The fingertips softly stroking across her hand, continued non-stop as she finally put two and two together and looked into Zahn’s eyes as she grasped his hand in hers.

“You’re awake! Really awake!” she exclaimed.

“You look terrible,” he stated matter-of-factly, his voice croaking from not being used for a few days.

“I’ve slept here, leaning on the edge of your bed for three days! Of course I look terrible!” Au'revele snapped.

“You should have gone home and gotten some rest,” Zahn said.

“There was nothing that could make me go home and leave you here alone. So I stayed. Forgive me for not looking my best!”

Zahn smiled at her and tightened his grip on her hand before tugging her closer to him. “It is important to me that my female takes care of herself, especially when I cannot.”

Leaning close to him, Au'revele glared at him haughtily. “I’m not your female.”

“Yes, you are. You stayed at my side. You’ve been my voice when I couldn’t — don’t deny it, I heard you telling the doctors what would and wouldn’t be done. And you are the only female that can make me rejoice just as quickly as you frustrate me.”

“That doesn’t make me your female. It just means that I understand you better than you think.”

Zahn smirked and tugged her closer until her upper body was leaning over him, her lips hovering just shy of his. He pulled on her just enough to have her balance shift and her lips met his. Tightening his muscles, he lifted himself just a hair closer so he could press his lips forcefully against hers. He seized her lips with his kiss, letting her know with just one simple kiss that there was no room for doubt. He pulled back from her just a little, nipping at her lower lip one last time as he let his body fall back against his pillows.

“Are you sure you’re finished hating me? You can’t have it both ways, you know. And you’ve made such a show of it, I’m not sure you’re ready to let it go.”

“I never hated you. Just the idea of you. Made me angry you could elicit such an unconscious response from me. Always swore I’d never have a mate. And then I couldn’t think of anything but taking you as my mate.”

“You could have gotten away from me by staying on the ship,” she said, still leaning over him as he absentmindedly held her hand in his and stroked her forearm.

He smiled softly. “I stated my intention to accompany Sirena Vivian to Cruestace the moment I heard you were to be nanny to her youngling.”

“Then you spent every single moment of every day since growling at me,” Au'revele said, shaking her head as she laughed.

“I couldn’t give in too easily.”

Zahn looked around the hospital room and scowled at all the monitors. “They really thought I’d die? I am not that weak.”

“Do you remember anything of your condition?” she asked.

His smile was almost blinding as he remembered fighting. “I fought valiantly! And with no weapon!”

“You almost died, Zahn. You were in the healing chamber for almost an entire day, then you’ve been lying here recovering for two more days.”

“Someone had to avenge the attack on my female, and on our new Sire. It fell to me,” he said tiredly.

“I was fine. Just a little bruised, not seriously injured.”

“You could have been, but Li'Don said you were well. That was when I stopped fighting. And that is the last thing I remember until I woke to find you here. Every time I woke, you were here.”

Zahn’s eyes closed and he took a deep relaxing breath.

“You should rest some more.”

“I have done nothing but rest. I am needed. Sirena Vivian is without her full guard.”

“Vor has arrived. He came to visit you. He said to tell you that he is here to fill your position until you’re healed enough to return to it.”

Zahn grinned. “Vor is a fine male. Strong, stubborn. Not easily swayed in any direction he doesn’t choose for himself, until he found his female. Since then, he even stepped away from guarding our Sirena. He is another reason that I remained determined not to take a mate.”

“Remind me to thank him,” Au'revele said.

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