Page 88 of May the Stars Have Mercy
“You told me long ago it is the Kannatch’s duty to evaluate and assess every hunt. The place the right hunter with the right hunt, to ensure success and the betterment of our people. Xnasis, I would never send anyone less than me after you. I would not risk your life or the life of the Mphrovic with anything less than the best. If given the chance to redo it, I would still send myself andmy mate after you. Yell all you like, Xnasis, but I’ve done my duty…now it’s time for you to do yours.”
Xnasis fell quiet, hands trembling at his side as he stared deep into Xexis’ eyes. His face curled up in a snarl, but it did not have any malice behind it. “We will discuss this later…I suspect we will have much to discuss. You will bring thewatzer.”
They lingered in silence with only the hum of the ship to fill the air. Then, with a broken nod, Xnasis twisted away from Xexis and headed deep into the ship. Xexis didn’t want to hurt his brother, but the fact was…their father was dead and the fate of Vroz fell upon them now.
Kinsi brushed a soft hand over Xexis’ head, bringing his attention away from the empty doorway. “Thank you, Xexis.”
He nodded quietly, adjusting Aphrodite in his lap. Still breathing. Heart still beating. She was preserved. She would be fine. They would be fine…it was all over now.
Chapter Fifty-One:
Aphroditewokewithagasp. Her throat burned like it was an open wound. The second her lips split open something was sprayed deep in her mouth and she choked on the mist. Blinking rapidly, she went to grab at her mouth only to hear Vivian tsk with irritation. “Eh! Don’t you dare!”
Aphrodite froze, letting the world come into focus once more. They were back in the station, deep in the medical bay. The symbol of the Vroz embellished on the wall made her release a heavy breath.I’m home.She smiled weakly, laying her head to the side. “You made it.”
Vivian tucked her blanket up to her armpits once more, red in the face from fussing over the engineer. “In one piece, I might add, not something I can say for you.”
“Did I lose a leg?” Aphrodite choked on the throat spray some more as it worked its magic on her scratchy esophagus.
“No, but if you weren’t already banged up and bruised like a peach I’d punch you square in the chest. Aphrodite Kerso, don’t you ever scare me like that again? I was on my way here to party with you and celebrate then we got that distress signal, and then you told us not to come near you?” Vivian crossed her arms over her lab coat, tapping her heels against the ground.
“It’s a long story,” Aphrodite laughed in painful spurts.
“Well, after you rest for twenty-four hours, you had better clue me in. As the royal physician, I need to knoweverything…” The two locked eyes for a long moment before they broke into giggles. That was until Aphrodite wheezed and flinched. Vivian apologized, rushing to add more cream onto her skin. Vivian fussed over her for a few more minutes, applying more cream and serums to her flesh before tucking her in again. “And no moving, gears. I mean it, you have to be on bed rest for a full day.”
“Try telling my mate that, needles.” Aphrodite sank back into the coziest medical bed she’d ever had the pleasure of lying on.
“I tried, he was rather insistent that you can be on bed rest in your bed. To which I called his bluff and he pouted. Like a cute toddler, I might add, but he has since been whisked away by some official-looking people. So, I have you all to myself for a few hours, Muhahahahah!” Vivian cackled like an evil genius, including a little toss of her hair and a small bend backwards to complete the look. Aphrodite sputtered but laughing hurt too much to give in.
Once Vivian recovered, she sat down on a chair beside Aphrodite’s bed, clicking away on a floating keyboard and screen.
“What cha got there?” Aphrodite gulped down her tongue a little, relieved to feel her throat already completely healed.
“Well, the Vroz need their systems calibrated to human anatomy so I can do actual scans on you. So far we’re doing what we can with what Buddy can scramble together. I knew you had a few fractures, nothing to sniff at with Vroz technology and balms. Most of your wounds were superficial. Well, except for the headwound and the massive bite to your neck.”
“Only…um…only one of those was from the fight,” Aphrodite pressed her lips together firmly, trying not to smile like a mischievous little child as Vivian slowly twisted toward her.
“Which. One?”
“Dead Danny slammed my head into a panel during our scuffle for the command deck.” Aphrodite licked her dry lips.
“And so, the wound on your neck was just, a what? A love nibble?” Vivian quirked a suspicious brow.
“I didn’t know I was into biting so much till I mated with someone really into sinking their teeth into me,” Aphrodite wheezed out all the words in a single breath.
Vivian jerked like she was going to slap Aphrodite on the leg but decided better of it. She huffed, “It’s not fair! I haven’t heard a single juicy detail. I need you to spill. Well, no, I need you to rest first, but then I need you to spill. I wanna know everything!”
“Oh, don’t worry, you’ll get your fair share soon enough,” Aphrodite mumbled to herself as Vivian turned back to the computer. For a glorious eternity, Aphrodite dozed in and out of consciousness. Every time she awoke, Vivian was plugging in information into the computer about a different part of the human body. It was peaceful to lay there, drifting in her own mind to the comforting lullaby of fingers across keys. The familiar click clack, the soft breeze of medical bay air, and the murmur of people on the other side of the wall near her.
Then the sound of footsteps woke her up as a familiar thud rattled through her ears. The door to their room hissed open and she forced her eyes open. Xexis crept closer, a single flower in hand. He tucked it onto the bedside table, the petals bursting withgolden glitter. It was floral and familiar, like grapefruits and honeysuckle. Her lips curled as she inhaled the scent deeply.
“What is that?”
“Mangroix flowers, I picked it from the station gardens. Some never bear fruit and stay flowers all season long.” He knelt beside the bed, taking up her palm without moving it away from the blanket. She could feel Vivian giving him a death stare from across the room. Xexis bent his head to kiss her knuckles. “My mate, how do you feel?”
“Like I got hit by a spaceship,” she croaked.
“Well, you didn’t, but I understand the sentiment.” He grinned, laying his face against her hand tenderly.
