Page 19 of Star Defenders (My Alien Mates 2)

To my relief, she nodded. "The isolation room is the best option, yes. We will work to remove the parasitic invaders from our young friend here." The way she spoke was melodic, like she was reciting a poem, not talking about a terrible threat.

She rubbed a tentacle thoughtfully. "Do you know which metal they cannibalise?"

I frowned. "They seem to like the exterior of escape pods. Apart from that, I'm not sure."

"Ah." She nodded. "Let us follow that line of questioning with the engineers. But first, the scanner is finished."

"Oh, yes." While we'd talked, it had scanned Danec's chest and head. "Everything seems to be normal."

"What does that tell you?" the doctor asked.

I thought back to the conversation with Zarex. "They aren't in his brain. They must need greater numbers for that."

"Possibly," she agreed. "Escort your patient to the isolation room, then inform the ship's command of the situation. I will speak to the engineering team."

"Yes, Doctor." I offered my hand to Danec. For the first time since we met, he didn't take it. Instead he pushed himself off the bed and followed me to the Iso room.

"We can't risk them jumping from me to you." He sounded despairing.

"If they wanted to jump, they would." But I wouldn't press the matter. For one thing, I might be wrong.

I punched in the code to open the isolation room and the door slid open. "I'll put some sheets on the bed and make things—"

"I'll do it," Danec said. "You shouldn't be in here with me. No one should."

I wanted to argue. I tried to think up the right words, but they wouldn't come. In the end, I had to give up and concede he was right. "At least let me get you an extra pillow. Maybe a nicer blanket."

I thought he might refuse, but he nodded.

"Fine. I might as well be comfortable in the time I have left."

"You're not dying," I protested.

He sank onto the bed and tucked his feet up. "I might as well be."

"Hey." I fixed him with a stern look. "We will figure this out. Okay?"

"And if we don't?" he asked.

"I hear Calig is nice this time of year," I said lightly. "I wouldn't mind seeing the moon flowers again."

"You would go with me?" He stared at me in surprise.

"Where you go, I go," I said. "But it won't come to that." I wanted to promise, but I couldn't. I honestly didn't know how this would end, and that made my heart ache.

I tossed him a pillow and said, "I love you, Danec, son of Jaek."

He caught it by the corner and drew it to him. "I love you too, Edie Wright."

I smiled. "Thank you," I said.

"For what?"

"For not calling me Edith." I grimaced.

"It's such a pretty name though," he said. "For a pretty girl."

"We'll have to agree to disagree on those counts." I leaned against the doorframe. "You have a vidscreen in there, with all the latest shows and movies. If it doesn't work, we can operate it from out here. If you need anything else, food, blankets, anything, you only have to ask."

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