Page 65 of A Redemption for Ulrek

She didn’t know when she fell asleep, but when she woke again, it was to see Ulkin stepping into the room.

He frowned when he noticed Ulrek was not yet awake, and it made her even more worried. But instead of focusing on Ulrek, he turned his attention to Delaney. She’d spent a few hours in a medbed herself, recovering from a sprained wrist, a concussion, and that split lip. He frowned at the uneaten food on the window ledge.

“You must eat to heal fully.” He put his hand out for her wrist.

“Yes, I know. I’ll try. But I’m so worried,” she said as the medic felt around her joints before passing a small device over them.

“Why? Ulrek is fine.”

“But he hasn’t woken up yet.”

Ulkin rolled his eyes in a very human-like expression. “Ulrek, I know you are awake. Get up. Your whole crew is waiting for you.”

Ulrek

Ulrek opened his eyes and gave the old medic a sheepish smile. Busted.

“Ulkin, good to see you again.” It had been a while since he’d been injured badly enough that Ulkin had had to patch him up. The last time was two galactic years ago, when the Dominion had launched their failed attack on the outer planets.

“Your female has not been eating because she’s so worried about you. Stop being lazy and do your job as her mate. Feed her.” He came over and picked up Ulrek’s left hand.

It was only then that Ulrek realized it was a cybernetic replacement. The foreign appendage mocked him from the end of his arm.

Fuck. He’d been injured a lot worse than he’d thought. Something had felt off with that hand, but he’d experienced similar sensations plenty of times when healing. He never would’ve guessed he’d lost it entirely.

Ulkin put a baton with a screen attached to one end in his hand. “Squeeze this.”

Ulrek tried. At first, nothing happened, so he tried again. The new fingers moved, squeezing the baton.

“Stars! I said squeeze it, not destroy it. This equipment is expensive.” The medic glowered at him.

Oops. Ulrek reduced the pressure. He’d have to practice using the new hand and be careful when he touched Delaney. He’d never forgive himself if he hurt her by accident.

“I will send you daily exercises to perform. You should have full use of it with practice.” Ulkin turned to Delaney. “Make sure he does them. If he’s anything like Kean or Zharor, he’ll think he doesn’t need to bother.”

Then the medic left, grumbling about how he was going to be “treating these youngsters from his deathbed”. He wasn’t that old; he still had decades left.

Delaney looked at Ulrek. “You’ve…you’ve been awake the whole time.”

“I woke the minute I heard you crying.” He took her hand in his good one, glad to have her touch. “I apologize. I didn’t know you were so worried you weren’t eating.”

“How much did you hear?”

“Of you talking to me? Begging me to wake up? All of it.”

She scrunched up her face. “Then why the hell didn't you open your eyes? You let me continue thinking…thinking…”

“Well, you were promising such wonderful things; I thought maybe if I held out, the deal would keep getting sweeter.”

Ulrek watched Delaney’s face run through a series of emotions: first confusion, then surprise, then—

“Youass!” She smacked him on the shoulder with the back of her hand.

Ulrek grinned. This was exactly the response he expected and wanted. He’d never get tired of her fire.

“I thought you were never going to wake up.” Her anger dissolved quickly and her voice went quiet. “I was so scared I’d never be able to talk to you again and tell you...” Her lower lip wobbled, and she let out a sob.

“That you love me? And you’ll be the perfect mate?” Ulrek finished for her. “Yes, I heard that part too.”

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