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He looked me right in the eyes and said, “I couldn’t let you to suffer.”
I lay back and stared up at the ceiling. Did that bother me? These people had pumped me full of microscopic robots to treat a severe concussion—and I’d never had a regular one, so I didn’t know what severe really meant. I knew from their website what the nanobots would do inside me, that I’d pee them out when they were done, and that they were safe for me as a human.
I probably wasn’t the only one who’d gotten this up close and personal demonstration thanks to my fucking father’s actions either.
“Thank you,” I said as I looked back at the fox.
The corner of his black lips curled up in an almost-smile.
“Did, um… Did anyone die?” I finished that question breathlessly, horrified all over again.
“Eight have died,” he said.
I nodded and looked away, closing my eyes as tears threatened. How the hell had I missed the fact that Dad had covered himself with explosives? How had I not known that he was a Humans First sympathizer? We weren’t that close anymore, but I hadn’t had a clue that he wanted to kill people.
Had he let me come with him so he could kill me, too?
Suddenly, a tone sounded, making me flinch. I looked up at the readings on the wall over my head, but nothing looked like a problem. What was happening? Then a voice sounded as if over a loudspeaker.
“This is Prince Alam Ye Lena speaking on behalf of the delegation to thank each of you for your swift actions and professional dedication as we work through this painful time. While we mourn and repair, know that the humans of Earth are protesting the faction that hurt us and demanding their leaders take steps to condemn it. Though their enlightenment has come at a heavy price, I believe now that they see us for what we are: a people who are determined to raise them up to our level of comfort and safety. I have not changed my course, and I hope you have not either.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “Seek out and accept assistance where and when you need it as you move through your grief. We are all here for you.”
The tone sounded again, and my tears fell.
Good god, how could anyone be against these people? They might be skirting around the governments of the world, but it was to aid all of humanity regardless of how we kept getting in their way. They were doing everything legally, too—I’d seen some of the paperwork from their human lawyers. But still, if someone was offering you a helping hand, you didn’t ask them if they had a permit first! How could my own father be such a fucking terrorist?
“Sir!”
I snapped my attention to the fox and saw that he was attempting to get up off the gurney.
“Sir, I’m not done yet,” the leopard said as she tried to hold him down. “You can’t get up!”
The fox stared into my eyes, and I didn’t know what else to do but meet his golden gaze. Eventually, he settled back down, and the leopard waved off the pair of wolves who had been coming over like security. She rearranged a sheet over the fox, but not so well that he was covered up completely.
I couldn’t help staring. While he was lean, he was pretty ripped. Even his black, orange, and cream fur couldn’t hide the definition of his arms and abs. And I knew about the relationship that wolf prince had with a human cop, so I was allowed to appreciate that this fox was hot, right? They were all just furry people after all.
But then I realized he’d caught me staring and I looked away before mopping up my tears with the cuff of my sleeve. I wasn’t in any kind of position to flirt and didn’t deserve the attention anyway.
“What’s your name?” the fox asked.
“Owen D—” I stopped myself from admitting my family name when before I would’ve been proud of that. But never again.
Never again.
“I’m Py. Pysina Langarus.”
I nodded and tried to offer him a smile even as my eyes burned with more tears I didn’t want to shed. Then I remembered— “Oh, you’re the captain.”
And why knowing that kicked off another round of sobbing, I didn’t know. Because it was probably his subordinates who’d died? Yeah, fuck, that was part of it, but also I felt so responsible. I’d urged my father to accept the invitation to come here in the hope that seeing would make him stop hating.
“Sir!” I heard the nurse holler just before furry arms lifted my upper body from the gurney and hugged me close against a strong chest. Captain Langarus should hate me, but instead he was risking injury to hold me while I cried. I didn’t deserve any such attention, but I buried my weeping face between his pecs, curled my hands on his abs, and let it all out.
I didn’t know how long I leaned on him and wept over the lives lost, my own circumstances, and my father’s betrayal, but eventually I realized Langarus was having a conversation with someone.
“Commander Heremod said the damage to the landing bay is extensive,” a quiet and deep voice said, “but not life-threatening. The hull is unaffected and not likely to become compromised. However, he’s fine with continuing to treat the area as though there’s been a breach, if you prefer.”
“It’s his call,” Langarus said just as quietly. “Did you search the other humans?”
I sniffed, and he petted my hair.
