AllFreeNovel
Share Us
PYSINA
Everything in me wanted to mark little Owen as mine. Dear goddess, what was happening to me? Never in my life had I been so urged to claim someone. The circumstances of this moment were completely wrong for such desires, and yet if he twitched at all, I might mate him right there in the infirmary before my commanders and the entire medical staff—including the Khess who wanted to skin me for not letting her properly dress my wound.
But Owen held still under my hand, not even reacting to the touch of my claws on his delicate flesh. Head bowed, neck bared, he waited. Could he truly mean to allow me to do whatever I wished with him?
“You’ll bunk with me,” I told him as I made myself withdraw my hand. I clenched it into a fist when I realized it was shaking.
Owen nodded without looking up at all.
My commanders stared at me in surprise. Commander Sorke, a fellow Lago, took a step back as he nodded at me.
Not at all ready to declare what was truly pulsing through me, I gave a reason that they might accept. “He’s the governor’s son. I want to keep him close,” I explained and watched their expressions change as they frowned at him. But I also didn’t want them hating him and couldn’t stop my snarl.
All three of them snapped their attention back to me. Maybe Owen deserved closer observation, like some of the others, but after holding him while he wept, I doubted he was a threat to anyone but himself.
“Captain,” Lieutenant Commander Rigger said, “we’ve determined that two others were also part of the governor’s people and are among the humans killed.”
Owen made a whimpering sort of noise and hunched lower over his knees. I couldn’t resist putting my hand back on his neck again, this time in comfort.
“Is the prince aware of the humans’ intention to remain?”
“Yes, sir,” Commander Evish said, and I realized the Pip’s hand was bandaged.
“Are you alright?” I asked her with a nod at her hand.
She waved my concerns away. “Oh, yes, sir. It’s just a cut.”
Like with my injury, the nanobots would work from the inside while medication and wrappings were needed on the outside. The both of us should be fine by evening.
“Where are the humans now?” I asked the three of them as I wondered if I could leave Owen with them while I saw to everything that needed my attention.
Rigger answered. “The large conference room. We’re working on housing them in group bunks so that they can remain with their individual parties.”
“Sir,” Evish said, “the news crew has asked that they be allowed to film the recovery efforts and interview crew members such as yourself and Commander Heremod.”
She’d mentioned something similar before Owen woke. “To add to what they’ve broadcast to the surface already?”
“Yes, sir.”
I nodded but wasn’t ready to commit to any such thing. “Talk to the delegation. I’d prefer they lead the conversation for now.”
“Yes, sir.”
When no one else offered anything, I said, “Have someone from Security who’s prepared to take first watch meet me at my cabin with a tracker. I’ll be on the bridge within the hour.”
They took their leave, and I turned my attention to Owen. “Do you feel well enough to walk?” I asked him.
He nodded, his posture looking as though he was trying to collapse in on himself. I had to step back so that he could slip off the gurney and stand in front of me. The top of his head came to my collarbones, and all I wanted to do was clutch him to my chest.
Lightly gripping the back of his neck seemed to quell my urges and I used that grip to walk him toward the exit. On the way, I spotted Doctor Revazi and paused to query him on the injured.
“Everyone’s responding nicely to the nanobots,” he said with a small and tired smile. His normally jovial face looked haggard as even his long Beku whiskers were drooping.
“None of the visiting humans protested?” I’d been in on the preparations for this entire event and had known some—like the deceased governor—would likely balk at most of our demonstrations.
“Not one resisted. We had several questions, but nothing unusual, and all who needed them consented to their use.”
I watched Revazi’s large yellow eyes glance at Owen, but I wasn’t going to explain myself a second time.
