“His core has been acting up for about a year.”
“What does that mean?”
“He’s entering the main mating phase of a Lazariot’s life span. But he’s not used to it. We have been working together for nearly a decade now. He has been focused on others and surviving.”
“So he’s fighting it.” Exhaustion grips me as I watch him continue working in the back.
“I believe so. He doesn’t like taking things for himself.”
“Scared he’ll lose them?” I tuck an arm under my head and feel the healing spot on my chest stretch.
MONA doesn’t respond.
“MONA?”
“Sorry, Elix was making a request.” It pauses. “You are correct.”
I pull a blanket over my shoulders, quickly sinking into a deep, weighted rest, wishing I could find a way to show him I could help him the way he’s helped me. Thinking back to the thick mounds of his abs and the way his body moved over mine as he pleasured me in the shower, gives me an idea.
Maybe all he needs is a little encouragement.
22: Elix
I hang from the rear of the fuselage by a strap. The repaired heater core is back in place. The space welder seals the unit as I run it along the damaged panels I’ve reshaped. It should be space-worthy after I fabricate a few more patch panels, but I’ll move quicker when Aurelius arrives.
I hope he gets here soon.
The sky overhead has cleared enough that I can see our two blue moons and the crystal belt. Abrasive wind curls around me, but I think of Zariah asleep in the nest I made her, and my core heats up again. It helps me finish the repairs on the aft ailerons.
Weathered another tough landing. One of these days, I’ll pull you into a real repair shop and fix you up properly.
I haul myself up to my anchor, unclip my harness and jump down, into the snow.
MONA opens the ramp for me.
Once I’m inside, MONA closes me in. I reconnect the coils to the heater core in the junction box overhead and switch on the power breaker. The coils heat, but it’s so cold that I know it’s going to take a while before the rest of the ship is safe for Zariah.
With the omenotaus’ organs processed, I initiate the purification step. The liquid pumps into the storage tank but is slow to process in the low temperatures. It will take time before more medicine is ready.
After I’ve sanitized the medbay and put the loose parts and items back in their places, I take the hide and check Zariah’s flash tanning job. It’s rough, but the skin will help keep her warm.
Collecting the tendons I’ve had soaking in a jar, I use them to stitch the furs into a traditional cloak of a length that I think will fit Zariah’s much smaller frame. The fur is so large I’m certain it will wrap completely around her.
When it’s stitched to my liking, I select a canine tooth from the tray, wrap it with tendon, and stitch it to the collar. Five more teeth with tendon loops work to hold the cloak together in the front.
I sit back and lean against the wall, my core pulsing with more heat the longer I think about her. I could be nestling with Zariah, but the thought she’s so close suddenly terrifies me.
All I have ever done is fight to survive and save those I guard. Bringing more risk into her life is not what I want. But my core can’t be swayed. I just don’t want to risk mating with her and then breaking her heart or, worse, getting her killed. But the idea of living without her is too much.
“MONA, how long until the heater core has the ship up to temperature for her species?”
“Three hours.”
“Zariah?”
“She is resting, but her body temperature has dropped two degrees. May I recommend a booster and an additional heat source?”
“A booster?”
