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Ulrek lay on the bed, refusing to wake. The nobleidiothad jumped in front of the blaster to save her, then proceeded to tear Gritarr apart even while he had a hole in his body. Delaney had spent the next few desperate minutes trying to hold his wounds closed as he bled out. The only reason he was still alive was that Tuhror had found them and gotten him onto the ship and into stasis right away.
He’d still been unstable when they transferred him to Kean’s medical wing.
It had taken two full days before the medbed had chimed, notifying her that it had done all it could do and turned itself off. Kean’s personal doctor, Ulkin, had stepped in at that point to check on him. Tahra’s old tutor had white in his hair, but he still looked like he could take on a few dragus if he had to.
He’d pressed a bunch of buttons, causing the sides of the high-tech healing unit to fold down, making it look much more like a normal bed. Then he’d given Ulrek some sort of infusion that was supposed to hasten his healing.
“He should be waking any time now.” He’d pointed to a button on the wall. “Press this when he does, and I’ll come right away.”
But that had been yesterday. Ulrek still lay unmoving on the bed.
He wasn’t as pale as he’d been when he was first brought in, and his left hand, which had been too mangled to save, had been rebuilt. The new cybernetic appendage was supposedly just as sensitive as his natural hand, and stronger besides. The artificial skin looked almost like his own. Only the metallic plates at the forearm gave it away.
There was a knock on the door, and Kean stepped in with Sarah, who held a tray of food. She eyed the small table next to the bed adjacent to Ulrek’s. There was still a tray there with food from last night. Tuhror had brought it for Delaney, but she hadn’t had any appetite and had only drunk the light orange, fruity-smelling liquid, which had a bit of that metallic vitamin taste.
Delaney moved the first tray over to the window ledge to make room for the fresh one.
“You need to eat,” Sarah said. “I heard you like fried jadroot, and we just happen to have some growing in our garden. We’d imported the plants straight from Reka 5. You know, a little taste of home.”
There were disks of the classic Reka 5 pub food on the plate. It was sweet that Sarah had remembered.
“Thank you. I’ll eat in a bit.”
Sarah gave her a look that said she didn’t believe her. “Girl, if Ulrek wakes up to find you’ve fainted from lack of food, he’s going to be upset.”
“I know. But I’m not hungry. I’m so worried.”
“I get it.” Sarah gave her a hug. “These Talleans are freaking tanks though. He’ll be fine, trust me. He looks so much better already. Now: eat.”
Sarah took her by the shoulder and sat her down in front of the new tray.
Kean was quiet today, probably considering that one of the ports on his planet would soon be in upheaval. He’d ordered the execution of the traitorous governor to be broadcast across the entire planet. It was harsh and barbaric, but violence was the only language the criminals and crooks that had settled on this planet understood. Anyone considering plotting with a Dominion agent again would probably think twice now.
When Ulrek woke, he’d have to deal with a similar situation, albeit on a smaller scale. The location that Gritarr had mentioned at the supply depot, Station 3, had been the one deliberately leaked to his fleet. Someone on one of the other ships had squealed. Tuhror and Emil were monitoring the situation, listening in on all communications on board.
“Why don’t you come take a walk around the compound?” Sarah asked. “The fresh air and exercise might improve your appetite.”
Delaney shook her head. She didn’t want to leave Ulrek, not even for a moment. She wanted to be there when he woke. She hadn’t left the private room in the medical wing of Kean’s compound since they got back, except to greet a very confused-looking Gavin when he woke up this morning. He was in the next room over.
“Thanks, but I’d rather stay here.”
“I understand.” Sarah gave her another hug, and she and Kean left, leaving Delaney alone with her mate.
Ulrek was no longer the villain, not to her. He was the hero who made sure to cure her headache before she worked in the greenroom. The hero who’d charged into the Reka 5 wilds to rescue her. The hero who’d jumped in front of blaster fire.
She wiped the falling tears off her face with the back of her hand, but they were immediately replaced by more. When she inhaled, it came out as a sob.
Ulrek was supposed to be awake by now, but he was still out cold. What if he never woke again? He did have a giant hole in him and was missing a hand. Tallean technology was advanced, but was it good enough to pull someone back from the brink of death?
“Wake up, Ulrek. Wakeup,” she pleaded, her voice barely a whisper. “I’ll do anything. I’ll be the perfect mate. You can parade me around in outrageous clothes all you like, then peel them off me when we get back to the ship. I’ll eat from your fingers and drink from your cup. I’ll fall asleep with you every night and wake up with you every morning. I promise. Just,” she sniffed, trying not to become a bawling mess, “please, please wake up.”
No movement. Ulrek remained still. The only thing proving he was still alive was the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest. What if he was stuck in a coma like this forever? Comas were rare in Talleans, the doctor had explained earlier, but not unheard of.
“I’ll even tell you I love you. Every day. Because I do, damn it. Just wake up already.” More hot tears, more choked sobs.
Nothing.
Finally she curled up beside him, hugging his arms, and closed her eyes.
