"You should do as she says." Isan's dry comment came from across the room, where he reviewed scan results. "In my medical opinion, arguing with patients delays recovery."
The prince moved toward the door, pausing at the threshold. "All readings are within normal ranges. I'll check back in an hour." The door whispered shut, leaving them alone.
"You heard all that?" Zeke's eyes searched hers.
Michelle nodded. The truth was more complex… the memories had appeared in her mind, provided by the warm presence that hummed contentedly in her thoughts. Like someone had opened a door and let knowledge flow through.
"I heard." She shifted on the bed, wincing at the pull of healing tissue. "I also heard a lot about keeping and claiming over the past few days. Something about moving me into your quarters and spending weeks learning every inch of me?"
Heat flared in his eyes, the gold intensifying. But underneath the desire was something deeper. Reverence. Wonder. A love so fierce it stole her breath.
"Gods, I love you." The words rumbled from his chest, raw and honest.
She slid her arms around his neck, ignoring the protest from sore muscles. "I love you too."
Her fingers tangled in his hair, drawing him down. "Now, for fuck's sake, kiss me."
He leaned in slowly, giving her time to change her mind, to pull away. As if she would. As if she could.
Their lips met soft at first, careful of her weakened state. But then her tongue traced the seam of his mouth, and his control shattered. The kiss deepened, desperate and claiming, full of relief and promise and all the words they didn't need to say.
When they broke apart, both breathing hard, she rested her forehead against his. The warm presence in her mind hummed approval, and a smile touched her lips.
They were alive. They were together.
Everything else could wait.
Chapter 17
The weight of Michelle against his chest pulled Zeke from sleep. He’d barely dozed anyway. Three days since the surgery. Three nights he’d held her while she healed. His body still hummed with the need to stay alert. It wasn’t from danger; the garrison walls were safe enough. It was the wonder of her, breathing steady and warm in his arms.
His legion purred through his blood. A satisfied predator. The contentment should have terrified him. The rage that had defined him since childhood was a constant burn. It had always threatened to consume everything he touched but now, it had settled into something else. Not gone, never gone, but changed into something else. The fragment of his legion in Michelle sent back steady pulses of awareness, creating a feedback loop of calm he’d never experienced before.
She stirred against him and his hand moved without thought, smoothing down her spine. The medical monitors were gone. Satisfied with her recovery, Prince Isan had removed them yesterday. But he couldn't help tracking her every heartbeat. It was strong. Regular. The knot in his chest, the one that had been there since she bled out, finally began to loosen.
“You’re thinking too loud,” she murmured, her voice rough with sleep.
“Sorry.” He pressed his lips to her hair and breathed in her scent. Under the medical soap was the sweetness that was purely Michelle. “How do you feel?”
“Like I got stabbed by a monster feral and lived to complain about it.” She tilted her head back to look at him. Her eyes were clearer than they’d been since the attack. “Also like I need some fresh air that doesn’t smell like antiseptic.”
The observation deck would be empty at this time of evening. Most of the garrison was at dinner or preparing for the night shift. It was perfect. They needed privacy to talk without being interrupted by medical staff.
He helped her sit up. He noted how she moved without the careful hesitation of the past days. The legion fragment was doing its work, accelerating her healing beyond normal human limits.
“The storms passed yesterday.” He swung his legs out of bed, then turned back to study her. The air coming through the open door was cool on his skin. It would be cold for her. Humans felt the temperature drop more sharply than Izaeans. “It might be cold for you.”
“Zeke, I’ve worked construction on planets where the atmosphere tried to freeze-dry me. I think I can handle a nice evening.”
But he was already pulling a blanket from the storage unit. The weave was soft and retained heat without weight. She rolled her eyes but let him wrap it around her shoulders. The small surrender sent warmth through his chest. Three days ago, she’d been dying in his arms. He’d earned the right to fuss.
The corridors were mostly empty as he guided her toward the upper levels. Her hand stayed tucked in his. Their fingers were laced together like they’d been doing this for years, not days.
Every few steps she’d squeeze. He’d squeeze back. A conversation without words.
The observation deck doors slid open. The view hit him, and his breath caught, even after years of seeing it. The landscape stretched out in purple shadows and orange highlights. The sun dropped toward the horizon. Rock formations twisted up like frozen flames.
Michelle moved to the railing. He stayed close, ready to catch her if she wavered. But her stance was steady. She took in the view, the blanket sliding down to her elbows.
