“Yes,” said Zade. “So said my father, as well. All I can think of is how I will perform my many dutiesandthose to a mate. And later, perhaps, to a family.” He blew out a breath. “The cycles simply are not long enough. And what if she does not want a mate? She is beautiful. She could currently have a human companion.” He raked his fingers through his damp hair. “Stars, this female is my greatest challenge yet.”
“Do not invent worries, my friend,” Drace said. “You will need to reduce your work, but it is high time you did so, anyway.”
“I am perfectly capable of—”
“Zade, there is more to life than work.” Drace put a hand on Zade’s shoulder. “You will have to find a balance in order forboth you and your mate to be healthy. And I must tell you, it is strange and refreshing to councilyoufor once, rather than being on the receiving end of health advice.”
He gave his Saar-king a sour look. “I do not care for it at all.”
Drace chuckled. “I will arrange for your chambers to be prepared in the residential command wing. My Yana-queen and the other human females are visiting Earth for several cycles, but Rachel will be pleased to hear that we are gaining another human resident.”
Zade winced. “I must inform Ashley of her new status, first.”
“Of course.” Drace stepped away and dropped into sparring position. “Now. Shall we train? I will show you no mercy.”
Zade grinned, knowing that they were evenly matched. He felt lighter, having shared his secret with Drace. The Saar-king certainly did not lack in duties and he managed to maintain a very happy Yana-queen, plus a growing family. Surely Zade could manage that, too. “Do your worst, Saar-king.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Zade
Later, Zade climbed into hisreju, sore and exhausted. His training session with Drace had been rigorous. He programmed the table to wake him when his female did as well. Already, he thought of her as his. She was three Earth hours into a six-hour rest cycle. Three hours of restorative rest would be enough for him. Already he was looking forward to seeing her, talking to her, learning more about her. He would increase the hormone suppressant in hiseniband, just to be safe.
Ashley was just beginning to awaken when Zade’srejuwoke him. He climbed down, feeling tight in the joints. A headache brewed behind his brows. He was hungry. He went into his washroom and stood while a fuchsiaapivioletlight flowed up and down over his form. It was the quickest, most efficient mode of “bathing,” taking no more than ten seconds and leaving the skin clean and rejuvenated. Afterwards, he changed into a fresh suit, increased the dose in hiseniband, and went to the glass wall to observe his patient/mate.
She was sitting up on her table. He watched her arms stretch high, hands folded into loose fists.
She did not yet know she was being observed. He watched her inspect her new leg with close attention, testing the textureof the skin, nails, the fine hairs. She noticed the thin tubes running from her naval and shuddered at it, covering it back up with the blanket. Another thin tube was attached to an artery in her neck. It was tiny and designed to be painless, so she jumped when her fingers brushed it. The tubes had delivered nutrients and medicine during her unconscious state but they could come out now. Her hands tested the texture of the gel bed. She wanted to get up, but couldn’t with the tubes. Perhaps she needed to relieve herself, not realizing that any waste was immediately absorbed and removed by thereju. It was time to go in there. Alone. No assistants. This was a test for him.
Nerves warred with excitement as he touched the wall and the panel slid open. Her head snapped up. Light brown eyes regarded him without fear, but with some wariness. He could almost hear her thoughts:Can I trust him? What is he going to do?He had to handle her very carefully. Patients, he understood. Mates, he did not.
He stopped well away from her and leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “Hello, Ashley.”
Her gaze flicked to his, then away. She tucked the blanket up under her armpits. “Call me Ash. I was only called Ashley when I was a kid, getting in trouble.”
“Did you get in trouble often?” he asked mildly, conversationally.
The corner of her mouth quirked. “All the time. You?”
“Never.”
She nodded. “Yeah, I can see that about you.” Her gaze moved over him in a quick survey that made her cheeks flush and him inwardly pleased. She blew out a breath and looked around the room. “Where are the other two?”
“Attending to other patients,” he replied, feeling a little more in control. “Or to themselves. I do not manage their time. They have proven themselves.”
“Wow. You’re a good boss. I’ve never had one that hasn’t been a dictator about time. Like, the city could be shut down but if you were two minutes late, you were written up.” She bit her bottom lip, as if realizing she was babbling.
He smiled in an attempt to ease her nerves. “How are you feeling, Ash?”
She shrugged jerkily. “Okay. Good. I, um, have to pee.”
“Of course.” He moved toward her, watching her pupils dilate. He liked to see he had an effect on her. “Why don’t we remove those tubes? It will be painless.” Out of habit, he placed his hands in theM-Clomachine and covered them in a sterile membrane. She watched with curiosity, but asked no questions.
He moved to stand above her, looking down at the top of her head. Those golden eyes were wide as they peered up at him. “Please hold still,” he said, and placed his hand on her throat. Goose bumps broke out on her skin as his thumb pressed gently. He removed the tube quickly, and painlessly, as promised. A dab ofulioil sealed the tiny wound and allowed the tissues to knit immediately.
“Please lie down. I will remove the feeding tube in your stomach.”
She lay down, but gripped the blanket to her neck. He saw her predicament. Either the top had to be lowered, or the bottom had to be raised and she had nothing on underneath. Baylans may not think much of nudity, but humans did. So did he, at that moment.
