I groaned in frustration, eager to get back to my love, but I allowed Timber to use a Xalanite device to staunch the flow of black blood from my wound. When she finished cleansing and bandaging the area, I ran down the corridor to where I’d left Leigh.
The door hissed open, and my love launched herself into my arms. I winced in pain as she gripped my shoulder, but all in all I was grateful to see her unharmed.
“T’raat, what happened? I heard all kinds of shouts and gunfire, but the door wouldn’t open.”
“Prince N’kal and X’nit are in the medical bay,” I said, leading her back to the bed. “Timber and your aunt are working to repair their injuries as we speak. H’rran has us on a course for Xalan, and I believe Marcus …” I paused. “I believe Marcus requires some time alone.”
Grief marred Leigh’s beautiful face. “Oh, no!” She ran her fingers over the stark white bandage on my shoulder, pristine compared to the rest of my blood-soaked body. “John, he—He didn’t …”
I closed my eyes. “I am afraid so.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks, and Leigh keened. My hearts hurt for her, but I did not know how to console her. She had only known the man a scant few hours, not even a full solar day, but her kindhearted soul wept for his loss, nonetheless. I held her close to me, resting my cheek on her head and stroking her golden hair while she cried.
By the time Ann arrived at the door to inform us of her mate’s impending recovery, Leigh’s sobs had slowed to intermittent hiccups. The older woman stopped midsentence and rushed to her niece’s side, sitting on the edge of the bed with us. “What happened?” Ann asked, rubbing Leigh’s back. “Honey, T’raat’s okay. He got shot, but Timber fixed him up. Most of the blood you see on him isn’t even his.”
Ann seemed even less effective at consoling Leigh than I was. Her words sparked a fresh stream of tears, and she gripped me even tighter.
“I’m just s-so sad for Marcus,” she lamented between sobs.
Understanding bloomed within me, and I tilted Leigh’s chin up to look into her eyes. “His mate fought well, my love. He died a valiant death.”
The director’s brows furrowed, and she frowned. “His mate?”
Leigh sniffled and wiped her eyes. “Oh, God, Aunt Ann! You can’t really be that clueless. Two retired men living alone together? C’mon. They were totally mates.”
“Yes,” I added. “It was quite obvious.”
A pallor washed over Ann’s skin. “I didn’t know …” She scrubbed her face with her hands. “Fuck. And here I was, seconds away from gloating about how my husband is going to be okay. I guess I owe you guys for stopping me before I put my foot in my mouth.”
Leigh rested a hand on Ann’s shoulder. “Maybe you should still go talk to him. You’re, like, the voice of authority here, right? The woman in charge, ranking officer or whatever. It would probably mean a lot to him if you sat with him for a bit. Even if you just let him talk about his life with John, it might help him. Timber should go, too. She worked with them, so maybe a familiar face, someone who knew John when he was alive …” She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m grasping at straws, I guess. I just feel so bad for him. He’s all alone now, away from his home—hisplanet—and he doesn’t even have his partner to share it with.”
A knock on the door frame drew our attention. Timber stood just outside the room, wringing her hands. A mixture of human and Xalanite blood, both from the battle and from her medical administrations, covered her, save for her face and hands, which looked freshly washed. “Ann, we should both go talk to him. Leigh and T’raat are right; they were husbands. They kept ithush-hush when they were working, but I was one of the few who knew.”
“Shit.” Ann stood and straightened her garments. “Okay. Nothing I haven’t done in my military career, but never a pleasant experience. What do you think, Timber? Should we wash up first?”
Timber shook her head. “They were both on the force for decades. He’s seen worse than this.”
Ann nodded, and the two women excused themselves.
My hearts surged with renewed love for the amazing woman before me. I enveloped her in a hug, wishing I could squeeze out any pain her human heart felt.
Leigh returned my embrace. “What’s this for?” she asked.
“You are amazing,” I said. “I am in awe of your strength. Your heart is hurting, yet you sought to find a way to heal Marcus’s heart first. That is a kind of power that many lack, human and Xalanite alike. My hearts feel pride at your selflessness.”
“I just hope it’s enough. The poor guy.”
Something Timber said needled my mind, and I pondered her words for a few moments while Leigh and I sat entwined. The more I thought about it, the stronger my resolve grew. I knew what I wanted, what I needed to do, but I was unsure how Leigh would react to what I planned. She was young for her species, and she might not have taken my words with the right intent.
“Timber said that John and Marcus were wed, correct? Husbands, yes?”
Leigh nodded. “Yep. Do guys not marry each other on Xalan?”
“It has been known to happen, though rarely, and only recently. But that is not why I mention it.” I released her and knelt at her feet, recalling an old Earth tradition that I’d seen in some of the more plot-heavy mating programs.
Leigh’s eyes grew wide, and she covered her gaping mouth with her hands. “T’raat, are you—”
I gathered her hands in my own and held them in her lap. “Leigh Ann Hall, I do not have a ring, as I believe is the Earth protocol, but I would be honored if you would be my … my partner for life. If you would wed me. I do not care if it is in the tradition of your people or my own. I just know what is in my hearts, and they both agree that no other female could ever compare to you, not in beauty or grace or strength or wisdom.”
