“Okay.” She leaned over and kissed LemAN softly on the lips. “I’ll be back.”
He waited for Teagan to leave the medic wing before turning to BorIS. “Tell me everything I missed.”
“Our attackers were definitely purist rebels and sympathizers hiding out among the colonists.”
“How did they know about the Morinians?”
“They didn’t. Leader LarIS did not tell anyone except Commander AshOR and the village leader that the Morinians were coming. From some of the purist rebels questioned, all they knew was that Leader LarIS was heading up a special secret mission. They followed the shuttles out into the jungle and waited.”
“How many of our people and the Morinians were injured?”
“None of the Morinians were hurt since they were still on the shuttles. Five of our twenty warriors suffered injury along with you, but no fatalities. None of Leader LarIS’s people were injured.”
“Thank the Goddess.”
“She was definitely shining down on us that day, especially on you.”
“Is it true I almost died?”
“Twice. I never want to experience that fear again or witness the pain on your mate’s face as she fought to keep you breathing. Did you not think before leaping in front of a blaster?”
“The only thought I had was to protect my mate. I still can’t believe I’ve been out for three whole days.”
“You weren’t completely out. You talked some in your unconscious state.”
“What about? Nonsense?”
“You called out LoraLI’s name.”
Goddess, that must have hurt Teagan to hear another woman’s name from him. “I dreamed that I saw LoraLI and our son, LormAN. She told me to come back and live a happy, full life. Don’t you believe me?”
“I’m not the one you should explain that to. The medics want to observe you while you are awake. If you’re good, they’ll release you to rest in your quarters the remainder of the trip back home.”
Home. It had a different sound to it now. Before when he was away on a mission, he dreaded returning to Katiera, to his empty one-bedroom suite. He had given up his larger family home to the Earth females. He didn’t want to be constantly reminded of how he had lost so much. Now he wanted to build a new home, one with Teagan, and fill it with their children.
“Is there anything else I should be made aware of?”
“Yes, the medics would like you to keep Teagan occupied in your quarters. Out of boredom, she took apart their light system, trying to set it up to turn on when the door opened. It took them hours to reverse what she had done.”
LemAN laughed. “Can you imagine what it’s going to be like with her on Katiera?”
BorIS groaned and rolled his eyes. “Keep her away from our weaponry system, please. It wouldn’t do to have her blow up our planet.”
LemAN chuckled as he lay back down on the bed, letting the medics scan him again. “I want to go to my quarters now. Leaving Teagan alone for too long is not a good idea.”
“We’ll get a carrier to take you,” the lead medic said with enthusiasm.
*****
Teagan smiled as she watched the medics help LemAN onto their bed. She quickly pulled the sheets down and covered him up, then saw the medics out and thanked them.
LemAN patted the spot next to him so she walked over and climbed in.
“Closer. I need to feel your heartbeat.”
She needed that, too. She snuggled in until her body was next to his. He wrapped his arms around her and she was immediately enveloped with his scent and his warmth. “God, I’ve missed being in your arms.”
“Me, too.”
