Dropping to my knees, I nudged his chin up. Wyn’s face crumbled, and he dropped the screen, holding his arms out forme. I gathered him close and pushed my nose into his neck with a low sob.
“My Wyn. Oh, my perfect Peace.”
He took a shaky breath and something wet fell on my face.
“Oh, Wyn,” I said, rubbing his back in soothing motions. I picked him up and moved to sit on the blanket tucked in the corner, probably where he’d been resting, though I very much doubted he’d been doing much of that.
With Wyn settled on my lap, I continued to stroke his back. Wyn burrowed against my chest, his tail coiling around mine. I kissed the top of his head.
“I am here,” I told him.
“Don’t leave me,” he whispered. “I don’t want to be alone. Please don’t let me be alone.”
“You are not, and never will be.”
In a matter of moments, his breathing calmed and he sagged against me, his weight definitely less than what it had been the last time I’d held him. I continued to rub his back, but when I brushed his wings, they shuddered. I frowned and pulled the neck of his uniform open so I could peek down his back. I couldn’t see much, but concern sparked through me. He hadn’t kept his wings trapped the whole time, had he?
Drakcon wings needed to spread and stretch fairly regularly or a whole host of problems could occur. I wasn’t sure how Wyn’s malformation affected his left wing, but I possessed no doubts in regards to him needing to set his wings free. Kissing his head, I decided that would be a problem for later. Right now my mate needed to rest. I had no idea how long it had been since he’d actually slept.
The door opened, and I tightened my hold on Wyn. No one would take him from me. Not now. He needed care, and I was the sole person to do it. Talvax stepped in and appeared unsurprised to see me here. I growled at her, holding my matetight. My wings sprawled, and my tail would be thrashing if Wyn wasn’t holding it with his own.
She lifted her eyebrows in silent reprimand—one I ignored.
I did not care if I was disciplined. I did not care if she stripped me of my rank. I did not care if she demanded a trial when we returned. Talvax had put my mate at risk. Wyn was a living person, and theAdmiral Venwas a ship. He was worth far more. I would sacrifice everything for him. I would give up anything for Wyn.
Talvax looked around the messy server room before staring at the bedraggled Wyn in my arms. She tilted her head to the side, offering me her throat in concession, if not apology. I curled my lip in a silent snarl. I wanted neither.
She left without a word.
Knowing I was done with our separation and I didn’t care if Talvax got upset, I whispered to Wyn, “Let’s go back to our quarters, Peace.”
He did not respond.
Keeping him tight in my arms, I got to my feet and walked out of the room. NAID didn’t try and stop me, so either it was unable to track positions or Wyn was allowed to come with me. I didn’t care which it was. I strode down the corridors, ignoring the people who watched us; they didn’t matter.
Camden nearly crashed into us, managing to skid to a stop, though Noxlyn did have to catch him to keep the human from falling to the ground. Camden said in a rush, “Thank fucking god. I was coming to get you. I hadn’t seen Wyn in a long time. This has got to end. He’s going to do serious harm to himself.”
I glanced at Noxlyn who was right behind Camden with his hands still gripping the human’s biceps—the two were inseparable. I turned back to Camden and said, “Thank you.”
His care of my mate would never be forgotten. Not ever.
“Is he alright?” Camden asked.
“He will be.” Glancing at Noxlyn, I asked, “You’re a seeker, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Know anything about engineering?”
“A bit.”
“Can you try to make sense of Wyn’s notes, then send them on to all of the teams working on the virus?” I asked.
“Certainly.”
I asked Camden, “Would you mind cleaning up the mess in there? Wyn wouldn’t want anyone to see it.”
Camden put his fingers to his forehead, then pushed them out in a stiff motion. “Leave it to me, Commander. You just take care of Wyn.” He snagged Noxlyn’s arm. “Come on, Noxy.”
