Janae spun around and drew the blaster Stron had given her, aimed at whoever was coming into the bedroom.
"Well, I see you at least want to protect him," a female said as she came in. Janae recognized her as soon as she looked at her face.
She had the same eyes as Khalzin. Just like she had in the hologram.
"I am sorry, Priestess," Janae said and laid down the weapon. "It has been a trying day."
"I can imagine, child," she said and crossed the room to stand over the bed on the opposite side of where Janae was sitting. "Well, at least he's resting."
"The medic said--"
"I know what he said," she snapped. "It is a superficial wound. It would heal soon. He'll be fine."
Janae blinked. That seemed a rather cold response to the situation. While she didn't have any children, Janae hoped she would be sympathetic to her child wounded. The Priestess was not. If anything, she looked ready to rip someone's head off.
Janae hoped it wasn't hers.
"I believe that he will be," Janae said. "He squeezed my fingers a moment ago, so he probably will wake soon."
"Hmm." His mother looked her up and down. "You do have a way about you, don't you?"
She blinked. "Pardon?"
"There is something about you, child," the Priestess said, tapping her chin.
"I do not know what you mean."
"You probably don't." She glanced around the room. "This isn't how I expected to meet you, but it is what it is. You and my son are in Courtship, are you not?"
Janae nodded.
"Do you love him?"
Janae nodded. "I believe so, yes."
"That is a rather vague answer. Do you love him or not? It is not a difficult question."
"Perhaps not for you, but for me, it very much is. I am not quick to trust or easy to believe in others. However, I believe in what Khalzin's doing, and I understand why he wants the program with the Galactic Alliance to work. So, if I'm not in love with him yet, it does not mean that I won't be. It only means that I am learning. But I believe in him. And I trust him. So, I think that says something."
"Hmm," she said.
"Leave her alone, mother," Khalzin croaked. "She's been shot at and nearly killed twice in the last two days."
"Those kinds of stressors can be difficult to get over," his mother said. "I am glad to see you awake, son."
"I will be fine," he said, and his gaze locked with Janae's. "You can report back that I am alive and thriving to the Coalition and that despite the struggles, we are still moving forward with the program."
"You are," she said. "What about the others?"
Khalzin pushed himself up but winced.
Janae immediately leaped into action, moving a pillow behind him so he could raise a little more on the bed and answer his mother.
"Leave him alone," his mother said. "He will be fine."
Janae glanced at her, surprised at her objection. "Is it not my duty to see to my mate's care and well-being?"
She made that sound again and returned her intense stare to Khalzin. "The others? How are they doing?"
