“I will do everything I can, but I know very little about his species.” She placed a hand on my arm. “We have no idea how his species will react to nefi fever or if our treatments will help him. You need to be prepared for the possibility that I won't be able to save him.”
My muscles tightened until they creaked with strain. “I can’t lose him.”
“A sentiment I understand, but death may be inevitable.”
I lay on the cramped cot next to Seth, arm draped across his waist. I had no idea what time it was, but the medbay was a bustle of activity. Wyn had been transferred to the cargo bay, as had several others. They were sick enough to need monitoring, but not enough to be in the medbay.
Currently, Seth and I were alone in the office, but it probably wouldn’t stay that way. The ship was inundated with infected people, and the numbers swelled by the hour. Most were moderately ill and would recover shortly, but several were extremely ill.
Doctor Qinlin had tried to make me return to my quarters because she didn’t want me to be exposed. Even vaccinated, I could get sick. I’d refused. I would not leave Seth’s side. Although, I had returned to our quarters to change clothes, drop off our bag, and check on Lucy.
Other than that, I stayed with my husband.
His breathing was shallow and raspy, his skin pale, and his eyes were restless beneath his lids. Machines and monitors were attached to him, helping him fight the nefi fever. I held him close, terrified. This could not be it. We had such little time together, and I needed more.
A whimper came out of his lips, and I rubbed his arm. “I’m right here, my Seth.”
The sound stopped, but I didn’t know if I helped or not.
Time passed and nothing changed.
Eventually, Doctor Qinlin came into the office. Her hair stood on end and her tail slashed the air. NAID appeared for a moment over Qinlin’s shoulder, expression drawn, before she vanished.
“NAID and I’ve been running tests on treatment methods.”
“And?”
“Amorians have the closest genetic makeup to humans.”
The breath left my lungs. “They react badly to the nefi fever.”
“They have high fatality rates.”
My tail wound around Seth’s ankle as if I could keep him here by sheer force. “What do they recommend?”
“Some of their treatments will not safely work, according to mine and NAID’s testing, though I cannot know for certain. They are not an exact match, and I don’t know how his immune system will respond. I have a regiment I’m willing to attempt, but I can’t promise that it will work, and it might kill him. But doing nothing will kill him.”
I heard the unspoken question. She was waiting for my permission. This was my decision. Hesitating, I continued to watch Seth struggling to breathe. I loved him, desperately. Doctor Qinlin was right. If we did nothing, he would die, but this trial didn’t guarantee life either.
“Proceed.”
Doctor Qinlin approached. She changed a few settings on the machines, then injected a clear liquid into the one connected to the tubes in Seth’s arms. We both watched Seth closely, but nothing altered.
“We’ll have to wait and see,” she said.
The next day passed with little change in Seth’s complexion or readings. The only times I left his side were to check on Lucy, who was growing more frantic each time I came. I wished I could comfort her, but I couldn’t—only Seth could.
NAID manifested frequently, promising that she was testing every human illness in her databanks for similarities as well as researching Amorian treatments. Doctor Qinlin would check in and administer more medication and take blood, but nothing seemed to help. His body continued to shut down.
Two more days passed with little change, but Seth didn’t worsen.
I rested on my side with my head on his chest and an arm around his waist. I took a deep breath, but instead of his usual citrus scent, Seth smelled of antiseptic and sweat. His skin was warm against mine, but not blazing hot anymore.
“Please, Mate,” I whispered. “Stay with me.”
His breathing remained steady.
Someone knocked, and Doctor Qinlin stood in the doorway, screen tucked under her arm. She wore an extremely kind expression, and my gut tightened.
