I cradled Seth closer. “What?”
“The latest test results are in.”
“It’s not good, is it?”
“No.”
“How long?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
“I don’t know.”
“He could still recover.”
“He could, but he’s falling into what amorians call the long death. They sleep, everything holds steady, not recovering or worsening, then they suddenly die.”
“He’ll survive.”
“I hope so,” she said. “I truly do. In the meantime, I’m arranging for everything he needs to be placed in your quarters for privacy. I will stop by several times a day to check on him.”
“Privacy,” I repeated. I knew what she meant. In case Seth passed, she wanted me to have space to deal with my grief.
“You should meet the technicians there while I prepare Seth Harris.”
I placed a kiss on his forehead before standing. The world tilted and my arms went out to catch myself. Doctor Qinlin’s steady hands caught my shoulders, stabilizing me until I found my bearings.
“You need to sleep.”
I hadn’t stolen more than a few moments of sleep since Seth had fallen sick. What if something happened when I looked away?
“I will return,” I whispered to him. When I reached the doorway, I hesitated, nervous to leave him for even a moment.
“I will stay with him,” Doctor Qinlin said, “until we get him back to you.”
With heavy steps, I returned to me and mine’s quarters. Lucy raced toward me, crying frantically in her squeaking voice. I pet her, but when I tried again, she didn’t remain in one place. Headbutting my leg, she wound around me and cried.
“I know,” I whispered, tears threatening.
After I fed her, I waited for the technicians. When they arrived, I directed them to Seth’s room. When Seth awoke, I wanted him to recognize his surroundings and he hadn’t been in my room, except the one time.
Once everything was ready, the technicians departed, casting sad glances in my direction, which I ignored. Doctor Qinlin came with Seth not long after; she didn’t tarry, leaving as soon as he was stabilized.
Lucy headbutted Seth, and he didn’t react. She cried, then curled up against his side. I settled next to him, holding him close.
The next three days passed with very little change, but his temperature returned to normal and his breathing eased. Doctor Qinlin said the changes were in line with what amorians called the long death. Despite that, I took it as a sign of hope. It was all I could do to hold onto hope.
My father, mother, and brothers had tried to speak with me, but I’d refused their pings. Monqilcolnen and Talvax had stopped by, and I ignored them. I didn’t want to see the pity on their faces. Seth would make it. I would not lose him.
Exhaustion was my closest companion as I took care of Seth and tended to all of his needs. He never reacted to my presence or Lucy’s. It seemed insane to me that days ago he was so alive, laughing, smiling, and kissing me, but now, he was completely unresponsive.
“Stay with me,” I begged Seth, listening to him breathe.
Chapter 38
Recovery feels a lot like pain.
Everything hurt. I wanted to cry, but that seemed like too much energy. I lifted my arm, and it trembled. Tubes ran from my arm to a machine next to the bed. What the hell was going on? I glanced around the darkened room, unable to discern much. Lucy was pressed against my hip, and a fluff of silvery-blue hair tickled my chin—Kal.
We were back on the ship. How?
