Kal did not respond.
“Babe?”
“Yes?”
“The couch.”
“Oh. Yes. Sorry.” Kal slithered off me and helped me stand. My head spun, my knees trembled, and everything hurt. He held me up. “I have you, my Mate.”
After a few breaths, my vision cleared and the dizziness dissipated. Every step to the couch was hard, but Dr. Qinlin had encouraged me to walk to loosen my joints and rebuild my muscles. Kal hadn’t said anything, but he’d glared at her. She was moving too fast for his comfort.
When we got to the couch, I basically fell onto it, and Kal turned on the TV. “What do you want to watch? That baking show?”
“Whatever’s fine.”
He turned it on, but when he moved to stand, I grabbed his hand. “Stay with me.”
“Of course.” Kal settled behind me, his arm hooking around my waist.
It did not take long for Kal’s breath to even and his grip to loosen. After an episode ended, his wing draped over me and he pressed closer, mumbling in his sleep. I stroked his arm, and he settled again.
Sleep tried to lull me, but I fought it. Kal needed it more than I did, and I had to make sure he stayed asleep. After a couple of episodes played, my eyes grew impossibly heavy, and I gave in to the siren call.
Soft voices discussing cake reached my ears. A heavy arm was across my waist, and a steel-blue wing covered my shoulder. I brushed the edge of Kal’s wing, and it twitched. His breathing was deep and rushed over the back of my neck, stirring the small hairs and tickling me.
Kal was still asleep, shockingly.
I rubbed his arm and pressed back against him. Kal didn’t stir, but his tail curled tighter around my leg. Wiggling, I tried to free myself from his grasp without waking him. His arms fell away when I sat up, but his tail remained tight around my calf. Slowly, I unwound his tail. With careful movements, I stood. My head spun and my knees threatened to buckle. With gritted teeth, I ignored the pain and trudged toward my bedroom.
After I pissed, I sat on the edge of my bed, exhausted. I didn’t know if I could make it to the couch again, but I didn’t want Kal to wake up and panic, which he would if I wasn’t there. Unwillingly, I smiled. I’d never had someone who cared about me like he did, even if he was a tad overbearing.
My pulse started to pick up. Kal. He was special, and I didn’t want to give him up. But was I willing to give up Earth or the chance of ever seeing another human again for him?
Yes. Yes, I was.
“Seth,” NAID said, appearing in front of me.
I had barely spoken to her since I’d gotten sick. She’d popped in to check on me, but she hadn’t felt comfortable talking in front of Kal, who basically never left. We’d only spoken in private a couple of times when Kal had stepped out of the room for a few moments.
“How are you?” I asked.
“How you are is what’s important. Everyone thought you were going to die. It was going around the entire ship that Prince Kalvoxrencol’s mate would die and this would turn into a wake, but you lived. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I hadn’t done anything to live. I didn’t even remember being sick. Though I really didn’t like the idea of the entire ship talking about me. “So,” I started, trying to change the subject I fell into a familiar one, “have you chosen a name?”
“Not yet. There are so many names. How did you choose your name?” she asked, head tilting to the side, which made her updo slide to the right.
“I didn’t. My mom named me.”
“Maybe you should name me?”
“Am I your mother?”
“Sure,” NAID answered, expression casual. “You talk to me, tell me to express myself, encourage me, and so much more. Doesn’t that make you parent-like?”
My mouth opened, and then I closed it, trying to think about my response. Eventually, I replied, “I’m honored.”
“So you’ll name me?”
