“Seth negotiated with the Maykians for help. They, along with Edith, helped me create a serum we believe will neutralize the venom,” she said.
I didn’t know who the hell Edith was, but I was thankful for her and the Maykian’s assistance. “But?” I asked. There was always a but, a risk, something.
“It might not.”
I glanced at Kal, and his tail was flicking, but he didn’t offer an opinion. I kissed Mindy’s temple and said, “Fine.”
She carefully unwound his bandages, and the wounds seeped blood. Carefully, she injected the edge of the worst wound on his side—right where the piece of shrapnel had stabbed him.
I swallowed my nerves and watched as she continued injecting around the talon punctures. I helped her move him to reach all of the injuries. When she was doing one on the back of his thigh, Mindy jolted.
“Honey?”
His muscles contracted and he began to flail.
Muznim pulled him away from me, and I tried to grab him, but Kal held out an arm to waylay me. “Let her help him.”
I shoved him away, but Kal caught me around the waist as I fought to follow Serlotminden who was being moved across the medbay. Muznim and technicians swarmed him, taking him away from me.
“Mindy,” I called.
“Bartholomew,” Kal said. “Let her help him. Muznim is one of the best. We would never entrust our brother to anyone incompetent.”
“Let go of me.”
“My apologies, but I cannot. You need to let them take care of him.” Kal held me close, keeping me back. “I know you want to be with him, and so do I, but let her do her job.”
Mindy needed me. I had a hard time seeing him through the crowd, but what I did see of him was shaking as if he might be having a seizure. I fought Kal’s iron grip on me, calling for Mindy.
Klars appeared in my line of vision and said in a soothing voice, “Muznim is one of the best, and if you do not calm yourself, I will sedate you.” He lifted a full injector with a wide smile.
I frowned but ceased writhing, and Kal released me. He stood right beside me, chest heaving and tail thrashing. We both waited, eyes never leaving Serlotminden, for someone to come talk to us again.
It took an agonizingly long time before Muzmin returned. “He had an adverse reaction.”
“No shit.” I took a deep breath. “Is he alright?”
“We stabilized him, and the treatment does appear to be working.”
Kal sagged. “Thank the Crystal. How long until he wakes?”
“I do not know.”
“I need to tell my parents and my brothers. Are you well, Bartholomew?”
“As soon as they give him back to me, I will be, yeah.”
He raised his eyebrows but didn’t comment and left the medbay.
Muznim continued to monitor Serlotminden on the other side of the room, and a wall of technicians blocked me from seeing much of him. Eventually, she waved me over. Apparently, Mindy was staying on his new bed. More machines were attached to him, and his scales were shiny with sweat.
Placing a hand on him, I breathed. Fuck. That had been too close. I clambered onto the bed to lie next to him, snuggling against his side, and his tail coiled around my ankle, making me smile. I tilted his chin up and pressed a gentle kiss against his lips. We might not have discussed if he was comfortable with public affection or me kissing him in his sleep, but I knew Mindy wouldn’t deny me something I needed. And I desperately needed to kiss him, to assure myself that he was right beside me.
Whispering against his lips, I said, “You fucking scared me. Please don’t do it again.”
Dr. Muznim returned, and I watched her with narrowed eyes. There was no fucking way she was doing anything else to him right now. She offered me her throat but didn’t appear bothered by my glare.
“We need to stretch his wings.”
