“I will do it.” Something about someone else touching Mindy right now was grating on my fractured nerves, even though it was logical for the professionals to take care of him.
Once again, she offered me her throat before assisting me in turning Mindy over—he was heavy. Once he was on his stomach, I gently grabbed his wing, and Muznim said, “By the talon and be very slow. If one opens, so will the other. It's a reflex.”
Nodding, I hooked my fingers around his talon, careful of the point because it was exceedingly sharp, and pulled. His wing unfolded and the other followed. I kissed the closest one before hauling him practically on top of me. I tucked Serlotminden’s head against my shoulder, breathing in his scent.
He would wake up soon; I knew it. I kept my arms around him, hand running over his back. My fingers felt every knob on his spine and the delicate scales between his wings. He was lovely. The sheet kept him from exposing himself to everyone, because, apparently, drakcol didn’t believe in hospital gowns. Nope. Patients who needed full-time care remained all natural.
Time passed with me and Serlotminden alone, and it was kind of nice. I wished he was awake, but for the first time since we’d left the planet’s surface, the two of us were alone. Mindy’s brothers were always around—them or Seth and Caleb. I wasn’t used to spending so much time with other people. For the last two years, the sole person I had spent any meaningful time with was Vince and then Mindy.
“You know,” I told him, “since we are alone, if you were awake, we could make out.”
“If you’d like.”
My heart skipped a beat, then skyrocketed.
Bright green eyes met my gaze.
“Serlotminden.”
“Greetings, Flower.”
I planted my lips on his, giving him a chaste kiss. “Are you alright? Are you in any pain?”
“I missed you.”
A wet chuckle escaped me. “You were asleep, Honey. How could you miss me?”
“I just did.” Mindy closed his eyes, shifting closer to nuzzle me.
I tried to force away the tears that burned my eyes. He was alive. Everything was fine. “Mindy.”
“Yes, my Mate?”
“Don’t ever scare me again.”
He laughed. “I will try my utmost not to.”
“I love you.”
“I love you as well.”
I asked, “How are you feeling?”
“Tired, and my stomach hurts.”
“That makes sense. You were caught by a giant bird and had your gut stabbed by talons.”
“I am glad it was me instead of you.”
I grunted. That wasn’t a sentiment that I shared.
“Are you well?”
“Yeah.”
“Truly?”
“Yes,” I repeated, giving him a soft kiss. “Your brothers have been taking very good care of me.”
