“How is Orin doing?” I asked.
Grace’s eyes grew wide. “Orin? What did the medic do to him?”
I smoothed her hair. “He gave him some sort of paralytic as well as knocking him out.”
Rekna frowned. “I have seen him and there are a few side effects. He has been sent to rest. Whatever Nivar gave him interfered with his nervous system.”
“No. He has to be okay,” Grace cried.
Rekna spoke.He blames himself for Grace being taken. I am concerned about his state of mind.
Grace narrowed her eyes and looked back and forth between the medic and me.
“What are you two saying to one another? I can tell you are communicating telepathically.”
“Just that Orin blames himself for you being taken,” I revealed.
Rekna frowned. “There seems to be plenty of self-blame to share between you and Orin.” Pausing for a moment, he waved his hand to signal me to go away. “Your K’sha will be okay. No need to hover while I work.”
A possessive growl escaped my throat unintentionally.
The medic was aware that I would observe his every action.
My instinct was to protect my mate. ‘I can’t just leave her alone after everything that happened.’
Rekna’s lips pursed. “She won’t be alone. I am with her. Now go.”
Grace reached out her hand to me. “I’m all right. No need to worry.”
Holding her hand, I noticed angry red welts on her wrist for the first time. I reached for the other one and gently kissed the inside of each wrist.
Despite being minor, seeing the injury made my stomach turn. This should never have occurred.
Rekna was right about me blaming myself for her being taken by the shapeshifter. I’d broken my promise to protect Grace.Of course, I was to blame.
I couldn’t manage to tear myself away from her as I stroked her head.
Grace looked at me and tilted her head to the side. “It’s okay Trex. I trust Rekna.”
Leaning down to speak just to her, I whispered. “So do I, but I don’t want to leave you. I’ve already failed you twice.” Emotion made my voice sound harsh.
Her hand gently touched my cheek. “This isn’t your fault, and you have never failed me. You have rescued me...twice, not to mention when you found me on that planet.”
Grace’s eyes were filled with a compassion I wasn’t sure I deserved. I kissed her forehead, then stepped back, swallowing hard.
“I will wait outside for you.”
She smiled, and I turned to leave the infirmary.
KRIN WALKED OVER TOme when I entered the corridor. “Is she going to be okay? Is it possible for Rekna to remove the implant?”
“Yes.” For the first time, I wondered if I had acted too hastily in response to the shapeshifter. We were still in the dark aboutwho the race was. There were more questions than answers at this point.
Sensing my mood, Krin put a hand on my shoulder. “Killing Nivar is not on you. I’m the one who shot him and he was dying, anyway. You just put him out of his misery. Besides, we still have the other changeling to interrogate again. I am certain we will find out more about thesedevaras.”
He explained, his look intense. “If my K’sha was in danger, I would have done the same thing.”
I raised my brows, and he dropped his hand and stepped back.
