So much.
So many people counting on us.
The morts, their mates. Those still healing from The Rades. Kevin, who may as well be our child.
My breath catches in my throat and my eyes dart up to my face in the mirror.
Our child.
I press a shaking hand to my stomach. No, it can’t be. It’s been such a short time, there’s no way I can be pregnant already.
Except, I remember a conversation with Lyric in the beginning. How mortling pregnancies progress so much faster than human ones. Could I be pregnant with Avrell’s baby?
14
Avrell
“How do you know how to fly this?” Kevin asks, twitching in his seat. “You’re a doctor not a pilot.”
“Just wait until you meet our commander, Breccan. You’ll learn that he likes it when we all know a little of everything. Before the females arrived, we were all alone. Just the ten of us morts. You have to know how to do all sorts of things when there are only a few of you.”
Kevin considers my answer. “Will I learn how to fly too?”
“I’m certain you will. Theron is a brilliant captain. He’d be great to teach you. I know the basics and that’s it.”
“Hmmm.”
Zoe snickers from beside me. “He sounds just like you when he does that.”
I let my gaze roam over her, appreciating all her beauty. Her hair is as wild as her spirit today. If we didn’t have a mortling present, I’d pull her into my lap and grab onto her silky tresses while I kissed her madly.
“How much longer?” Eleanor asks. “Is it a long trip?”
“It took four days when we traveled in the Mayvina, but this vessel seems to fly at an accelerated rate.” I point to the radar. “See that giant formation with the dark squares?”
Eleanor leans in and nods. “What is it?”
“That’s the Facility.”
“Seems close,” Kevin says.
“It’s an illusion because that monitor is scaled down for our viewing. I’d say another solar.” I mash a button to take the vessel off autopilot and motion for Kevin. “Come stand here, mort. I’ll show you some things.”
I show him several of the different buttons and levers. Though they’re not the same as the Mayvina, it was pretty simple to figure out as they’re similar. When I show him the throttle, I let him maneuver for a bit. He laughs when he dips us to the side and Zoe curses.
“Easy now,” I say with a chuckle. “Save your tricks for Theron.”
Zoe scampers off while I show Kevin how to put the ship back in autopilot. I teach him what to look for in the distance—formation, beasts, buildings. When some time has passed and Zoe hasn’t returned, I grow worried.
“Do you think you can man the ship for a few minutes?” I ask as I rise from the captain’s chair.
He gapes at me. “Really?”
“It’s a big job. No tricks or excitement. Just making sure we don’t run into anything. Can you do that?”
He nods, a silly grin on his face. I ruffle his hair as he hops into my seat. Once I’m sure he’s settled, I make my way through the ship. Most everyone is sleeping, though there are a few speaking in hushed tones with Eleanor. I find Zoe in the room we set up as a medical bay.
“What is it, stormy one? Are you ill?”
“After Kevin’s stunt, a little.” She smiles, but she’s pale. “Don’t tell me you left him to pilot the ship.”
“He’s thirteen revolutions old. I was hunting sabrevipes at that age.”
She cringes. “If I never see one of those things, it’ll be too soon.”
“I’m sure you could handle yourself.” I approach her and feel her forehead. No fever. “Does your nog hurt? Do you have chills?”
“No.”
“What about aches? Do you have those? Could this be The Rades coming on?”
I haven’t perfected the inoculation, only the cure. Still, I don’t want to have to use it on my mate. I want her to remain well.
“It’s not The Rades,” she assures me.
“The exposure…” I frown. “What if the R-levels were too high? What if we’re not as safe as we think?” I walk over to a cabinet and begin rummaging around. “I need to find a test for the—”
“Avrell, stop,” she grumbles.
“If it’s not the R-levels,” I continue, “it could be that Kevin—er, human’s blood. I had it on me when we kissed. Rekk! I’ve exposed you and—”
“Avrell!” She smacks my shoulder. “Look at me.”
I turn to look down at my mate, worry making my stomach twist violently. “I can’t lose you.”
“You won’t,” she murmurs. “Maybe you should try the wegloscan.”
“The wegloscan only…” I trail off, the doctor in me overriding the male. “It’s too soon.”
“The others said—”
“Zoe,” I bite out. “It’s too soon.”
She huffs and rolls her eyes. “You don’t know everything, Avrell. You only know some things. There are other things you can’t possibly know because we’re aliens in case you forgot!”