12
Surnen, The Colony, Private Quarters
The bed may have been sizedfor three, but the shower tube in my quarters was not. It didn’t even fit two, which meant we stood outside the enclosure and watched as Mikki washed the Valurian ocean from her body.
We’d been escorted directly to my quarters and instructed to remain under quarantine until one of my medical staff cleared us. Which was just fine with me. I had no intention of leaving Mikki’s side anytime soon.
We’d stripped her bare and pushed her into the tiny tube, then removed our own sodden clothes.
We hadn’t been back on The Colony for ten minutes. It had all happened so fast. No, not just the fucking mess on Valuri, but everything.
“It hasn’t even been a day,” I murmured. We should have felt silly standing side by side and doing nothing but staring at our mate as she washed her hair, but I didn’t. Neither of us could look away, as if she’d disappear.
As if she’d never actually been here in the first place.
But she had. I was different. Holy fuck, I’d been ripped from my bland, strict existence and thrust into hell.
We all had, and we’d survived.
Mikki’s mind was calm. Quiet. The rush of adrenaline had faded from her system. It had from Trax’s as well, but he was restless, body and mind. I had to wonder if it was because she was used to danger, found a thrill in it, while Trax did not. He’d been in dangerous situations throughout his career as a warrior, was used to battle, to risking his life, but not what he’d just endured.
I’d only been in the water for less than a minute, and I hadn’t gone beneath the surface. The idea of it, the reminder that my mate had been trapped down there, had me panicking even now, far from Valuri and its body of water. Whatever the fuck was in that ocean was Helion’s problem.
Mine was before us, and she wasn’t a problem at all.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” he said. “I had no idea.”
The water turned off, the drying setting began, and within seconds the door slid open and Mikki stepped out onto the mat. Grabbing a bath sheet from a hook, I wrapped it about her, then pulled her into my arms. She was so small, her head only coming up to my chest. She offered no resistance, instead wrapping her arms about my waist and hugging me right back. Her covering fell to the floor.
Trax climbed into the tube and took his turn as we stood there. I was hard, no doubt she could feel the insistent prod against her torso, but I did nothing about it. My cock could wait.
“Mate,” I breathed, leaning down and kissing the top of her damp head.
“Scan me for injuries.”
I stiffened and felt a rush of panic. Setting my hands on her shoulders, I pushed her back, tipped my chin down to look at her. “You’re hurt?”
“No, I feel fine, but I know you want to check with your little wands.” She circled her finger in the air. “I’ll submit to a medical test. Whatever you need to be reassured.”
Trax stepped out of the tube, and I looked to him. He’d heard what she said, and I saw the heat in his gaze, but also… affection. Respect. Adoration.
I felt all of it, too. Her concern. Her need for me to be happy.
“Come here, mate. Let Surnen rinse the sea from his skin.”
It was my turn, but I didn’t want to leave her, even by stepping into the bathing tube for the short time it took to wash. By the time I was done, Trax had led her from the room, and he was sitting on the side of the bed, she upon his lap.
Fuck. She was so beautiful, so perfect.
Such a tiny thing and she was fierce. Brave.
Mikki looked up at me when I entered. “I want you to test me.”
I studied her, felt her emotions through the collars.
“All right.” I grabbed a wand from my medical kit by the entry door and returned. “Lay on the bed.”
Trax stood, keeping her in his arms, pivoted and gently set her down in the center. Crawling up beside her, he settled himself along her length, propped up on one elbow.