“Be calm, brother.” He wasn’t surprised to know Genet could sense his brewing rage. “Letting go will only make matters worse. Most of her injuries are only superficial, and once I give her proper nutrients, suture up the large cuts, and the healing gel works its way through her system, she should be fully healed within a day or two.”
Erak stood back and watched his brother work as the automated medical arm sutured the deeper cuts.After she was bandaged up, Genet ran a small ultraviolet wand across her inner arm, inserting an IV into her arm so hydration and nutrients could filter right into her veins.
Raimi strode into the room with a handful of clean linens in his arms only moments later.
“The room is ready.”
Erak grabbed the linens and draped them carefully over her body. He then lifted her, but a firm hand landed on his forearm, stopping him.
“What the fuck are you doing?” He glared at Genet and the almost accusation in his brother’s voice.
“I was just about to ask you the same thing.” Erak looked at where Genet had a hold on his arm.
“You can’t move her. She needs to stay stationary and heal.”
“No fucking way am I leaving her on this piece of metal. She’s going to rest in a bed.” Genet let go of his arm and sighed heavily.
“Brother.” Genet flicked his gaze to Luna then looked at Erak again. “She’s my mate, too. I’m not trying to make her uncomfortable. I just want her healed.” Erak gritted his teeth.
He knew his brother meant well and felt just as intensely for their female as he did, but Erak wouldn’t budge on this. He wanted her in his bed, but until she could acknowledge she was theirs as well, he would concede to let her sleep in a spare room.
“She’s sleeping in a bed, Genet.” He went to lift her, and Genet gripped his arm once more.
“Just be gentle.” He stared into his brother’s eyes and nodded.
“Always.” He walked out of the infirmary and into the spare bunk. Raimi had made the quarters up, and Erak gently laid her down on it. He sensed his brothers right behind him and said to Genet, “Can you get one of the thicker, Thorra pelts?”
The ship’s temperature adjusted automatically to each individual’s core temp, but she was now nude, and therefore, he wanted to make sure she didn’t get too cold. Genet handed him the pelt, and he draped it over the sheets that already covered her.
Erak stood above her and stared at her too pale face. Already, some of the swelling in her face had decreased, and he knew whatever medicinal concoctions Genet had created to aid in her healing would mend her quickly.
These caring and comforting emotions he had toward her were foreign but not unwelcome. Now that he knew she was his mate, everything changed. Had they been too high on the fact they wanted to bed a female before finding mates to bear their children that they hadn’t realized the prize that had been right in front of them?
Had their arrogant ways almost led them away from the one female the stars had made sure was theirs? He grew angry at himself and at his brothers for all of their blindness.
If they had just opened up their hearts and eyes, pushed away their sexual urges, they could have taken her away from all of this.
“We didn’t realize she was ours, brother.” Raimi stepped up beside him and stared at Luna. Raimi could sense others’ emotions. “Our minds were elsewhere, and I am angry at myself, as well, that it took her getting hurt and smelling her blood to realize that she was my mate.”
Only two things could alert an Aktulla male of their mate: sex or the scent of blood. Erak reached down and brushed a lock of hair away from her cheek. The auburn locks were silky between his fingers, and he couldn’t stop from touching them.
He pushed another lock away from her shoulder, baring the slender column of her throat. The sight of her creamy flesh called to his animal urges, ones that wanted to mark her so every male would know she was his mate.
Although he was disgusted at himself for even thinking of marking her when she was unconscious, the urges were something he couldn’t control.
Once Genet checked her vitals once more and was satisfied with the findings, they left her to rest.
They made their way back into the common room and had a seat at the circular table. Raimi was the first to speak.
“I cannot believe someone would do this to a helpless female.Our female,” Raimi said. They looked at each other. “Based on her injuries, I think it is pretty safe to assume they were made by asomeoneand not a something. I want blood from whoever did this to her.”
Erak could see his brother’s tension escalate.
“Calm down. There isn’t any point in getting worked up when Luna is lying in there injured. We can’t do anything about it right now,” Genet murmured, but there was no hiding the rage in his voice.
“When Luna is awake and healed, I’m sure she will answer these questions.”
Everyone stayed silent after Erak spoke.