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Dr. Ten carefully cleaned, then slipped the same style nutri-gloves over my swollen fingers as he had Ginger’s, though much larger. The cool relief from the healing gel inside numbed my ravaged hands in moments.
I had no patience for niceties. After facing death, the starved bond was demanding connection with my mate, and I couldn’t have agreed more. I just wanted to get Ginger alone. “We’re done here, Doctor. You can go.”
Dr. Ten took reluctant steps toward the cave’s door. “But your ribs… And you’re limping….”
“Be reasonable.” Ginger’s gaze turned stern, but that only fired me up more.
“I’ve nearly been gored by a hellsna, rescued my mate from a kidnapping and had a gun pointed at my head.” I clutched Ginger to me tighter. “My fierce mate took down my rival right before my eyes.” Ginger’s pulse raced under my tongue, where I suckled her neck. “My well of reason is empty. I need to show my appreciation.” I hummed in her ear.
At the door, Dr. Ten spun to face me and fluttered his wings like a little jig. “Oh, and I really must say thank you, JayJay. I haven’t spread my wings since the Nacers on the edge of town were killed, and now that you have rid Tern of hellsna…I can fly again. Nurse Claice and I commend your extraordinary accomplishment.”
I was acting like an arrogant rock head. Dr. Ten had aided my mate. Despite my impatience, I forced a smile to my lips. “Thank you for tending to my mate. Enjoy your freedom.”
While I tipped my head to Dr. Ten, Ginger twisted in my arms and kissed my nose. “My hero.” A whisper of her linnea scent grounded me, and I inhaled until I drowned in it. Alone at last, I hugged her head to my chest until my soft purr filled the room.
“You look like a king in this chair,” she murmured into my chest.
I would never be a king. But with Ginger in my arms and the possibility of a clean record in my near future, I felt like the wealthiest male in the galaxies.
Geo ran into the alcove. His crazy eyes settled when they landed on Ginger, safe in my lap.
“I got here as soon as I heard.” He rushed toward us and crushed Ginger in a hug that I had no choice but to be part of as my arms already circled her.
“Gently,” I scolded my boss. Alone time was looking less likely by the moment.
“Damn it, you had me worried sick.” Tears leaked down Geo’s cheeks as he ran a gentle hand over Ginger’s bandaged wrists.
He’s her best friend.I clenched my jaw at the affection being shown by another man.
“Oh, bless the goddess Sola, you look terrible!” Makir hurried into the alcove and added his arms to the mix until we were a pile of intertwined limbs. “I’m so glad you’re both okay.” The blue puff on the tip of his tail stuttered back and forth like a stuck second hand on a clock. “But come on, we have important things to do.”
The only important thing I had to do was keep my arms wrapped around my female. Though a shower would be nice.
When Ginger and I made no move to get up, Makir started tugging on my arm. “There’s something you need to see.”
Eyeballing the state of our clothes and Ginger’s weariness, I asked, “Right now?” While the blood would wash off, it didn’t change the fact that my leathers were dotted with the entrails of hellsna.
“Yes,” Geo and Makir said in unison.
“I want to see.” Ginger patted my elbow, despite her heavy head lolling against my shoulder.
We certainly had stubbornness in common. I secured Ginger in my arms, scooping her up against my chest, and rose from my throne, then we followed the overeager couple through command central.
Cheers erupted, and Ginger grew alert, wriggling in my arms. She tapped my elbow, and I loosened my grip, lowered her to the ground then drew her—beaming smile and all—against my hip.
Every enforcer stationed at the Starry Volcano surrounded us. Pride flooded me, and I widened my stance. My team stood at the front of the small crowd. In Efred’s and Saluda’s purple-scaled hands, a banner that looked like one of Sully’s younglings had written on it billowed.
Protector JayJay goes all the way! He’s the hero of the day!
It might have been the worst rhyme I’d ever heard, butI found myself smiling.
“Thank you,” I said. The enforcers quieted. “This is a win for us all. I couldn’t have done it without the help of Hill and his team, Tuga and all of you who were willing to sacrifice your lives for the good of Tern. Now is the time to celebrate and be proud of your achievements.” I smiled. “Make sure you buy Tuga a drink at the cantina when you see him.”
As the applause rang out, Makir pushed against my lower back, bulldozering me through the crowd.
Finally free from the crush, Ginger snuggled deeper into my side while she beamed with pride, her smile so big it might swallow me whole. The last time I’d felt half this good, I’d been awarded my lead elite guard title after a difficult battle.
A cool spring breeze blew over my head. The fresh air cleared the rancid stench of hellsna from my nose, and I inhaled a huge lungful.
