Page 60 of Loving the Alien Spy

“You are not a mess,” Quinn says firmly.

“Or at least not any more of a mess than any of us would be in your position,” Olivia adds, earning a glare from Quinn. “What? It’s true. If it were Horek or Janik lying in there, you or I would be a wreck. There’s nothing wrong with that. No one is judging Lindsey for being scared or worried. I’d be fucking terrified and a complete disaster. Being a mess in this situation is completely valid.”

The other two begrudgingly agree.

“Thank you guys for being the most amazing friends. I love you all so much.”

“Ah babe, we love you too,” Olivia says.

Suddenly, the machines attached to the healing pod start going off. Beeps and chimes echo in the room. We all jump to our feet.

“What’s happening?” I move to rush over to the pod, but the three of them hold me back.

Seconds later, Vornak comes through the door in no major hurry. He doesn’t even glance at me before he reaches the healing pod and presses a button on the side. A pneumatic hissing sound escapes from it, and the lid makes a popping sound before the lock disengages. Finally, the healer glances over at me with a smile. My friends release me, and I take slow steps forward.

Vornak carefully raises the lid and moves out of the way so I can slot into the place where he stood. With my breath held, I focus on my mate lying there. His eyelids twitch, and ever so slowly, I’m staring into the black orbs that flash brightly with the flame that ignites in their depths.

“Oh my god.” I cover my mouth with my hand. “Carrik.”

“Lindsey,” he croaks in a rough voice. “My heart’s fire.”

I lay my head on his chest as the tears flow once more. A heavy weight lands on my head, and he begins to stroke my hair in the soothing gesture I love so much.

“You almost died.” It’s all I can say, over and over.

“Shh, my love. I am well, I promise.”

“I almost lost you.”

“But you didn’t. I will never leave you.” Carrik continues to caress me until I’ve once more cried myself out.

Slowly, I straighten and wipe my face. When my mate moves like he’s going to push himself upright, I rush to stop him. “You need to stay there. It’s too soon for you to try and get up.”

“Lindsey, my love, I am fine,” he says patiently and shifts again.

I huff my frustration but place my arm behind him to help. At least as much as I’m able to, given Carrik outweighs me and is much stronger than I am, even after almost dying. He sits on the edge of the healing pod and pulls me in between his legs so we’re face-to-face. He drags his thumbs under my eyes, wiping away the wetness that clings to my lashes still.

I’m well aware of what I look like when I’ve been crying, but the way Carrik stares at me makes me feel as though I’m the most beautiful woman in the world.

“I thought I’d lost you.” My heart aches saying that out loud.

“You will never lose me.”

“You can’t make promises like that.”

“I can and I will.” Carrik says it with so much conviction, I almost have to believe him.

Instead of arguing, I wrap my arms around him and bury my nose in the crook of his neck so I can breathe in his scent and feel the warmth of his flesh. “I love you so much.”

He folds me into his embrace. “I love you too.”

Whatever happens after today, I’m going to make sure Carrik knows how much I love and care for him. I don’t know what his and Bannik’s relationship will look like and if they’ll everreconcile. But no matter if they do or don’t, my mate is going to know thatIam his family. My friends are now his family too. They’ll love Carrik like sisters would love a brother, because that’s what family does. Neither of us is ever going to be lonely again.

A throat clears behind us. Carrik releases me but doesn’t let me go far. Vornak walks farther into the room holding a handheld medical scanner. My friends are gone from the room. I’m guessing they slipped out to give Carrik and me privacy.

“If it’s all right with you, I’d like to take a quick scan to make sure your injuries have fully healed.”

I step to the side but keep my fingers entwined with Carrik’s while the healer does his checkup. He runs the device over my mate, and once it’s beeped, he studies the screen. Vornak raises his head and nods.