Page 35 of Badass Alien Boss

Chapter Fourteen

“Ruyn…Ruyn…”

His name and a touch on his shoulder jolted him out of a deep sleep to a pitch-black room. “Michaela?”

“Something’s…something’s wrong. I don’t feel well.”

“Let me get the light.” He rolled toward the bedside table and slapped around until he hit the light button. “Phuk! What happened to you?”

“That bad…huh?”

Her eyes had narrowed to slits in her swollen face, and her lips had ballooned. A rash of hives spread from her hairline to her neck and shoulders, visible over the sheet. “I’m”—she wheezed—“having trouble breathing.”

The food! The phukking food. “I think you’re having an allergic reaction. Let me call somebody.”

His heart rate skyrocketed with alarm, but military training and experience dealing with emergencies kicked in, and he got out of bed and retrieved his data tab. He connected with the front desk.

“Guest Services, how may I help you?”

“We need a doctor. I believe my—” Friend? Partner? Wife? They were incognito. “Michaela Perine is experiencing a severe allergic reaction to something she ate. She needs medical attention right away.”

“I will send the doctor. What species is she?”

“Human.”

“She is in the suite?”

“Yes. Rigel tower, Room 320.” Her breathing sounded worse. “Tell him to hurry. She’s having trouble breathing.”

“The doctor is on the way.”

The call disconnected, and Ruyn pulled on some pants. He sat on the bed, feeling helpless. “A doctor is coming.” He clasped her rash-covered hand. She squeezed his fingers weakly.

“My h-h-heart is racing,” she gasped.

“You maybe shouldn’t try to talk.” His heart raced, too. He’d never been so scared in his entire life. What thephukwas taking the doctor so long?

Finally, a chime sounded. He leaped off the bed and ran to let the doctor in.

A silver-haired female Andrian carrying a black case and wearing a white coat stood outside. “You are having an emergency—”

“Hurry! She’s in the bedroom.” He dragged her into the suite and pushed her into the bedroom.

“What is your emergency—” The doctor broke off at the sight of a wheezing Michaela. She’d become even more swollen in the short time it had taken him to let the doctor in. “It appears you are having an allergic reaction. I’m Dr. Adanna.” She removed a handheld med-device from her bag and scanned Michaela. “Besides the hives and the facial swelling, what other symptoms are you experiencing?”

“I-I-I’m having t-t-t-rouble breathing,” she gasped. “Itching. All over.”

The doctor peered at the readout. “You’re in anaphylactic shock. You must have ingested something you’re allergic to. This will counteract it.” She removed an injector and delivered a shot to the base of Michaela’s neck. “You should feel better very soon.”

It didn’t seem soon to him, but probably it was only a minute or two before Michaela’s breathing became less wheezy, and the tension in her face relaxed.

“You’re lucky you called me when you did,” the doctor said, and he read between the lines. Michaela’s condition had been very serious. “What and where did you eat last?”

“We ordered room service. We ate the same thing—the constellation platter.” He’d had no adverse reaction. Other than being scared out of his wits, he felt fine.

“You are different species. Didn’t you filter the meals by race?” Adanna said.

“We did,” Michaela said.