Page 64 of Badass Alien Boss

“No. We passed other pedestrians, but we didn’t interact with anyone. We got to our building, rode the booster—there was no one else on it—to our floor, and went directly to our apartment.”

“What did you do when you got inside?”

“We showered, made love, and went to sleep.”

“Did you eat or drink anything else?”

“No.”

“When did the symptoms start?”

“A few hours after going to sleep? I woke up because I was having trouble breathing, and that’s the last I remember until I was on the transport coming here.”

“I’d left the room,” Ruyn said. “I got to thinking about a family matter, and I couldn’t sleep. I went into the sitting room so I wouldn’t disturb her. Then I went back into the bedroom to get my tech tab.” He looked at her. “You were very still. I thought you were sleeping. When I went to kiss you, I realized something was wrong. I turned on the light, and you were bloated. I couldn’t wake you. You weren’t breathing. I didn’t feel a heartbeat.” He squeezed his eyes shut for an instant. “It was the worst moment of my life.”

She clasped his hand tighter.

The doctor tilted his head and pursed his lips. “When the incidents occurred on Elyxis 4, had you followed the same routine?”

“What do you mean?”

“Eat a meal, have sex, go to sleep, wake up with an allergic reaction.”

“Um…” She met Ruyn’s gaze. “I guess so.”

“I think we did,” he replied.

Dr. Kurur focused on Ruyn. “I want to run some tests on you.”

“Me? Why me? I’m fine.”

“What do you think is wrong?” Michaela asked.

“I’m not thinking anything yet. I’ll know after I get the test results.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

A nurse-tech took Ruyn to be poked and scanned, and another escorted Michaela to a “comfort station” to wait. In the corridor, a dark-suited man approached from the opposite direction.He looks familiar. Where do I know him from?

She turned around but could only see his retreating back.

Then she forgot all about him when she entered the waiting room. “Korsan! What are you doing here?”

“Michaela! How are you?” He ceased pacing and rushed over, his face wreathed with concern.

“Well, out of the woods for the moment. What are you doing here?” she repeated.

“Ruyn told me what happened to you, and I came to offer him moral support. Where is he?”

“They’re running tests on him.”

“Tests? Is he all right? What’s wrong?”

“Hopefully, nothing. I get the impression the doctor thinks he may have been exposed to the antigen too.” She hoped Ruyn didn’t have what she had and clung to the fact that he was asymptomatic. That had to be a positive sign, didn’t it? But the fact the doctor was testing him made her anxious.

Korsan looked stricken. “He seemed fine to me.”

“To me, too.” She sank into a seat. “This is all so scary. Thank you for coming,” she said, grateful for small favors he hadn’t gotten involved in anything illegal or unethical. They didn’t need that worry on top of everything else. His business was still mismanaged, but that wasn’t as bad as him running a criminal enterprise.