“Cease your whining, Seton, and see to my mate. There is a traitor among us.”
Noah chose that moment to stir in my arms and let out a blood-curdling scream.
Everyone froze in place and turned to look at me. At Noah.
As Roark was settled onto a Trion version of a stretcher, three people waving ReGen wands over him, he spoke. “Natalie and I have discovered that time on Earth passes differently than it does here. How long was I gone, Seton?”
“Thirty-five minutes,” Seton replied. “We notified your parents and they transported here to await your return.”
Thirty-five minutes? I was seeing now how Roark was so stunned that I’d had a baby when just a few days had passed for him.
“Take care of my mate, Seton. And my son. See to them first.”
“Son?” Seton asked, then, “What traitor? Roark, what the fark happened to you?”
“I will not say and leave my family vulnerable while I am healing. I want two sets of guards on duty at all times. Have my parents stay with Natalie and Noah. Trust no one.”
Seton ushered Roark toward a strange, oblong coffin-looking thing glowing with light. Roark looked at me as they lowered him inside. “Protect Noah, mate. Trust Seton and my parents. No one else.”
He held my gaze until I nodded. Noah was tugging at my hair and I absently grabbed his little wrists, holding him in place so I could think without him yanking hair out of my head. “We’ll be fine, Roark. Heal. We’ll be here when you wake up.”
Roark nodded and tore his gaze from mine to look at an older man leaning over the edge of the pod adjusting the controls. “How long this time, Doctor Brax?”
The older gentleman sighed, a wry smile on his face, and I assumed this was not the first time Roark and the doctor had this conversation. “I recommend a full twenty-four hours, Councilor. You weren’t fully healed the last time.”
Roark grinned back at him. “That’s too long. I can’t leave my mate unprotected for that long.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but Seton beat me to it. “I’ll protect her with my life, Roark. I won’t leave her side. You have my word.”
Roark looked to his friend and I saw the decision there even before he nodded. “She is my life, Seton.”
“I know.”
Roark nodded and turned to the doctor. “Twenty-four hours and not a minute more.”
“Excellent. You are making the right decision, sir.” The doctor’s hands sped to twice their previous speed and I assumed it was to knock Roark out before my stubborn mate changed his mind. I wasn’t eager to have him asleep and away from me for that long, but if it meant he would heal completely, then it would be worth it.
“Gara.”
A transparent covering slid into place over Roark’s face and he was surrounded by bright light. He was staring at me and I watched as his eyelids fluttered, then closed as he was put under for the healing process.
Once Roark was completely under, everyone in the room turned to look at me. Me and Noah.
Sheesh. Talk about feeling like a bug under a microscope. I was wearing jeans and a T-shirt I’d tugged on before leaving for the airport, covered in Roark’s blood from the many times I’d used the ReGen wand to heal him. Miranda cleared her throat behind me and I took a step back, closer to her. I’d completely forgotten she was with me.
I turned to find her staring, her jaw open, as Seton broke the tension and walked straight over to us. I’d been on Trion for two days, not much more than Miranda, but I was not afraid. I was glad to be back.
“You must be Natalie.” His voice was deep and gentle, as if he was afraid both of us would bolt.
Miranda looked from him to me. I nodded to her that we were okay and turned to address Seton. “Yes, I am Natalie. This is Miranda.”
He bowed low and went down on one knee before me. Miranda’s hand came to rest on my shoulder and Noah stilled in my arms, looking down on the man with curiosity. “I am Seton, my lady. I pledge my honor to you and will protect you and your son with my life.”
My jaw went slack as I wondered how to respond. This felt like a formal ritual, and I had no idea what I was supposed to say.
“It’s customary, daughter, to accept his offer and give him permission to rise.” The voice was female, confident, and coming from just behind me. I turned to find an older female dressed in cream and gold, an older version of Roark standing just behind her looking almost as fierce and imposing as his son.
Licking my lips, I turned back to Seton, who remained on one knee before me, head bowed. “Thank you, Seton. I accept and, umm, you may rise now.”
Seton rose to stand before me, towering over Miranda and I both, just like Roark did. But I didn’t focus on him now. He was a known. He was Roark’s friend, the one man my mate said I could trust on this planet. Having him at my back made me feel confident enough to face the older couple—my in-laws—who may or may not want an alien daughter-in-law.