Nikhil(18)

“Nikhil,” she protested, “I’m soaking wet.”

“I don’t care. You need rest.” Pulling the towel from her body, he quickly covered her back up with the bed’s coverings, making sure they were tucked in close. Then he began removing the excess moisture from her hair.

“Nikhil.” She tried to free herself from the cocoon of covers that enveloped her, but his hand stilled her.

“No, Mackenzie, everything will be fine. Just rest.”

Mac found she could only do as he asked. The heat of the shower had relaxed her. Combine that with the comfort of the bed, and the feeling of safety her eyes closed and she was fast asleep.





Chapter Four


Treyvon frowned when he entered the medical unit and found it empty.

“She is in the deep-repair area,” Gryf told him, gesturing to the partially closed door on the other side of the room.

“She’s still in the unit?” Treyvon couldn’t believe it. The female’s injuries must be truly grave for the unit to still be treating her.

“No, she’s not,” Luol told them, walking out of his office. “I had Squad Leader Nikhil take her to his quarters.”

“What? Why?” Treyvon demanded.

“Because she is his True Mate and he is the only one that she trusts. Especially after the way the Commander treated her.” Luol gave Gryf a disapproving look.

“What are you talking about?” Treyvon spun around to look at his second-in-command.

“Commander Gryf tried to order Squad Leader Nikhil away from his unconscious True Mate.”

“He did what?” Treyvon’s gaze remained locked on his commander.

“Yes, and that understandably upset Nikhil significantly. His emotions transferred to his True Mate causing her to become very agitated. Had Nikhil not been able to calm her, she could have severely damaged herself as she was still in the deep-repair unit.”

“You attempted to force a Warrior, one of our largest, to desert his True Mate while inside the deep-repair unit?!!”

“At the time, I only had Healer Luol’s opinion that she was Nikhil’s True Mate. He could have been wrong.”

“But he wasn’t.”

“No.” Gryf had to break eye contact with his General and friend.

“Then once she finally calmed, Commander Gryf felt it would be a good time to interrogate her,” Luol continued.

“Commander?”

“She spoke of her time with the Zaludians," Gryf said, defending his actions. "I was only attempting to find out how long she was with them.”

“By barraging her with questions, and giving her no time to answer?" Luol fired back. "You frightened her!”

“That was not my intention!" Gryf took a threatening step toward the Healer.

“What is her condition, Luol?” Treyvon asked, interrupting the growing argument between his Commander and Healer.

“She is weak, which is to be expected after what she has survived.” Luol pulled his gaze from Gryf, giving the General his full attention. “The deep-repair unit was able to treat the injuries caused by the Zaludians, and I have begun replenishing the nutrients she was deficient in.”

Treyvon frowned at that. “Did you consider that perhaps her species does not require the same nutrients that we do?”

“I did, which is why I only gave her a portion of what the unit recommended. I did not want to overwhelm her system.”

“And?”

“Her body seemed to readily absorb what I gave her with no side effects. After she has rested, I will complete the treatment. Then she should be ready to use the educator.”

“It would have been better for her to remain here,” Gryf said stiffly.

“No, it wouldn't have. Not only would I not separate Nikhil from his True Mate but from what I’ve heard, there are going to be other survivors that need the deep-repair unit. Having other males around his weakened True Mate would raise all Nikhil’s protective instincts, which would in turn agitate his True Mate. She doesn’t need that. She will rest better in Nikhil’s quarters.”

“You are sure she is his True Mate, Luol?” Treyvon asked quietly.

“She wears his True Mate bead, General. And while I don’t think she realizes it or knows what it means, she responds to Nikhil’s words, touch, and emotions as only a True Mate would.”

“A True Mate hasn't been found in nearly five-hundred years, Luol.”

“I know that, General, and had I not witnessed it myself, I wouldn’t believe it. But I did. Her responses were true.”

“I need to see this for myself. Gryf, with me.”

Gryf silently walked beside his General, knowing some things still needed to be said. “I should not have approached her like that.”