“So you are saying River left me because of the women in my House. She… all of you, wants to return to your world because of the women we have in our Houses?” Torak asked trying to understand what Jo and Star were telling him and his brothers.
“Yes.” Came the soft reply from both girls.
“I can tell you no matter what any of you do, as long as you have the women you have been fucking living under the same roof as you are none of us will stay. Ever.” Star said looking into Jazin’s eyes.
“Even then I think it is going to be hard to forget.” Jo added glancing at Manota before turning away from him but not before he had seen the pain and betrayal in her eyes and the tremble to her lip.
“I can tell you now, Torak. If that woman who was here a little while ago is anywhere near River when she wakes up, I’ll kill her and you myself.” Star said looking into Torak’s eyes to let him know she meant it. “I won’t let you or anyone else hurt River. She doesn’t deserve it and neither do we.”
Torak nodded. He had a lot to think about. His biggest fear, he suddenly realized, was he wouldn’t be given the chance to prove to River how much he loved her. Shaken by his realization that River meant so much to him, he sank back in his chair, staring blindly towards the door of the waiting room.
Chapter 10
Torak was ready to go out of his mind. None of the healers had come back since they had taken Jo and Star to donate blood. It had been almost twelve hours since River had been shot. Torak paced back and forth ready to charge back into the medical unit to find River. The others had finally given up and found a place to sleep. Star was asleep with her head on Jazin’s lap on the couch while Jo was curled up on Manota’s lap. She had fallen asleep sitting in the chair and only after she had done so had Manota picked her up. She still wasn’t talking to him unless she had too and she refused to look at him for any length of time. Torak jerked around and both girls sat up with a start when the door opened.
An elderly healer walked into the room looking exhausted. His face was pale and drawn as he looked around the room at the faces looking at him with so much hope.
Turning his gaze to Torak, he let out a tired sigh, “My Lord, your mate should survive.” He said tiredly. “It was very close and she is not entirely out of danger.”
“Why is she still in danger? Our soldiers have suffered worse wounds and not taken so long to heal. Why is she still suffering?” Torak demanded.
The healer looked at Torak before replying, “There is much more to healing than just the body. There is the mind as well. Your mate had made the decision it was her time to go to the next life.”
Torak fell back as what the healer told him sunk in, “But why? How can you know this?” He whispered.
Jo pulled away from Manota and hurried over to the couch where Star sat holding herself tightly trying not to cry again.
“She loves you.” Star whispered. “She has almost from the very beginning.”
Torak sank into the chair by the window staring at Star, “River told this to you?”
Star looked at Torak before answering him, “River had never felt comfortable around the opposite sex. You are the only one she has ever let near her. Oh, she went out on a date or two but she never got serious with anyone. Not even Billy Myers and she actually went out on two dates with him. It’s not just that, I knew when we were in the vents. She would sneak off to go find you and be gone for hours. She was watching you, making sure you were okay. She worried about you.”
“And, don’t forget what happened yesterday.” Jo continued. “She saw you were in danger and protected you even at the risk of her own life. Even hurt by what to us is a deep betrayal, she couldn’t stand that you were in danger.”
The healer listened quietly before adding, “I believe the young ladies are correct. Lady River asked that I convey to you a message should she not survive before she became unconscious. She wanted me to tell you that she hoped you found happiness, My Lord.”
Torak looked at the healer in shock. “You said she should survive, not that she will. What needs to be done to make sure she will survive?”
“I believe only you have the power to give her the will to do so, My Lord.” The healer replied before bowing his head in respect and leaving the room.
“What should I do?” Torak looked at his brothers. For the first time, he felt at a loss as to how to take command of a situation. There was too much to lose if he should make the wrong decision.
Jo stood up and put her hands on her hips before glaring at all three men. “Well, for starters you can get rid of all the women in your Houses! I can guarantee you none of us will be stepping foot into any of those Houses ever again as long as one female you’ve fuck is still there, not to mention you won’t be touching us.”