The image of Maxim’s arm haunted me even as I walked to the S-Gen unit and stepped onto the grid. “Medical uniform.”
I gave the unit the order and stood quietly as the machine did its job, scanning and removing the dress I had been wearing and replacing it with something I felt much more comfortable in. The dark green clothing felt thick and warm, comfortable and flexible, like scrubs back home. Soft, warm boots covered my feet, like forest-green suede with cotton lining. Comfortable. I could work in them for hours. Hours. Days. As long as it took to find answers.
I smoothed my hand down over the fabric and took a deep breath. This was my armor. This was a battle I knew well, one I would win. Captain Brooks deserved justice, but that was not what drove me now. I was going to the medical station and I was going to figure this out. I would not lose my mate. I refused.
“Maxim.” His name was barely more than a whisper, but he heard me. He closed the distance between us and pulled me into his arms as Ryston paced like a wild man at my back.
Maxim was just as upset as Ryston, but he kept his feelings in check. Had I not known him well, I would assume it was because he was governor and that required some…diplomacy. But after spending three days with him, I knew calm, cool deliberation was simply his nature. But, that did not mean he was less affected. Ryston’s rage burst from him in a storm of destruction. Maxim’s rage was still bottled up inside, contained, an abyss of ice-cold fury eating him alive from the inside out. But his breathing and heart beat were steady. His hands did not shake. If not for the collar, I would not even know he was upset.
“That doctor is an asshole,” Ryston bit out.
He spun around and came over to me, his feelings hitting me like waves pounding the beach. I wanted to step back, but I didn’t. Instead, I turned to face him as he closed the distance between us. The aggression I felt through his collar wasn’t directed at me, but he sought something that only I could give him.
Remarkably, it was a hug. His arms came around me and pulled me into him. My feet came off the floor and he lowered his face into the crook of my neck, just breathing me in.
With the side of my head pressed against his chest, I could hear the steady beat of his heart, feel the warmth seep from him and into me.
“I’m sorry, mate. I should not have lost my temper.”
I shook my head, as much as his hold would allow, at his rough tone. “Don’t be. I want to throw something as well.”
Maxim’s soft words made me shudder. “You believe there is something sinister going on. That we are being poisoned? Hunted like prey?”
At Maxim’s words, Ryston released me, set me back on my feet. He turned me so my back was pressed against him, one of his big hands on my shoulder.
“I don’t know,” I said. It was the truth. “As a scientist, I have no evidence to support it, at least not yet. If the doctor is correct, then Quell was the cause of Brooks’ death.” I walked to him and pushed at his sleeve. I needed to see his arm again, look at the web of death working its way through his skin. “But have you taken Quell?”
“No. Never.”
“Let me see.”
Maxim complied by removing his shirt completely. Concerned as I was, I could not ignore the beauty of his heavily muscled chest and shoulders, the dark, creamy smoothness of his skin. I lifted my index finger and traced a single line of the black mark from biceps to shoulder. In the last few minutes, it had spread farther, moving at least two inches higher on his shoulder.
“Son of a bitch.” I pushed at him and he complied, turning away so I could inspect the growing marks that now touched his back. “This is moving fast. We don’t have a lot of time.”
Maxim turned, his hand closing over mine. I looked up at him and saw the whole freaking universe in his gaze. He believed in me. He was literally placing his life in my hands. “Rachel, you are a well-respected research scientist from your planet. You must find the answers we need.”
“I’m not sure Doctor Surnen will cooperate.”
A pulse of anger came at me from Ryston. “Fuck the doctor.”
I turned to him. “What about you? Do you have creepy black stuff spreading through your flesh? I don’t want any more surprises.” I turned to frown at Maxim. “Or secrets.”
Ryston turned to me, his right temple clearly on display. “I don’t know, mate. You tell me.”
I leaned forward eagerly and pulled him into the light. With a sigh of relief, I turned his face and tugged him down for a quick kiss. “No. Thank God.”
Knowing Maxim was in danger was terrifying. But if they’d both been in trouble, I wasn’t sure if I would have been able to cope.