Lost in Barbarian Space(55)
Honor staggered backward. When the backs of her knees hit a chair, she collapsed. Dr. King, unaware he’d just shattered her life, nodded and moved back into the med bay.
Colm wouldn’t remember her.
Wouldn’t remember anything of what they’d shared.
He wouldn’t remember falling in love with her in the ice tunnels.
Her heart contracted. She was amazed she could just sit there, like nothing momentous had happened and destroyed her.
Aurina knelt carefully in front of her. “He’ll remember, Honor. A warrior wouldn’t forget his bondmate.” The woman’s tone was fierce. “He loves you.”
“It’ll be like it never happened, Aurina. I’ll be a stranger to him.” Oh, God. Honor felt sick.
Kavon’s hand rested on her shoulder. “A mate is sacred. It is a deep bond.”
She nodded, trying to keep the tears at bay. “If…if he doesn’t remember, I want both of you to promise me something.”
“Anything,” Aurina said.
Kavon nodded.
“You won’t tell him…about what happened with me.”
Aurina gasped. “Honor—”
She held up her hand. “I love him.” She met Kavon’s gaze. “He’s been living with the shadow of this his entire life. He expected to die. He told me he was going to go to the Northern Wastelands and die there alone. Before he could hurt anyone.” A muscle ticked in Kavon’s jaw. “He’s cured.” That thought at least sent a rush of happiness through her. “I want him to have a chance at the life he wants. The life he deserves.”
“That’s a life with you—”
Again, Honor cut Aurina off. “It’s a life he chooses for himself. You promised.”
The two of them gave her reluctant nods.
The med bay door opened again and a male nurse shuffled out. “You can see him now.”
The three of them moved inside. At the doorway, Honor paused and took a deep breath. Then, she entered.
He was sitting in a narrow med bunk, his bronze skin a beautiful contrast against the simple white sheets.
He looked disgruntled.
“Kavon!” Colm gave his friend a wide smile. “Get me out of here.”
“They explained where you are?” Kavon moved across to the bed.
Colm nodded. “Aurina, you look far…rounder than I remember. My warlord’s baby grows big inside you.” Then Colm’s gaze lifted and settled on Honor.
Her entire body was tense and she held her breath.
He gave her a smile. “Hello. Are you part of my medical team?” There was no spark of recognition in his brown eyes.
For the second time in a few minutes, Honor felt like her insides had shattered into tiny pieces. She could almost hear the tinkle of the breaking pieces of her heart. She felt as though they were cutting her up inside. She fought to stay steady on her feet.
She found her voice. “I’m with security.”
He leaned back against the pillows. “I’m a warrior, I don’t need security.”
Her stubborn, protective warrior was gone. He was once again Colm Mal Kor, and he was no longer hers.
“I’ll leave you all to catch up,” she said.
Aurina’s face was pained and Kavon’s was stoic.
Colm frowned at her as she left, but Honor strode down the hall and didn’t let herself look back.
Chapter Fifteen
Colm walked through Kavon’s house, absorbing the smells of home. He’d come back from the spaceship that morning and he was glad to have his boots back on real ground.
The small rooms, narrow corridors, and sleek, metal walls of the ship had made him feel claustrophobic and yearn for open spaces.
People bustled around the house, busy with preparations. Tonight, there would be a goodbye feast for the skyflyers. He shook his head. It was strange, since he didn’t even remember their arrival, or subsequent visit.
Apparently, he’d been a hero. He’d been lost on the icy moon of Ansar, helped defeat space pirates, and discovered a second ship that had traveled with the First Warriors and the treasure still loaded in its wreck.
Not bad, considering he didn’t remember a single part of his adventure.
Colm’s steps slowed. Added to that, was the far more momentous fact that his nanami sickness was cured. He pressed a hand to his chest, felt the steady beat of his hearts, and the steady hum of his nanami.
He should be feeling on top of the world.
But the truth was, he felt…unsettled.
His nanami were also unsettled. Not the out-of-control edge that he was used to…it was just as if something was upsetting them.
He moved to the end of the hallway and out onto a small balcony. The courtyard below hummed with activity. A team from the Institute was stacking boxes of treasure off floating carts, while some of Kavon’s warriors moved the boxes into the house. Most of the treasure was staying here, along with a small team of archeologists, who would stay to analyze it. The people from the Institute would be heading off to take the remainder of the treasure back to their museums.