Page 31 of LeX

“Ihave seen better risings brother.”ViNbends over, grasping the youngling’s pouch in his large hand. “Comeon little one, let’s get your mother secured and then we can play all you want.”

Theship coming to a halt feels odd under my feet, and it has no more than stopped whenIhear large steps headed our way.Distractedfor a moment by the movement onViN’sside,Isuddenly find myself engulfed from behind in a huge set of arms that squeeze the breath out of me.

“LeX, little brother, it’s good to see you.”BeforeIcan respondIam set down only to laugh whenEvOis embraced in the same way.SoL’smassive frame makes the rest of us look like younglings in his arms.Asmall hand on my arm has me turning only to findAlanastanding there with a huge smile on her face. “Youknow how he isLeX.SoLpractically jumped through the tunnel to get to you guys.Giveme a hug, it’s so good to see you all.”

Ibend down embracing her small frame. “Hey, don’t be stingy with those hugs, what about the rest of us?”ReleasingAlana, we both laugh asLunaapproaches with open arms.Reachingout,Ipull her in close; she’s taller thanAlana, soIdon’t have to stoop.

“Ihave missed you two terribly.Ifyou guys weren’t so smitten with your own mates,I’dbe tempted to steal you both away.”

“Keepyour paws to yourself youngling.”IhearTordan’sdeep voice right behind me before his large, cybernetic hand lands on my shoulder, turning me to face him.JustasIam reaching out to shake his hand, he pulls me close in a fierce hug.

“Doesthis old heart well to see you have all returned in one piece.Wecan continue the greetings after we get theEmbersafely transferred into the med chamber.Thefemales have planned a dinner for later this rising, and many will be in attendance as your return has them all worked up.”

“Ilook forward to itTordan.”Allof us turn, walking behind the stasis chamber holdingEmber’sdelicate form.Theouter doors of theExplorestand open as the med bots move the carrierinside the ship.Twice,Ihave noticedViNgripping his side in pain, but his focus is solely on his mate.

Tordanwalks past me, checking the status of the med chamber. “It’sready so you can transfer her at any time.”

Weall step back as both chambers open and the med bots gently moveEmberfrom one to the other.Whenthe main med chamber closes and all the lights turn green,Ilet out a breathIhad no ideaIwas holding.Qwinwalks up to its side peering down atEmber, a single tear flowing down her cheek.AlanaandLunaquickly join her as they all stand there silently supporting each other.Thesound of a loud thud has me turning, only to findViNdown on one knee grasping his side, a groan leaving his lips.

SoLhas him up in his arms beforeIcan react. “Putme down you massive male, orI’llend up burning you accidentally.”

Iturn looking over atEmber, but torn on whatIshould do. “LeX, you go on withViN.EvOandIwill stay here with his mate in case there are any issues.”

“Thankyou,Tordan.SoL, we need to get him to the med bay.Ihave a feeling the little one wants out.”

Ialmost run to keep up withSoLas he practically sprints down the hall.Whenhe starts to turn forFalcor,Imotion him to go back into theDestroyerinstead.Thankfully, he does not question me because in this type of situation,Ineed to work in an environmentIam familiar with.Iwill not have time to hunt for the thingsIneed.

Aloud groan comes out ofViNandIseeSoLflinch, soIknow this is getting bad quickly.NeverhaveIbeen so glad to see my med bay doors slide open.Myeyes catch a glimpse of my mate still lying peacefully on the bed as we run through the doors.

“SoLlay him down, but do not go anywhere.Imay need you to help me hold him.”

ViNsits up panting, grasping the bar on the side of the med bed.

“Talkto meViN, what are you feeling?”

“Littleclaws shredding my side, heat likeIhave never felt before searing my nerves like lightning bolts dancing along my nervous system.Sheis pissed off about something,LeX.”

SoL’seyes are enormous, andIcan see a large red mark on his inner arm where he was holdingViNagainst him.Thelast timeIwitnessed this look onSoL’sface was whenKeidafell offSeeSeewhen she was little and scraped her knee.Ican remember him racing to her the moment the first tear formed in her eyes.Hislarge hands were shaking as he held her for me to treat her very minor wounds.Idon’t know who was more upset,Keida, orSoL, asIthink she spent more time comforting him than he did her.

Grabbinga tube of burn relief out of the cabinet,Ithrow it atSoL, hitting him right in the chest as he stares down atViN, his eyes huge with worry. “SoL!Snapout of it and put that on your arm.”Hiseyes never leave the mass onViN’sside, andIdon’t know who is more shocked withSoL’snext words, me, orViN.

“Youmust help herLeX,Ican see her struggling to get out.Icould feel her little breaths when she was between us.Sheis running out of room and it’s smothering her.”

“Bigbrother,Ihave no idea how you know that, but since these fracking scanners are worthless,Iam going to take your word for it.ViN,Ineed you to lay on your other side and try to control your heat so thatIcan touch you safely.”

JustasIam about to touch the outer layer encasing the youngling, a small hand on my arm stops me. “LeXmy love, why didn’t you wake me?Youknow procedures like this are much easier if we work together.”

Standingbeside me like she has been there my entire life … is my mateRylie.Herbright, beautiful, blue eyes stare up at me like she has known me forever.Shepushes against me slightly andIactually move out of her way only to react when she starts to reach for theViN’sside. “Don’t!Hewill burn you.”ViN’seyes are as large as mine andIshrug my shoulders when he mouths … “Whatthe frack”?SoLjust stands there looking confused as none of us know what to do or say.Twoseconds ago, she was unresponsive, lying in bed but you would never know that now.SoLglances over at her coloring and then at mine, then shrugs his shoulders completely accepting her as mine simply due to our markings.Herwords quickly pull my attention back to her.

“No, he won’tLeX!Thelittle one knows we are here to help her, so she has settled down, giving dad a break so he can catch his breath.”Iam still so dumbfoundedI’mjust standing here mute.

Ilook down atViNand he nods his head that she is right.

“NowViN,Iwant you to lay down all the way on your side.SoLsweetie,Ineed you to go stand at his head and put your hands on this shoulder to keep him still, just in case he jerks.Wedon’t want to cause either of them any more harm than necessary.LeXlove, we’re going to need two scalpels andDestiny, can you roll the infant bed with all the necessary items into this room, please?”

“Confirmed,MistressRylie.”

Iam still standing there in a daze as she works all around me.Movingme one way then another as she preparesViNfor what’s to come.Iam so confusedIdon’t know how to react.Itake a moment to reach out and touch her face only to be rewarded with a small smile.

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