Page 37 of Zar

Chapter Eleven

Zar wanted to take a moment to bask in Callie’s attention. She’d been so concerned for him and he admitted that it had felt good. Callie tried to maintain an emotional distance, but Zar knew without a doubt that the wall was crumbling. She bit her lip and frowned at Arwen and he’d known instantly that she’d been jealous of the Zenarian healer. Callie couldn’t know that their healers dedicated their lives to the health and well-being of all Zenarians. They didn’t focus energy and time on a sexual relationship. It simply wasn’t their way.

When Arwen bent to place healing salve on the wound across his ribs, Zar stopped her with a hand in the air. “Tend to Callie first,” he softly ordered. His ofelia had been in pain and all because he’d given her a dagger. He should’ve taken better precautions.

Arwen glanced over at Callie. “You are injured?”

Callie held out her hand. “Barely, considering Zar is all but bleeding to death.”

Arwen held up a small metal container. “This is a mixture of herbs that will aid in the healing process, as well as help seal the wound.”

Callie pulled her hand away from the healer and stared at the salve. “I’m human. It might not have the same effect on me.”

Arwen gently took Callie’s hand in her own. “We’ve used it on earth-born before. It will not harm you, Callie.”

Zar reached out and placed a soothing palm against Callie’s thigh. “Trust me, little dove.”

Callie sighed. “Just do it. Zar has already lost too much blood.”

Arwen dipped a finger into the salve, then brought it to the cut across Callie’s palm. She gently rubbed it in until there was only a light sheen. “Don’t cover it,” she instructed as she sat back. “In a few hours it will be nothing more than a red mark and most of the pain will be gone.”

Callie’s eyes widened as she gingerly moved a finger over the cut. “I think it’s already working. I barely feel a thing now.”

“It cannot replace the blood lost and in a wound the size my king has sustained it will take a little longer to heal, but tomorrow he will be much better.”

Arwen went to work on his wound next, covering the area with a large amount of salve. She closed her eyes and repeated a healing chant that was as old as time itself. Zar’s body responded instantly to the healing. He could almost feel his muscles, veins and skin stitching back together. Several minutes later, Arwen opened her eyes and took a deep breath. “That should be enough, but I must insist that you drink fluids and rest for a few hours.”

Zar inclined his head. “Thank you,” he said as he reached over and took Callie’s hand in his own and stared at the palm with the injury. It was indeed better already. Zar nodded and smiled at Arwen. “It will heal quickly. I am grateful.”

“It is my honor to tend to you and your ofelia, my king.” Arwen put the salve on the coffee table, then stood with her bag in hand. “You’ll need to put another coating of the salve on your ribs. Wait a few hours, but that should do it.”

Callie stood, smiling at the healer. “I was sure he would need a hospital. At the very least stitches.”

Arwen patted Callie on the arm. “In many ways Zenarians are similar to earth-born, but there are differences. Healing is one of those.” Her gaze shot towards him and her smile widened. “Besides, Zar is six-hundred and twenty-eight years old. It would take much to kill him.”

With that she left. Callie’s gaze swung to his, her eyes wide. “six-hundred and twenty-eight?”

Zar knew that look in Callie’s beautiful eyes. Panic. He tried to stand, but the room spun and he remained seated instead. He hated the weakness, especially in front of Callie. “I know earth-born have shorter life spans and this must seem like a great shock, but it doesn’t change anything between us, Callie.”

Callie threw her hands in the air. “How can you say that? You’re literally hundreds of years old!”

His gaze hardened. “Yes, and I have waited a very long time to meet my ofelia. I will not let our age gap become a factor.”

Callie groaned and plopped down onto the couch. “Age gap is a term for a couple with ten’ish years between them. Not hundreds, Zar. Also, in fifty or so years I’ll die. How would our relationship ever work when you still look like your gorgeous, youthful self, but my face begins to resemble a roadmap and my boobs are sagging down to my waist? Explain that, Zar.”

Her description made him want to laugh, but he knew she wouldn’t appreciate that response from him so he held back. Zar reached out and wrapped a hand around her thigh, needing the connection. “You don’t understand, Callie.”

Her lips thinned into an angry line. “Please explain it to me then, oh great one.”

Zar massaged his way upward until he came to her waist where he squeezed. “You will not age the same as earth-born. Not anymore. The process slows down each time your fluids come into contact with my wings.” His body reacted to the image of his wing caressing her soft, wet pussy. His gaze went to the apex of Callie’s thighs. Zar groaned, hating his inability to heal faster. He wanted Callie. Naked. In his bed. As it should be. “In fact, I believe changes have already occurred.”

She shot off the couch as if he’d bitten her, then glared down at him. “Changes? What changes, as in plural? And don’t you think you should’ve told me this before we made love, Zar?”

This time Zar did stand. Her mental withdrawal was eating away at his control. Why couldn’t she see that they were meant to be together? Callie was scared and he was handling things badly. He came towards her and Callie pointed to his wound. “You shouldn’t be moving around, Zar,” she said, her voice softening.

He took her into his arms and allowed his wings to embrace her as well. Her heartbeat was erratic and he hated that he was the cause of that. “I know this is frightening to you, little dove. I’m throwing so much at you at once and it isn’t fair. But try to understand that I have waited a very long time to find you. I will do whatever it takes to make you happy. To show you that we belong together.” He looked into her eyes and murmured, “Tell me what to do to make you feel better, Callie.”

Minutes seemed to tick by before Callie’s arms finally came around him in a loose hug. “My brain requires data, Zar,” she softly explained, as she rested her cheek against his chest. “I’ve always been the type of person who assessed each situation from every angle before I made a move or decision. It’s the only thing that works for me. I can’t just trust fate to steer me. I need more than that.”

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