Page 51 of Einar

ROWAN

Steppingback fromEinar,Idrop my arms from around him and lean around his body to look at the screen only to see thatRubyandSlavicare back inside the ship taking off those space suit looking things.Thedoor leading outside is closing behind them and they appear to be talking to one another.

“Einar!Wemissed the whole thing!”

Hepeers over his shoulder before snapping forward again and letting out a rusty, rumbling chuckle.

“Rowan, they are going to disrobe once more.Itseems as though we caught them at the most inopportune time again”

Hischuckle turns into a full-on belly laugh as he watches me spin around so fast,Iwobble a bit.Largehands lift to steady me, if need be, butIregain my balance without needing any assistance.Unsurewhat to do with myself,Istand there awkwardly, looking anywhere but the hulking form beside me.

Alow chime from the watch like thing onEinar’swrist catches us both by surprise.Hepresses a button on it and then speaks. “Yes,Bikar.Whatis it that you need now?”

“Youwound me with that beleaguered tone, brother!Foryour information,Ido notneedanything.Iam merely following our oldest brother’s instructions by letting you know we are headed toDeapra, and he is not to be disturbed for the next several risings.FromwhatIsaw on the viewers, he is on his way to his quarters to defile his mate.”

Ihave to stifle a snicker at the pained look onEinar’sface as he listens to his overly cheerful brother relaySlavic’sorders.RubyandIhave never been shy about the ‘kiss and tell’ during a cuss and discuss session, but it doesn’t look like these boys share much about their love lives.

“Accordingto the star chart, it will take us at least several risings to get there, even using the hyperdrive.Weare on the complete opposite side of theVoidfromDeapra.”

“Thankyou for the information,Bikar.Itis appreciated.Now, go away and do not bother me again unless it is important.”Einargrowls.

“Shet, you mated males are no fun!”

Bikarcuts the comm after his last quip, so he doesn’t hear the snarlEinarlets loose in reply.Rubbinga hand across the base of his horns, he sends a tentative smile my way.

“Itappears as thoughSlavicandRubyare… retiring for the rest of the rising.Isthere anything you need or would like to do for the rest of the time?”

Hesounds so painfully hopeful thatImight want to spend some free time with him thatIcan’t brush him off likeIwas planning to.BeforeIcan think of a reply, my stomach gurgles.Clutchingmy midsection,Itry to think back to the last timeIate something, and for the life of me can’t remember when that was.I’msure theIVEinarhad me hooked up to had some sort of nutrients in it, but it can’t replace real food.

“Wouldyou like to accompany me to the dining chamber?Iwill be happy to show you the way and assist you with the replicator.”

Einarlooks almost bashful as he essentially asks me out on a date.

“Idon’t remember the last timeIate something, soIwould very much appreciate that.”

Abeaming smile shapes his homely face into something almost endearing.

Joyfloods me asRowantentatively agrees to let me escort her to the dining hall.Anidea forms andIsmile eagerly at her.Eatingwill not take very long, andIdesperately want to spend more time with her.

“Giveme a tic to fetch something from my room.Iwill return shortly.”

Rowanshoots me a perplexed look but nods her head asIjog to my room and grab my pop-up chair.Sheeyes it with a questioning expression, butIjust smile at her, gesturing her to proceed me out the door.

“Shallwe?”

Shegives me a hesitant smile and walks toward the door, pausing for me to exit the med bay and turn down the hallway, leading her to the dining chamber.Outof the corner of my eye,Iwatch asRowan’shead cranes left and right as she examines her new surroundings.Surprisinglyenough,Ido not see any of my brothers out and about.

Enteringthe dining chamber,Iam pleased to see that none of them are in here either.Itis not thatIdo not love them or want to spend time with them,Ijust wish to pass some uninterrupted time with my mate.Wehave not had any of that since she woke.Eitherher sister, one of my brothers, or some sort of calamity has kept me from actively wooing her.Notto mention she has not been fully conscious, let alone in possession of all her mental faculties.

“Falonacquired what he assures me are the proper nutrients for humans and loaded it into our replicator after we leftNavale.Iam unsure if the taste or texture will be what you are accustomed to, butIam hopeful.Noone has told me if the other females have objected to the food we have given them.”

Rowan’shead snaps around, her face full of surprise.

“Otherfemales?Youmean there are other human women on this ship besidesRubyandI?”

Unsureif this has upset her or not, my response is uncertain.

“Yes,FalonandMurgulrescued three more human females whileSlavic,Ruarc, andIwere saving you,Ruby, andKallen.Theyhave been inFalon’sroom for the most part even thoughBikaralso gave up his bed to accommodate them.Thethree of them have not wanted to be separated from one another, so they have stayed where we initially put them, even though they have the option of a second chamber.Ihealed them the bestIcould before installing their translators.Infact,Ineed to stop back by and follow up with them to ensure their wounds are healing properly.Sinceit is late in the rotation,Iplan on doing that shortly after the fast-breaking meal on the next rising.Youare more than welcome to go with me if you are interested in meeting them.”

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