Page 10 of Balarr
Luna gasped and stared at the nanobot injector, a look of utter shock filling her features.She met his eyes.“I-I feared I would require ongoing medical treatment to keep my lab-grown organs functioning.Is it truly as simple as injecting me with Vaxxlian nanobots?”
He smiled.Or at least he hoped he was smiling.Sometimes when he tried to smile, Warrin would tell him to stop grimacing, or Lorrd would ask him whose murder he was contemplating.
“Yes, sweet Luna, it is truly as simple as injecting you with the healing nanobots.”Sweet Luna?Where had that endearment come from?He cleared his throat and wiggled the nanobot injector.“May I?”
“Yes, please.”A slight flush suffused her cheeks.“And thank you.Thank you for rescuing me from Zalora Biotech.You saved my life.”
He placed the syringe to her upper arm and injected her with the nanobots.“You are very welcome, swee—Luna.”
Fluxx.He’d almost called hersweet Lunaagain.
Why?They barely knew one another.
He glanced at her bandage again.Given what he knew about human anatomy, he suspected they’d removed her pancreas.Bastards.
“Perhaps it’s just the pain medication you gave me, but I’m already feeling better.”She took a long, quick breath, then exhaled just as quickly.“I haven’t managed to take a breath that deep in months.Not without experiencing twinges of pain.”
It pleased him to know she was feeling better.She looked better too.When he’d burst into her room at the organ-harvesting facility, she’d seemed rather pale compared to now.At present, her face contained a healthy, radiant glow, her eyes were gleaming brighter, and her demeanor was relaxed.
He stroked a hand through her hair, overcome by the sudden need to touch her.“I am glad you’re feeling better, Luna,” he said, careful to say her name without any added endearments.
Luna was his assigned mate, and he had every intention of claiming her—eventually—but he worried that if he moved too fast, he would be dishonoring Keissa’s memory.He didn’t know how to stop grieving her loss.He was torn between cautious hope for the future and a longing to remain true to the only female he’d ever loved.
But as he stared into Luna’s eyes, he couldn’t help but wonder… if he opened his heart to her, would love soon follow?He didn’t understand why his throat abruptly burned.
Conflicted.His attraction to Luna was making him feel more conflicted than he’d ever felt in his life.How could he reconcile his desire for her with the careful preservation of Keissa’s memory?What about the memory of his children?
Star God knew he missed the three of them dearly, and he would give anything to have them back, even for just a day.But they’d perished when the Irrcons had destroyed Planet Vaxxlia.There was no bringing them back, just as there was no resurrecting the millions of other females and children who’d perished on that dark day.
“Are you all right, Balarr?”Luna asked.“You look rather… sad.”
Why did he like hearing his name on her lips so much?He pushed the thought aside, as well as his thoughts of Kiessa and their offspring, and tried to summon a pleasant expression.But it didn’t feel natural, and the attempt made his face hurt.
“I am fine.”He released her hair and stepped back.“I think it would be safe to remove the bandage.The surgery site is likely healed by now.The nanobots always target the most dangerous injuries or infections first.”
She glanced down at the bandage, then her face grew red.She crossed her arms over her chest, hiding her substantial bosom.“Um, do you have a shirt I could borrow?”She gave him a wary look.“I-I know we’ll see each other naked soon enough—I know we must consummate our mating union—but I’m not used to…” Her voice trailed off.
“Not used to what?”
She flushed anew and struggled to hold his gaze.“I’ve never even had a boyfriend before.Before I found myself trapped at Zalora Biotech, I was too busy with school and work and then trying to survive and keep the apartment after my parents passed away that I never had time to even think about dating,” she said in a breathless rush.“Which means no man—in a romantic situation—has ever glimpsed my naked body.I hope you’re not offended, but I’m feeling a bit shy.”
“Of course, Luna.I understand.”Balarr turned and opened several drawers, but all he could find was a blanket.He unfurled it and gave Luna a questioning look.
“A blanket will be great, thanks.”She smiled at him, and his heart skipped a beat.
He stepped closer to her and draped the blanket over her shoulders.As large as it was, she was able to tuck it around the front of her body, successfully covering her breasts.
“Thank you, Balarr,” she said in a trembling voice.Then her face crumpled, and she burst into tears.
Chapter6
Oh,God.She was so embarrassed.Luna couldn’t believe she’d started sobbing in front of Balarr.But she couldn’t help it.Not very long ago, she feared she would die.She thought the only way out of Zalora Biotech was in a body bag.
Not only had Balarr saved her, but he’d injected her with nanobots that would heal her injuries and keep her lab-grown organs strong.She wouldn’t have to worry about the lab-grown replacements failing one day.He’d also mentioned something about the nanobots targeting infections, and she supposed that meant they would heal illnesses too.
The sheer relief flowing through her was overwhelming.
She buried her face in her hands and continued crying.
