Page 30 of Rainse
“Fracture, minor. Surface burns, partial recovery in progress. Elevated dehydration levels. Beginning repair.”
Verity tensed as a warm mist drifted over her ribs, shimmering faintly before sinking into her skin. The tension eased almost immediately, her breath deepening.
“What’s it doing?” she asked.
“Sealing the break. It accelerates bone knitting and muscle regeneration,” I said. “The mist carries micro-salves tailored to your chemistry.”
“Feels… strange,” she admitted. “Tingly. Like soda bubbles under the skin.”
“That means it’s working.”
“Do I want to know how it knows my chemistry?”
“It sampled you the moment you walked in,” I said. “This is a state of the art vessel. It's thorough.”
“You don’t say.” Her voice was dry, but her eyes never left the display as the crack in her rib gradually faded from the hologram. The machine’s hum slowed, then stopped.
“Procedure complete. Patient is stable. Recommend hydration and rest.”
The lid folded open again with a soft hiss. Verity sat up carefully, running her hand down her side. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“It won’t.”
“That’s… incredible.” She looked around, taking in the room again with new eyes. “You could heal almost anything with this.”
“Almost,” I said quietly. “Not everything.”
Like a broken heart. Or the agony a broken bond would create.
Her gaze flicked to me, but she didn’t press. She swung her legs over the side, watching the lights dim to a calmer shade of green. “How long until we reach your island?”
"We will have already landed. The Tidebound flies so smoothly that you don't feel landings during such a short flight."
Excitement flashed in her eyes. "That's incredible. I can't wait to meet your other brother, and of course their wives."
"Mates," I corrected gently. "Although Maelis has been talking about rings and ceremonies. I'm sure we will all learn more about human mating traditions soon."
She put her shirt back on, this time not insisting that I turn around. We both knew that I had already seen her naked, back when I'd had to take off her cold, sodden clothes. But I wouldn't mention that. I didn't want to make her uncomfortable. It had been an emergency situation. And I knew that humans were always keen to cover their bodies, not like finfolk who rarely wore more than a loincloth or wide belt around their waist.
The door slid open and Fionn poked his head inside. "Are you ready? Elise is desperate to meet you, Verity. I've called ahead to have them prepare some food for you. I don't know what you ate on that island, but I imagine it wasn't enough."
Guilt shot through me, making my stomach clench painfully. My clutch-brother was right. I hadn't looked after her properly. All she'd had to eat was fish and coconut water. I'd done a poor job caring for my mate.
"Will it be alien, I mean, finfolk food?" she asked.
"The island's chefs have started to add some of our favourite recipes to their repertoire," I said before my brother could reply. "None of those dishes will be what you'd get on Finfolkaheem, simply because we can't find the ingredients here, but some are pretty close. There is one fish species in these waters that tastes surprisingly similar to the lowoo carp back home. But if you want to try proper finfolk cuisine, I can have the fabricator prepare something for you."
"I'd like that. But not now. Now I want to see the island. And I want to contact the Minerva. Let them know I'm alive and that I will be returning soon."
Fionn exchanged a stern look with me, one that meant that we'd be talking about my actions. I may be the oldest brother, but somehow, Fionn had become the one in charge.
I sighed internally and gave him an almost imperceptible nod. We'd have that discussion. But not now.
I held out an arm, smiling widely at Verity. "May I show you the island?"
She didn't hesitate as she put a hand on my arm and grinned back at me.
12
