by April Zyon
“No one else will ever notice,” he told her. “You never do any of the little giveaway movements in public, only when we are alone. It’s when you are the most expressive, after all. The only thing that might give you away would be the strong resemblance you have to him in your eyes and nose as well as cheeks. Plus I’m one of the few Craegin commanders to actually have had numerous encounters with him, and lived to tell the tale. And really it was the mannerisms that you both shared that had me digging in and verifying what I assumed.”
“I know, that’s why I would be so valuable to your people.” Her brother had been responsible for far more than one ship being destroyed. She hated to admit that, even to herself, but she knew it was the truth. “I am that expressive with you in our quarters because of how free you allow me to be in those moments. I can simply be me when I’m with you. Not the medical officer I was raised to be, not the sister to one of the most powerful men on our worlds, but me. Adira Daykin.”
“Hear me on this, Adira. I won’t allow anyone to know who you are related to. It will remain between you and I alone. Not even Bracken will know if you don’t wish him to. That is your decision alone to make.” He gave her a kiss and a gentle squeeze. “You are mine, and I will protect you always. Now no more worries about your family for tonight. This is our time, Adira.”
“Thank you. I agree, no more talk about that.” She didn’t know if she would tell Bracken or not. Not because she didn’t trust him, but because she didn’t want him to have to keep that secret from his superiors. “We don’t have much time left, do we?”
“No, not long at all,” he said quietly. “An hour, maybe a little more.” Fintan drew her in closer, burying one hand in her hair, the other moving to rest at her back. “I just want to hold you for a time, and feel you close to me. I’m going to be without this for six very long days. Not something I’m very happy about, I should mention.”
“A very long six days,” she said with a frown. “And then recovery time as well.” She hugged him once more and nodded. “No more talking, just holding each other.”
Chapter Twelve
The lashing that she had seen Fintan take nearly killed her. It took every ounce of her control to keep from screaming and lashing out against the ones wielding the whip against her husband. Once the whipping was over she realized that Bracken had taken her arm in his hand to ensure that she didn’t move.
“Thank you,” she said with a deep breath and allowed Bracken to take her from the courtyard where Fintan’s very public whipping had taken place. She was a hot mess and she knew it. She was only a moment from losing her composure and only Bracken holding on to her kept her from falling apart.
Once they were alone inside of her apartment that she shared with Fintan, she turned and began to sob against Bracken’s chest.
“He’ll be fine,” Bracken said. He was patting her back, but it was definitely a little awkward. “I know it doesn’t look like it right now, but he’s strong, Adira. He survived in that laboratory for three months breathing the air there. Even if they had adjusted it slightly, it still wasn’t what we have here on Craegin and would have done damage to him. Beyond that, he survived all the torture he was put through. This was minor in comparison to that. I know that’s small comfort at the moment, but you need to keep it in mind.”
“I hate to see him hurting and he is right now. I should be with him. I should be caring for him.” As a doctor, she understood everything that could possibly come of the lashing. She understood the infections that he could get since he wasn’t to receive any sort of treatment at all. “My poor Craegin commander.” She wiped at her tears and cried all the more, all over again.
“He’s actually a general,” he said softly. Taking her arm, Bracken led her toward the large sofa dominating the space before the wall of windows. This was the first time in Fintan’s home and she finally looked around. The place was very clean and modern, the lines crisp with steep and glass with bits of chrome metals here and there as well. She wondered idly how many bedrooms were in the home, but just let that thought travel out of her mind when she thought of Fin in the box where he was now. Once he had her sitting, he collected her a glass of water and a box of disposable tissues. Sitting next to her, he let out a breath. “We have six days to get through, Adira. I know it’s not going to be easy for you, especially the nights, but I’m here to help as much as I can. We can sit up and talk, watch the vids, or I can teach you some back room card games that Fintan really wouldn’t approve of.”
She nodded while inside she was dying a bit, but she tried to force herself to come together. She needed to be strong for her husband. If he could take the punishments that were doled out upon him without even a sound of complaint, then she could be strong and get through the next five nights and six days. She could do this. She had to do this. “Thank you. I would like that. All of it. I have a feeling you will need a vacation from me once this is over and I have Fin back with me once more.”
“I might even want to hole up with my family for more than a few hours at the time. I seriously doubt it, though. They are more likely to drive me to insanity than you are. The first thing we should do is get your mind off of everything for a time. I thought we’d remain here for the night, and then go visit my family tomorrow. The women will want to take you shopping as soon as they find out you’ve arrived on our world without much of a wardrobe. I will apologize for that now, but they won’t take no for an answer so I’m not even going to make a token protest.”
“As long as they understand that whatever clothing we purchase needs to be fitting for Fintan’s station, then I’m good with it.” She smiled and added, “Especially if we are able to find anymore gowns like the wedding gown that you dug up for me. Fin was very appreciative of that, I have to tell you.”
“Yes, he let me know how appreciative he was. Then he punched me for the backside of it. I’ll ensure they know the restrictions he has on your wardrobe. I really don’t like having to go into the training rooms with him. He hits really hard.”
She had to grin through her tears; thinking about her far too sweet husband did that for her. “He’s amazing. I love that man.” She had told Fintan, but she didn’t think any other knew. “He is rather particular on who gets to see me so scantily clad. While I understand that the gown was actually modest to some of your people’s gowns, he didn’t appreciate it one bit. I think that with him as my husband we will usher in a new fad in clothing.”
“It was very modest, actually. But he’s your husband and has a right to determine how much of you is seen by others. Not that he was complaining about the dress, just the fact that I didn’t warn him about what all it revealed before he got to see it. I may have held my tongue on that part. It was well worth it for the look on his face, I should mention. And I never once heard you complaining about what came of you wearing that dress. Are you going to tell me now that you are complaining about the results of having worn that for your wedding?”
“If I recall I thanked you, many times, for the dress.” She had loved the dress. She had loved how sexy she had felt in the dress, but more than that, she loved the way it made Fintan react. She might have a very wide naughty streak in her when it came to her man.
“That you did. I made sure it made its way into your bags to come here. It should be in your closet, actually, if you’re ever of a mind to wear it again for Fintan.” He looked to her and gave her hand a squeeze. “I’m going to warm something for our meal. I’ll keep it light since I know you likely don’t feel like eating, but you know you have to. Why don’t you go check out the rest of this place, wash your face, and then we can eat?”
“Thank you,” she said once more as she rose. “Something very light. My stomach is in knots right now and I don’t think I could eat anything too heavy.” She leaned down and kissed Bracken on his cheek. “For everything, thank you, brother of my heart.” She gave his shoulder a squeeze and walked away so that she could learn her new home.
“You are welcome, sister of my heart. I should mention, I like you a hell of a lot more than my actual sisters. You’re so much nicer to me than they are.” She could hear him moving around as she began her explorations.
Inside of their bedchambers, Adira moved to the holographic photo display and touched it. She began to scroll through the images and smiled. This was his family, she could see that. The resemblance was clear. The images were from the past, if the look of Fin was anything to go by. She sighed and touched an image of Fintan as he stood beside a body of water. “I miss you already, husband.” With that she walked back to the living room where she heard Bracken moving around. “I do like you, but I’m sure that I will eventually start to annoy you as well. I believe that it’s in the sisters’ manual?”
“I seriously doubt it. But if you do then I will do as I do with them, get on my destroyer and get to the other side of the damn galaxy. I doubt even Fintan would come all the way out there to find me so you could pester me some more. Actually, I take that back, that would be exactly what he’d do.” Shaking his head, Bracken waved her closer. “We’ll eat in here, keep it nice and informal. I made you a bowl of some broth one of the cooks sent home with me. I figure it should be more than enough for you tonight.”
“I think you’re right. I’m not feeling the greatest.” She was an emotional wreck. “Fin had your doctors give me some sleeping medication patches. He told me that I needed to rest. But I don’t want to use them. Please don’t tell him?”
“I won’t as long as you get a few hours now and again. If you don’t I’ll slap them on your ass personally. But that’s for later, if it’s absolutely necessary. For tonight you should eat the broth, and try to relax.”
“I will try.” Because she knew Bracken and if he said he would do something, he would. “Okay, let’s get through this. Together. Right?” She was thankful that she had Bracken to lean on right now. If she had to go through this alone she was certain she wouldn’t survive.
“Absolutely,” he said with a nod. He settled down on the floor before the large table that sat before the sofa. “Don’t tell Fintan we ate in here, would you. He tends to get all prissy about such things. Although I’m pretty sure he’s done it a few times, no matter how often he denies it. After all, who wouldn’t with a view like this.” Bracken waved toward the wall of windows where the sun was beginning to set.
Adira stood once more and walked to the windows that she’d only vaguely been aware of before. She looked out over the planet and let out a breath. “Stars, this is incredible.” She put her hand to the force field that served as the glass and smiled. The Craegin were definitely far more advanced than the Imarian. She looked over the vistas before her and realized that all of the buildings had force fields for windows, something her people didn’t have. The planet was also extremely clean and well cared for. Again, not something that was necessarily in her people’s city centers. The country homes certainly, but not the large cities like this one. “It’s like every color in the universe has come to this one moment in time. It’s reaching its power out over the lands and bathing the people in its power. Incredible,” she admitted. “Beautiful,” she amended.
“Definitely one of the best views around. Also why I like coming over here all the time. Besides the fact my sisters aren’t here, ever. Now come sit down and eat, Adira. You need to keep your strength up for when Fintan comes home. He’ll need you to look after him for a few days, as I’m sure you’re well aware of.”
“Yes, he’s told me what to expect. However, I would like the truth.” She turned and walked back to him. “Tell me exactly what it is that I need to worry about. Please tell me what it is that I need to look for with him since I know he’s too stubborn to tell me himself.”
“That he is.” Bracken set a pillow on the floor at his side, and held out a hand to help her ease down. Once she was settled, he watched her until she took her first sip of the broth. “The biggest worry will be infection, and dehydration. He’s a trained soldier, so he’ll know to ration whatever water they give him. Same with the food. You’ll have to rehydrate him carefully, and slowly. Of course, watching his output to ensure it lines up with what he’s taking in is also important. Rare cases have the kidneys shutting down from the trauma, but as I said earlier he’s been through worse so that’s likely to be slim. We’ll pick up a bunch of supplies for you. Bandages, antiseptic cleansers, and ointments, plus anything else you think you’ll require to treat the exterior wounds.”
Adira nodded. “I understand about dehydration and what effects that it has on the body.” She took another sip of the broth. “What about his mental state? How will he be after that long in isolation in pain?” She then flushed and sighed. “He survived three months in hell on my home world only to come back to this treatment. I don’t understand it. They should welcome him with open arms and not a whip.”
“There are many things about our culture I’m sure you’ll find unusual. Same as I would yours, I think. But to you they are what they are because it’s always been that way. Same as it is here on Craegin.” He took a bite of some bread he had on a plate by his bowl. “He’ll be okay mentally. Again, he’s a trained soldier, Adira. We go through worse things during the years prior to ever setting foot on a destroyer, all in the event we get captured by the Imarian people. Fintan was okay after his incarceration by the Imarians, wasn’t he?”
“He was in pain. I never want to see him in pain again after this.” She knew that when he came out he would be hurting. “Are you being fully honest with me, Bracken, on how he will be?” She kept feeling like something was being left out and it was driving her mad. In her mind she began to go through all that she knew about medical science and related it as best she could to Fintan.
“I’ve never gone through the Shrev-Traka before, Adira. I can only give you what little information I’ve gleaned from the few males I know that have. He’ll need you to be strong, to be there for him, and to help him through this. It’s a rough event to have to be put through. He’ll likely be overly sensitive to sounds for a time, the same with light. He’ll have been deprived of most of his senses while in the cell. Don’t make sudden movements either. He might misinterpret them as an attack until his brain catches up. I’m sorry, Adira, but that’s all I have. I can do some more digging into the archives for you, but right now that’s all the information I can give to you.”
“Thank you. I will keep all of that in mind. I will also talk to him. He would be the best person to tell me what it is that he needs, as long as he doesn’t try to be stubborn about it, that is.” She had finished her broth and set it on the table. “I need to make sure that the home is ready for him, the windows all set to maximum opaqueness so that the light doesn’t filter in from the sun.” She was thinking of anything that she could prepare in advance and realized that in reality there wasn’t much she could do until he was finally home with her where he belonged. She had learned about the settings of the windows from touching a panel on the wall as she stood before it and asking Bracken about the panel.
“We’ll get all the supplies you could possibly require, and I’ll remain close in the event you need something else. No need to bother one of the porters with an odd request. Although everyone will have heard of what he’s done, hard not to, given his position, it’s best to keep the rumors down so no one gets the idea he’s easy prey to be picked off.”
“Agreed. I need for them to see him as the incredible and strong man that he is. I need for them to understand that he is a force upon himself.” He was all of that and more. Fintan was the sort of man that legends spawned from. He was her own personal hero.
“Precisely,” he said with a firm nod. Finishing his own meal, Bracken got to his feet to clean up. “Stay sitting. I’ll get the cards and teach you the first game. It’s one Fintan likes to play on occasion. He’ll be very annoyed with me if I teach you how to play, and to beat him.”
That had her smiling. After her husband had hea
led he was definitely going to be taking Bracken back to the training rooms. She shook her head and simply waited.
Chapter Thirteen
Time held no meaning when you couldn’t see the rising and setting of the sun. Days blurred, hours stretched, and every second seemed interminably long.
Fintan carefully eased his aching body into a different position. Slowly he stretched out the tight muscles of his back as much as he could. He knew better than to push; he didn’t want the scabs that had finally formed to crack and bleed. He already was running a fever, no way was he going to risk any further infection beyond what he was sure he already had.
Adjusting, again he began to stretch his legs, then his arms. The cell didn’t afford a lot of space for movement. But he was learning to make do with what little he had. It wasn’t like he didn’t have the time for such things. That was pretty much all he had.
Initially he’d tried to keep track of the time passing but had quickly given up. The occasional disruption of the guards moving through, randomly handing out food and water, was distracting in the otherwise silent area.
The sound of his door opening had him flinching, the noise loud to his ears. Nothing was put in, though, except a hand being held out. Unsure of what to make of that, Fintan waited, knowing better than to move. The guards would like nothing more than to take another crack at breaking him.
“General Daykin, your six days are up. Exit the cell so we may transport you to the medical center for treatment.”
Six days were gone. Six days he could never get back. Six days he willingly would pay repeatedly to ensure Adira’s safety. Licking his cracked, dry lips, Fintan eased to the door slowly. Once outside the cell he squinted into the dim light that was blinding to his light-deprived eyes.