13
How could anything hurt this badly? So many people will say when they get sick that they feel like a truck has hit them. But not in Ruby’s case. No the truck must have hit her, backed up, and then ran back over her again and again and again. For about five hours. She needed water. Lots of water. Her throat felt scratchy and sore.
Ruby opened her eyes and immediately saw Drake. His eyes were wide and tired, like he hadn’t gotten any sleep. There was also a scruffiness about him that she’d never seen before. His hair was tangled and there was a shadow of a beard on his face. My goodness how long had she been asleep? Where was she?
Then the memories came back to her. Drake was missing, sending the distress signal to Zane. Pleading with the World Space Council to help. Tricking the General. Drake’s surprised face when he realized it was Ruby underneath that hideous gold robe. Being, literally, stabbed in the back by Tesara.
“You’re safe, Beloved,” Drake said softly, gently running a hand up and down her face. “You are the most amazing, brave woman I’ve ever met.” He whispered something in a language she didn’t understand, and placed his lips on hers. The feel of his warm breath and his gentleness caused a few tears to roll out of her eyes.
He drew back instantly, worry in his eyes. “Did I hurt you?” Only when she shook her head did he relax. He lowered his forehead to barely touch hers and she welcomed the contact. “You saved us again, Beloved. What am I going to do with you?”
“Marry me?” She breathed, noticing how the heart monitor attached to her began beeping wildly.
His eyes flew open in surprise, and then darkened into something from her deepest desires. “The soonest, my love. When you are fully healed it shall be done.”
Ruby groaned. “That will take ages!”
She felt Drake chuckle. “Your impatience pleases me greatly. Thank God your injuries were not worse and Tesara’s aim terrible. She missed your vital organs by mere breaths. Between my healer and those of your world it seems like you’re almost well again. However, two more days and you should be as good as new, as they say.”
“Two days?” Ruby let the information sink in, and then relaxed back onto her pillows. Well, that was definitely better. She could last two days. His eyes danced knowingly and she felt her stomach clench. Maybe. Maybe she could last two days.
“Two days,” he repeated brushing her hair away from her face, “and we will be united, my love. Here on Earth, and then again on Alium.”
“Alium?” Ruby asked. “How will we get there? I thought the Da’Nesh had set up a blockade?”
“Without a leader they seemed to have lost their nerve. They’ve scattered across the galaxies. I am sure we’ve not heard the last of them, but they are nowhere near Alium at this moment. Too afraid of you, they are.” Drake said, pride emanating from his voice.
Ruby laughed at that. “Afraid of me, that’s hilarious! Why would anyone in their right mind be afraid of me?”
“Oh I don’t know,” Kala strolled over to the other side of her bed. “Maybe because you killed an inviolable beast, brokered an alliance with Earth on our behalf, and helped defeat the Da’Nesh… you’re right I have no idea why they fear you.” Kala touched a hand to hers, being careful not to disrupt the I.V. in her wrist. “Ruby I can’t thank you enough for everything that you’ve done for us.”
Ruby was at a loss for words. What had she done, really? Other than get stabbed and hand Drake her knife?
Drake slid his palm underneath hers and raised her hand to his lips. “Your hands are my hands and mine are yours.”
Oh, this man. How was it possible that he always knew the exact right thing to say?
“I don’t want to impose, I know you need your rest,” Kala smiled and then looked to Drake, “Zane made contact this morning. He has arrived and the report is as well as can be expected. The Palace has extensive damage, but mainly only on one side. They’ve already started preparations for your arrival. The surrounding villages are mostly untouched. Refugees can start relocating back as early as next week if that is agreeable with Your Highness.”
Drake nodded and Kala left with a wave.
Ruby raised an eyebrow. “Your Highness? How long have I been asleep?”
His thumb caressed the back of her hand absently. “A moment without you is too long indeed.” Drake sighed. “Ruby many things will change if you come with me. Being my wife, being Queen of Alium, is not going to be easy on any front. My people have been scattered for ten years. The planets in my system ravaged by ceaseless war. Not to mention I would be taking you away from the only home you’ve ever known. We would, of course, visit whenever you would like, but at first that would have to be very limited. I won’t be able to leave for quite some time, and I couldn’t bear to be apart from you for even a day.”
Ruby looked at the dark circles under his eyes. In part she knew it was his exhaustion talking, but she also knew that it was his vulnerability letting itself be known. This man had only relied on himself for so long he was terrified to bring someone else in. Terrified that one day she might regret her decision.
Silly, silly man.
“First of all,” Ruby held a finger up. “There is no if I go, Drake of Alium. There is only when. Don’t think for a second you can get rid of me that easily. Ah – ah – ah,” she 'tsked when he tried to speak. “It’s my turn. We are meant to be together, and honestly I didn’t need some silly test of soul matching, or whatever the heck it’s called, to tell me that. If I had seen you walking down the street I would have known in here.” She placed his hand over her heart so he could feel its beat. “You’re my heart, Drake. And I would go anywhere you go. Not because I have to, but because I want to.”
The tension lifted from his shoulders and he finally relaxed. Her own eyes felt heavy and she moved over on the bed, patting the empty space gently. He gave her a dubious look, but in the end he didn’t have a choice. He settled in beside her, carefully cradling her head on his chest.
It was like they were back on the hammock. Planning their life and dreaming of their future, which could finally now begin.
◆◆◆
Ruby had never been so nervous in her entire life. Not even when she’d been abducted by a dominating alien race and forced to fight to the death in an arena. This wasn’t a scared nervous though. This was nerves of the absolute best kind.
She stared out the window of the palace, the view never ceasing to take her breath away. They had arrived this morning, and she could scarcely take her eyes away from the sky. It was a purplish pink, and apparently it was always so. Their sun was at a different position and distance from that of Earth causing the sky to be awash all the time in a beautiful sunset. Alium certainly had a unique beauty about it. The people she had met were already so gracious and kind, Ruby instantly fell in love with the place.
But now she was waiting. Since their wedding three days ago it seemed like that was all she did. Wait. Wait to leave Earth, wait to arrive in Alium, and finally wait in the palace for her husband to arrive.
Husband! Oh what a wonderful word that was. She’d never thought much about it before, but she absolutely loved being able to use that word now. My husband. My husband. There were just so many variations she would have to try them all.
She sensed him before he walked into the room. Ruby shivered as his gaze swept over her. Only then did she turn around to face him.
He looked magnificent. He was wearing a long navy coat trimmed in deep crimson that matched her dress.
“Beautiful,” his voice was hoarse when he spoke and Ruby felt a rush of pride that she could make him feel that way. He moved across the room almost soundlessly, and she met him in the middle. The room was aglow with candles and scented flowers that Ruby was certain must have come from Heaven itself. “I’ve waited an eternity for this moment, Wife. You look like a dream.”
Hmm… apparently he liked saying it as much as she did.
Feeling bold she lightly touched the bodice of her dress, which plunged more than enough to give him a sumptuous peak at the goods beneath. “What? This old thing?”
Drake’s eyes darkened in desire, and through their connection she could feel his tightly reigned desire lapping at the surface.
She would have to thank Kala very graciously for having designed and made this dress for her. The woman was a genius.
He stepped closer, their clothes brushing. Ruby gasped at the contact. With a low growl he kissed her, as if he couldn’t wait another moment, and she met him eagerly. Her hands wound in his hair, pulling him closer. She didn’t need air to breathe anymore; she needed him. Needed him with every fiber of her being.
“Mine,” he whispered, pulling her against his taut form. “You’re mine.”
“Yes,” she gasped as he picked her up and carried her gently to bed. Her warrior, the man a thousand armies feared. The man who would do anything to protect her, and the man she would give her own life to protect. King of Alium, but more importantly King of her heart.
“I’m all yours.”