Chapter 17

~ Arac ~

The sound of female voices penetrated the darkness. One was calm and serene and the other quite worried. “Are you certain the tissue regeneration worked?”

“Our physician confirmed the match. The Shardon Clones are experts with that kind of thing.”

“I can’t believe he was still moving and talking with the massive amount of damage done to his spinal cord and the sensitive nerve clusters at the base of his wings. If he couldn’t fly again, I know he’d be devastated.”

“He’s going to be fine. Did you know that your mate saved my life during the great battle?”

“No, but it doesn’t surprise me at all. He’s amazing.”

“Shar was so grateful that he called his best surgeons in to ensure everything possibly was done for your mate.”

“I don’t know how to thank you.”

“There’s no need. Arac is my own personal Hero. I was pleased to be able to repay the life debt. The Shardon Clones take such things very seriously.”

“So this is what females talk about when they think males are not listening?” Opening his eyes, he looked up to see his lovely mate and the dark haired female that he had put in stasis during the great battle.

“Thank God, you finally woke up. I’ve been so worried.”

“How long was I out?”

Tara frowned. “Seventeen days.”

“That’s longer than we’ve even known each other.”

Smiling indulgently, she responded. “When human women meet our Mister Right, we jump right on board. Life’s too short to beat around the bush.”

Keiko stood, “I’ll leave you to visit.”

“Where am I?”

“We’re onboard the Shardon flagship. Shar Jalon insisted on responding himself, when we sent out a distress call.”

Grasping her hands in his, he spoke softly. “I’m glad it was me and not you.”

“I’ve spent the last seventeen days wishing it had been me. Apparently, humans are very malleable. They could have had me up and walking in a couple of days. Between the spinal cord injury and the injury to your wing base, they had a lot more to manage. They also report your Maruvian biology is not as quick to respond to their medical interventions. They had to get pretty creative to put you back together again.”

“I’m sorry about Jax.”

“He’s fine. Armon’s grown quite fond of him. They responded immediately when they heard he’d been seriously injured and your father is nursing him back to health.”

“I am glad that he is there and we are here. He would have much to say about our situation.”

“He’s as contented as a cat lapping cream.”

“Are we talking about the same Jax?”

“I know he’s always been forceful and grumpy but Armon’s pack apparently decided since he was willing to lay down his life for his queen, he can be trusted with Miss. Nahara.”

“He’s mated?”

“They sure did like the idea of us being together. Since Penny’s sister is mated to your brother, we practically family in Armon’s opinion. Just between you and me, I think Armon just repeats everything Penny says.”

“Do not make me laugh, my love mate. It hurts too much.”

“Sorry, baby. Nahara has not left Jax’s side, nor have I left yours.”

“May it always be so, my beautiful Tara.”

“You couldn’t get rid of me if you wanted to. I love you.”

Pulling her down to rub his nose along her neck, Arac replied sincerely, “I love you too, my Tara.”

“I’ve been thinking. Let’s never do that again.”

“A boring life with me is looking very good right now, is it not?”

“Any kind of life with you has always looked good to me.”

“You say sweet words to lure me in.”

“Start that again and I’ll beat you myself.”

“You say the sweetest things.”

“I’m still intrigued by the mystery. For example, how many young do you have?”

Pretending to think really hard, he mumbled thoughtfully, “Let me think, there is Helec… and Malik.”

“Your father brought another that I didn’t recognize when he came to visit.”

“Ah, that must have been Salik.”

“So you have a total of three?”

Nodding, Arac tried not to break out in fits of laughter. Learning that he had forty-three sons was a bit much to expect his female to deal with all at once. Arac had it in his mind to simply introduce another one each day until she had met them all. By then he would probably be carrying her young. Since his caregivers assisted him with his young, having so many should not negatively impact her life. Unless he seriously miscalculated, she was going to love them all. Her hand reached for them almost as soon as she saw one of them. Arac could easily see her taming them all to her loving hand. As he continued to weigh the pros and cons of coming clean, she commented with no small amount of fascination.

“I’ve got my eye on you, mister.”

“That is all it will ever take for everything to stay right in my world.”

Her adoring expression locked her firmly in his jaded heart as she laid down beside him and reached up to caress his face.

“I can do without everything in this life except your loving touch and my young.”

“Thank goodness you’ll never be without either of us.”

Pulling her to his chest, Arac thought of what the future might hold for them. For the first time his future was looking like something he might enjoy living.