Chapter 193: An Allergy
"I am guessing that no one else saw that coming either?" asked a melodic female voice. The sound seemed to caress every last one of Vraev’ox’s nerves.
"I can’t say I did," muttered the voice that Vraev’ox recognized as the Elder’s. "But it is just like fate to add him to our group. Especially after we agreed that it would be for the best if he wasn’t."
"Maybe we got it wrong," said the female. The almost hopeful note to it made the male want to smile and agree to give her anything. "Maybe they had such a severe reaction because they are allergic to me."
"Sorry to break this to you, Stardust, but they are definitely not allergic to you," chuckled the low voice that must have belonged to the Njeriuujk.
"They could be," she replied stubbornly. Vraev’ox desperately wanted to open his eyes to see the expression on her face, but he found his body unresponsive. "None of you three were like that."
"She makes a good point," said the Njeriuujk. "How about we throw them out of an airlock and call it a day."
"Their suit will save them from death," pointed out a voice that sounded like Ye’tab. Was he advocating for them to be thrown out of an airlock? And who were they? Even with so many questions going through his head, the darkness consumed him a second time, and he could no longer hear the conversation.
----
I paced back and forth in the medical bay, my four mates leaning against the wall while the three new males were lying unconscious on the exam tables.
"Could I have a parasite inside me that attacked them without me knowing it?" I asked Jun Li.
"No," he said for the third time. "And before you ask again, yes, I have already checked. And parasites aren’t normally transferred by voice."
"No, it wasn’t an issue with the suppressor either," pipped up Ye’tab, a hint of humor in his voice. I am so glad that they could see the bright side in all this because I was having a hard time finding it. That was seven fucking mates if anyone bothered to count. Seven.
As in one more than six and three more than the four I originally had.
"Ah, but it is one less than eight," joked Midnight. I spun around and blinked at him, wondering if he had developed telepathic powers in the short time that I had been freaking out about getting three new mates.
"Nope," he answered. "You are just talking out loud. Very cute, by the way."
Letting out a screech, I launched myself across the med bay, ready to tear the giant wolf limb from limb.
Catching me in mid-air, he pulled me into his arms and started to slowly rub my back. "It’s okay, my love," he said softly into my ear. I don’t know what it was, but I could feel myself starting to melt into his embrace. It was like all the stress and tension I was feeling just evaporated as soon as I was in his arms.
"Three more mates are not the end of the world. Although it is weird that I am the only non-Saalistaja of the bunch besides your lovely self," continued Midnight, infusing as much lighthearted fun as he could while continuing stroking me.
"I really wish that there was a place that we could go to research the true history of the Ethawainians," muttered Ye’tab. I rested my head on Midnight’s shoulder and wrapped my legs around his waist. I was clinging onto him like a sloth on a branch, but I would happily stab anyone that made me move.
"I was thinking the same thing," answered Da’kea. "But I don’t know where we would find a place like that. I know that the Alliance has records on every known species, but I am not about to go ask them for it right now."
"This sucks," I muttered into Midnight’s neck, breathing in his unique scent.
"But it really doesn’t, Star beam," said the male holding me in his arms. He released one hand just long enough to boop me on my nose. "Things have turned out just the way they are supposed to be. Just have faith."
I heard a little chirp that made me smile. Looking up into the corners of the room, I finally spotted Night. "I don’t suppose you bit them just as I was about to talk, did you?" Night shook his head, his eyes blinking all at different times like someone doing the wave in a crowd. No luck there, I guess.
"We could always go to the original Ethawainian planet if you want," suggested Jun Li, causing all of us to pause and stare up at the monitor in the corner.
"You know where the mother planet is?" asked Da’kea, completely stunned. I never really considered that as an option before, but I guess it would make sense that there was once a planet of us before we went out and procreated a universe.
"I thought it was just a myth," said Ye’tab softly.
"I mean, it took a lot of digging," said Jun Li. "But I have been searching for it since we found out that she had the not so latent Royalty genes."
"Thank you," I said out loud, but internally, it was a different story. I couldn’t stop shaking at the idea of going to the Ethawainian, and it was not from joy. It was like a part of me was absolutely terrified about going there.
"We would be with you the entire way," murmured Midnight softly as he continued stroking my back. There was no way he couldn’t feel me shaking. "How about we leave and go cuddle in your nest for a bit. You can finally put on those pajamas that you have been dying to wear."
Ah, Midnight, always knowing exactly what to say and when. I looked up and over at Da’kea, wanting to... what, I didn’t know, but I wanted him to do something.
"Go," he commanded, looking me in my eyes. "Get a good sleep, and we will sort this all out after you wake up."
