Page 22 of Family Found

Inkiri helped me back down off the table, running his fingers just under my scarf.

“Okay, that’s good, really good.” I inclined my head like the bagua often did. “Thank you.”

Gesango returned the gesture. “It’s nothing more and nothing less than our duty. If I may…I… One more thing, Inkiri. You are of House Livim, as is the second high chancellor, are you not?”

Inkiri nodded. “I am.”

Gesango held Inkiri’s gaze. “Have you heard of your brother?”

“Zeddira is alive. He will heal. Forgive me, it did not occur to me you hadn’t heard.”

The nurse perked up. “Zeddira?”

Inkiri switched to Lugarra for the nurse’s benefit, and Gesango’s eyes went wide. His astounded gaze turned to me.

“You truly are like those olden mages, sir.” Then he bowed. That was a little weird, especially since the nurse went along with it and bowed as well.

“I…try. Uhm, Ink?”

My mate clicked. “Yes, sweet thing. Let’s see if anything is needed from us urgently, and if not, we’ll get you cleaned up and dressed in fresh clothes. Gesango, thank you. And be safe when you come to Earth.”

“Thank you. I hope I get to see more of you. Don’t be a stranger, is that not what is said?”

Inkiri nodded and held the door open for me.

I ended up waving and grinning at Gesango. “Bye. And thanks, Doc.”

The bagu waved back, although he looked a bit bewildered by the exchange.

“Come. Gesango is right; you must rest and eat.” Inkiri sounded super serious, and he took my wrist and pulled me along like a bagu on a mission.

“I’m telling you, I’m fine. I mean…”

I looked toward the triage section we were headed toward. We passed one of the hangu survivors being helped toward the back where we were coming from. He had bad bruises on one side of his face, and the threadbare shift he wore barely hid all the other bruises all over his body, or almost all over his body.

Yeah, when you abducted people in order to use them for some sick breeding scheme, you clearly weren’t allowed to hit them in the stomach.

I swallowed and went on. “I have nothing to complain about and no worries in the world, and I think those hangua need care a little more than my already spoiled human self does.”

Inkiri clicked. “You heard what Gesango said. They will be cared for, and you giving up a comfort doesn’t add anything more to the care they will receive, sweet thing. They get care because they deserve it, and you get care because you deserve it just as much.”

I smiled up at my mate. How did I deserve this guy? “But you fought that celadon asshole. Pardon the French, but he’s a fucking asshole for coming after you like that, excuse the cussing. You know, I got scared for you. Really scared.”

Inkiri frowned. “I’m skilled, sadir. I’m a good fighter, a good protector. A worthy mate for you.”

We walked through the triage section, and the nurses and doctors—or healers—did their jobs and ignored us, especially since we weren’t in the way. Some spoke quietly to their patients, some held their hands. A team of healers was removing the bandages from that one bagu’s hurt feet. I looked away.

“I know you’re worthy. You’re more than worthy. Super worthy. The worthiest.”

Inkiri tilted his head. “You mean every word, don’t you? Hmm. Like Kinnek said, and Charles too has mentioned it in the sauna.” The sauna was not for me. It was too hot, too humid, too naked, but for some reason, Charles, Inkiri, and Fellisse really liked sitting in there and talking for hours. Nokim joined them sometimes, and I was beginning to think of it as the bagu heat cave. “You want to protect me.” He looked thoughtful, as if the concept were novel and bewildering.

We’d made our way back to the main hallway just past the entrance to the hospital. Before I could tell him that, yeah, duh, of course I wanted to protect him, I saw a tiny, rapidly approaching bagu projectile. This hallway was great for running.

I wasn’t sure at first, but when the small bagu stopped in front of me and Inkiri, a little breathless, I recognized him. “Sonyo!”

Huge periwinkle eyes set in a dark blue face lit up with joy, and the kid smiled.

“Rory!” He broke into a rapid-fire Lugarra monologue, eyes going back and forth between me and Inkiri but mostly staying on Inkiri. Sonyo had a notebook with him that he held out to Inkiri, who took it and leafed through it. I glanced over and saw Lugarran script; nothing I could make sense of.