by Lila Felix
“I know Xarrid. I’ve asked myself the same things. I wish we could find her. But if you still feel her soul, that must mean something. That must mean she’s getting food and water. Someone is taking care of her.”
“Then why isn’t she calling to me? She hasn’t even tried. My mind waves to her are unanswered. I’m blocked at every turn, or there’s nothing there.”
“Same here. The telepathic waves are shut down. I don’t know Xarrid, but you need to keep talking to us. We’re all worried about you. We can’t be worried about Saylan and you at the same time.”
He rubbed his face, drying the tears from them. “My mind is so bloody messed up right now, I can barely think straight.”
She put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. “I know. We all have noticed Xarrid. Look, when Rayn and I were apart, I thought I was losing it. I would work out in the exercise facility until I could hardly walk back to my quarters. But at least I knew where he was and that he was safe. This is crazy with Saylan. Bottling it up inside though will only make you more insane. Talk to us. We can’t make it go away, but we can listen and let you vent.”
He looked up at her and nodded. “I feel so weak.”
“You’re not. You lost your soul mate. You’re grieving. That’s not weakness. That’s love Xarrid. Do you remember when we first met?”
He nodded but raised his brows, not really following her.
“You scared the bejesus out of me. I was so intimidated by you. I don’t know, you just seemed so in control and powerful. And so smart about everything. But there was something about you that made me turn to Jell-o inside and it was the way you felt about Rayn. You loved him so much that even though you sort of turned your back on us for a while, you did it in good conscience. And it about killed you to do it too. I always loved you after that. So, what I’m trying to say is don’t ever think you’re weak around me. When I think of strength, a picture of you comes to mind.”
He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to stave off another rush of tears. Seeing his efforts, Maddie pulled him back into her arms and said, “Stop trying to fight it Xarrid. Let it go.”
She rubbed his back and just held him tight. When at last he felt in control again, he whispered, “I don’t know how to go on Maddie.”
“I can help you with that. You do it one day at a time.”
*
Rayn, Rykerian and his mate January were sitting in the den when Maddie walked in. Rayn was at her side in an instant.
“Well,” he asked. He could tell by her glistening cheeks that she’d been crying.
“His heart is cracked and his soul is splintering. We talked for a long time. He cried and poured his heart out, but I don’t know if I helped or not. I hope I did, but he needs more than what I can give him.” She looked pointedly at January.
Rykerian started shaking his head.
“It doesn’t matter how you feel about this Rykerian,” Rayn said. “Xarrid’s livelihood goes beyond your petty jealousies.”
Rykerian’s mouth pressed into a thin line and he said, “Under any other circumstances, I would have something completely different to say to that remark. Given the situation, I will only say this. That was uncalled for. January, please get Jurek here now. My brother is in need of him and contrary to what Rayn may think, Xarrid’s needs will always come before my feelings for Jurek.”
January hugged Rykerian and smiled. Whenever she smiled like that, he pretty much melted anyway, so what did it matter? Within minutes, they all heard that strange popping sound, and suddenly, Jurek Herdekian appeared in the den.
“You rang?” he asked. He always liked to say that to January because he thought it was funny, even though no one else did.
She flew to him and hugged him because it had been several months since she’d seen him.
“Yes, we did.”
“How’s little Therron?” Not waiting for an answer, he looked at her and asked, “Are you pregnant again?”
As Rayn and Maddie gaped at the three of them, January replied, “For the love of God, Jurek, can you not be discreet about anything?”
“Oh, sorry,” he said. He actually had to good graces to look contrite.
“We didn’t call you here for that. We’re worried about Xarrid,” she said, wanting to get her now exposed pregnancy off the table and buried where it should have stayed except for Jurek’s big blabbering mouth.
“What’s up?”
Maddie explained about her time she spent with him and how he’d pulled away from them.
“Still no news on Saylan then?” Jurek wanted to know.
“Nothing,” Rayn answered.
“We know she wasn’t on Xanthus the last time we checked. We scoured that hell hole. We’ll check again. I can put one of my teams down there ASAP. I need to check on Xarrid. Where is he?”
“In his room,” Maddie told him.
“I’m going to take him away for a while.”
“Where?” January wanted to know.
“Some place where his mind can heal. I should have done this a long time ago.”
“Are you taking him to Lare-Stell?”
“That would be a big no. He doesn’t need to be on an active space station. He needs solitude, away from everything familiar.”
“Then where?” January pressed.
“Bloody hell, January. You’re a nosy one aren’t you?”
Her face flushed in anger. “No, I’m not. I’m concerned about my brother-in-law, darn you! Quit acting like a stubborn fool,” she spat, and then she stuck her tongue out at him. She did this a lot, and he just shook his head and laughed.
“The sanctuary.”
“Huh?”
“I’m taking him to the sanctuary. My sanctuary. That’s all I’ll tell you about it because I don’t speak of it. It’s on my home planet of Praestan and no one, other than myself, is allowed there.”
They all stared at him, mouths hanging open, jaws hitting the floor.
“What the hell is wrong with the lot of you?”
“You! You’re doing something exceptionally nice for someone other than January. That’s what’s wrong with us,” Rykerian answered.
Jurek narrowed his eyes and growled, “Xarrid is my brother in every way except for blood. Like January, I will do anything for him.” Using his Praestani power, he flashed himself out of the room and over to Xarrid’s bedroom.
Coming Soon…
