CHAPTER 50

Mia slept alone that night, and the night after. Had she not received reassurances from Huntak that they were still in communication with Draven’s team she would be going out of her mind with worry. Mia had been given acess to the phones that had been confiscated as the women arrived on Callaphria. The pictures and music and books and apps had sparked an idea.

Fortunately, Kenahi would be in contact range for another day yet before the women were returned and the door was forever closed. Mia worked like a madwoman, collecting a list of information that the women wanted to pass down to the future generations. It was late evening when Lim tapped her on the shoulder. She rubbed her eyes. Had they thought of everything? Pictures, music, books, history...there was so much they were losing.

“You already missed the midday meal, I do not think you should skip this one as well.”

Mia simply nodded, her mind a mess of anxiety. Why hadn’t Draven returned?

There were three new garden plots along the trail to the dining hall. Becky had been released the day before...or had quite possibly walked out of the medical building without consent, if the medic’s sour look was anything to go by. It seemed she had a similar strategy to Mia’s for forgetting her worries.

The hall looked empty, as it had since over half the women and the accompaniment of men had left. She scanned the tables, not really expecting to see Draven’s face. It was as she had thought, he still hadn’t returned.

Becky was present though, at one of the tables closest to the kitchen. Her eyes were red and swollen, but she smiled at Cassidy as they spoke of something. Mia made her way over and took a seat.

“What are the new plots for?” she asked.

“I was thinking a memorial would be nice,” Becky looked up. “Pheobe’s going to incorporate some security thingy she and Huntak have cooked up, so it will be dual purpose.”

“That’s a great idea,” and maybe the task would bring some closure to everyone.

“Sorry I haven’t come by the learning cente, I just...I need to be doing something with my hands.”

“No problem, we’ve just been working on the list anyway. Is there anything you want pulled from the internet if Kenahi can manage? It’ll be the last chance we have to connect to some of this stuff.”

Becky shook her head. “You know, I’m ready to leave that all behind.”

That didn’t seem like the best way to move forward, but Mia didn’t say anything. If Becky changed her mind there would always be all of the things the other women requested. Movement caught her attention as Ashley plunked down beside her. Mia looked up...and stared.

“What?” the woman wanted to know.

The others at the table snickered a little.

“You’ve got a little…” Cassidy made some vague gestures toward her chest.

Ashley looked down, her face flushing red at the very obvious flour hand prints that cupped her breasts. She couldn’t even see the disheveled state of her hair or her swollen lips.

“I hope you two aren’t using the kitchen as your private...uh...you know,” Becky teased.

Ashley brushed at her front until the flour was less noticeable, but the red in her cheeks didn’t leave.

“Of course not, Yoa is a prude when it comes to his ‘sterile’ kitchen...he attacked me outside.”

“And did you attack him back?” Becky wanted to know.

The corner of Ashley’s lip lifted and her eyes glazed over in a dreamy kind of way.

“You know there’s this thing they can do with their teeth…”

Mia found herself flushing as well. Oh yes, she knew, and she was missing it immensely the last few nights.

“What’s with the medic?” Ashley grunted.

What? Mia turned and found the man seated a few tables away, staring in their direction. Or, more specifically, staring in Becky’s direction. Cassidy looked too, but Becky kept her eyes on her plate.

“He’s probably having an aneurysm,” she said, “So full of himself his head is trying to explode.”

Mia blinked, but Becky ignored that too.

Commotion at the door pulled them out of their conversation, Mia’s heart thumped and she turned.

He was there. Draven, still in armor, looking disheveled and worn, but home.

His eyes traveled the interior, scanning the tables until they landed on her. She didn’t miss the relief on his face. Did he think she would change her mind? Or was he worried another Y’kil might have gotten past security?

She rose from her seat and drifted toward him, letting everything she was feeling show on her face. When she was near enough he gathered her to him fiercely, letting out a harsh breath.

“It is far more difficult to be away from you than I imagined,” he told her.

“Same here, what took so long? I thought you only needed to go to the north end of the city?”

“There was an interesting development…”

“Gorth?” Becky’s voice was shrill, almost panicked.

Mia pulled back from Draven’s embrace, finally noticing the other men around him. They were haggard and beat. Dried blood crusted on their armor and skin, some sporting more serious wounds, though none seemed to be immediately life threatening. And there, in the center of the group, was Gorth.

“How?...I thought the Y’kil had to...you know...eat you...to be able to mimic?” Mia asked.

“Turns out they don’t need to eat all of you,” Gorth answered and held up his left hand, the two last fingers were missing and bound by bandages. He too, looked around the room. When he found Becky his face lit with surprise. He must have been told that the women who wanted to go had been sent home. He wasn’t expecting her to be there. He started forward, his big body moving with a stiffness Mia had never seen. Where had he been...and how long had he been truly missing? At least a week, maybe more.

Becky had paled significantly, she stared not speaking as the giant of a man approached her.

“I meant to bring you this much sooner,” he told her, setting something on the table in front of her. “Forgive me for taking so long.”

“Draven, I think you better explain,” Mia started.

“I will call a meeting of men and women in a few hours. But for now Gorth and a few others need medical attention and we could all use the time to clean up,” He paused and looked down at her. “I would have done so first and foremost, but I had to see you.”

“Tor, you will be needed,” Draven called to the man as he waved the rest of the team out. Mia glanced over. Gorth was leaving Becky’s table with obvious reluctance, Tor followed, a carefully neutral expression on his face. If she wasn’t mistaken Gorth had a bit of competition.

“Come with me?” Draven whispered.

“You would have a hard time stopping me,” she murmured back.

It was much, much later that night, cuddled into his arms and against his body, falling into lazy, contented sleep, when Draven whispered to her.

“I’m glad you stayed,” he admitted. “I would have gone crazy within days if you had left me,” he kissed her forehead. “I’m never letting you go.”

And he never did.

THE END