Haven 4 AVOW - Sandra R Neeley Page 0,66

her. He pulled her gently into his arms and kissed her hair, inhaling the calming scent of his mate. “You have truly blessed me, Sink Lar,” he whispered. “All in my life is better because of you.”

The next morning, he woke early, and found that he was alone. Then he heard it, the sound of Synclare in their cleansing chamber, emptying the contents of her stomach. He jumped to his feet and rushed to her side. Entering the cleansing chamber, he placed his hands on her shoulders. “Sink Lar, why didn’t you wake me?” he gently scolded.

Synclare didn’t answer, she couldn’t. The dry heaves that had taken over her body stole all the strength she had. After they eventually stopped, she sank down onto the metallic floor and lay there, thankfully letting the coldness of the floor cool her sweaty skin. Her body trembled as she felt a cold, damp cloth being pressed against her face and neck. She opened her eyes to find Lo'San hovering above her.

“Can I take you back to our bed?” he asked, looking down at her with pity in his eyes.

Synclare shook her head and closed her eyes again. Her stomach clenched and she grimaced as she curled up into the fetal position.

“Sink Lar, what can I get for you?” Lo'San asked.

Synclare shook her head, remembering his words that they should have just stayed as they were. “Just want to sleep,” she finally whispered.

“Alright,” he answered, scooping her up in his arms and carrying her back to the bedroom. He tucked her back in bed and walked out of the bedroom, only to return moments later with another dose of her medication.

Synclare accepted the medication gratefully, and turned her back on him, knowing it would only be moments before it took effect and she’d be out again.

“I shall stay with you,” Lo'San said.

Synclare shook her head again. “It’s not necessary. I know you have responsibilities. I’ll be fine,” she answered.

“I have to be sure you’re well,” he insisted.

“I am well. I’ll be recovered shortly and you won’t have to even consider it again. We’ll be just like we were before.”

“I am not on duty this day. I am staying with you,” Lo'San insisted.

“Go spend time with your family. All you will do here is watch me sleep, and neither of us needs that,” Synclare said, her voice gruff and raspy from being sick to her stomach and the pain she endured.

“Do not argue with me, Sink Lar!” Lo'San insisted.

“Do whatever you want,” she murmured as the medication finally took effect, quickly pulling her into a drugged sleep. “Whatever you want is fine.”

~~~

“I was thinking that today would be the best day for you and Lo'San to spend together,” Mee'ta said over a breakfast in their quarters.

“Do you?” Lau'San asked, perking up a bit.

“I do. He is not on duty this day, and we have all been occupying his every free moment. Today should be just you and your oldest son, Lau'San. In fact, after we finish our meal, I shall accompany you to his home, offer to watch over our bond-daughter, and give you both the gift of an entire day without the distraction of the rest of us,” Mee'ta answered.

“I would be very happy to have such a day, but if his Sink Lar is ill, he will surely prefer to stay with her, as is to be expected,” Lau'San said.

“I stayed with her yesterday and most of last evening. I am sure he will be comfortable with me caring for her. After all, we only have a limited time remaining before we will be leaving the ship. It is best to take advantage of our days while we can,” Mee'ta said.

Lau'San thought about it. “We can ask,” he said, hoping for any time with his son. “But if he prefers to stay with Sink Lar, we will not push him.”

“Of course,” Mee'ta said, sipping her litah and planning in the back of her mind.

Smiling as he took his last bite of food, he pushed his empty plate away and stood. “I’ll prepare for the day. Will you be long?” Lau'San asked.

“Only a moment or two. Go ahead and get dressed.”

“Very well, Mee'ta. Thank you for considering today for Lo'San and me.”

“Of course, Lau'San. What kind of mate, or mother would I be if I didn’t place your needs above my own whenever possible?”

~~~

Lo'San sat in his living space, going over the events of the last two days in his mind. Something just seemed