Chapter 229

Chapter 229: Chapter 229

Dron rushed to the door and tried to push Tempest behind.

She knew what he was doing. He was trying to protect her. Trying to make it so she wasn’t around when the bad news came.

Tempest refused to be pushed aside. She wanted to be there from the very moment they got the results. If Rynax was gone from this world, she wanted to know.

Gushex looked from Dron to Tempest and then back to Dron again.

Dron sighed and shook his head as if he knew that Tempest wouldn’t be detered.

"What’s going on?" Dron asked.

Tempest steeled herself. Whatever Gushex was about to say she wanted to promise that she wouldn’t lose it. She didn’t realize how much Rynax meant to her. All the problems that they had on their journey to find Dron meant little to her now. All she wanted was her friend to be okay.

She sucked in a breath. In through her nose out through her mouth. Over and over again. Her fingertips tingled, and her heart batted against her ribcage.

Tempest couldn’t remember the last time she was so nervous for anything. There wasn’t any long pause or anything like that, but Tempest felt as if the time were moving slower than usual. As if she could see the words forming on Gushex mouth before they came out.

She could feel her head getting foggy. She didn’t even realize she was hyperventilating until Dron put his hand on her arm and squeezed gently. He was trying to ground her. Trying to comfort her in the only way that he knew that she could be comforted.

In any other time, Tempest would have welcomed the touch. She’d have leaned into Dron but not this time. This time the comfort, though familiar, becomes a precursor for the trauma that she is sure to come.

Gushex is about to tell them that Rynax has died and the last thing she wants is to connect this feeling of loss to Dron’s touch.

It becomes so unsettling that she actually pulls away from him. Dron gives her a look as if he doesn’t understand but then he focuses on Gushex and what he’s saying.

"According to Gerax and Aliq, it is very rare for anyone to survive a fever that high without permanent damage. They did everything they could."

Dron shook his head and put a hand up to stop Gushex from talking.

"Right now you’re telling me all the things that Aliq and Gerax have said. I couldn’t care less about that. All I care about is whether or not Rynax is still among the living. Whatever happens after that is not consequential. " Dron puffed a breath through his nose.

Apparently he was just as on edge as Tempest.

Gushex looked between the two of them again, before his mouth slowly inched up into a smile.

"He lives."

Tempest breath exploded out of her in a deep groan before she reached for Dron to steady herself. "He’s alive? Really?" She speaks but her voice cracks with emotion.

Gushex shrugs his shoulders in the affirmative.

"He is still very much ill but his temperature is starting to fall and he’s sleeping soundly. Gerax believes the medical intervention that he provided is starting to work. Honestly, I had my doubts. I’ve known my share of people who are smart in talks alone."

Tempest shook her head, "No, Gerax is the real deal. He’s probably one of the smartest people I’ve ever known."

Dron turned and pulled Tempest into a hug. He was smiling too.

Tempest pulled back and looked up into her mate’s face. "He’s going to be okay."

Dron chuckled, "I should’ve known that nuisance was too stubborn to go out like that. He needs more flash if he’s going to die."

Tempest swatted at Dron playfully. She didn’t tell him that he was wrong. He was right on all accounts. She shouldn’t have doubted Rynax’s strength or his desire to live. Especially now that he’s got something to live for.

She wondered briefly how Minnie was handling things. To go from thinking the man that she was falling for was about to die to knowing that he would live. Tempest wondered if that put things in perspective for the human woman.

Tempest knew it did when the same thing had happened to Dron. When he nearly succumbed to the poison from the arena match, Tempest lost all but her mind.

"I need to go see him." Tempest took a step forward.

"Are you sure that’s for the best? He could use some more sleep." Dron held her back.

She looked up at him, but didn’t see any jealousy in his eyes. He was honestly just concerned for his friend.

"I won’t wake him. I just want to see with my own eyes that he’s still alive. Besides, I’m sure Gerax and Aliq have more than just a few things to discuss with you. The sickness has almost run its course. We can be on the way soon."

"That’s something else that I wanted to talk to you about." Gushex stood up tall.

They were about to start talking about strategy. Tempest knew that she should be there for the talks, but she wouldn’t be able to focus until she laid eyes on Rynax. She patted Dron’s arm and slowly walked out of the room, leaving the two of them there to talk about whatever it was that they needed to talk about.

Tempest did her best to move slowly in the direction where she last saw Rynax. To her surprise he wasn’t there any longer. She knew he wasn’t strong enough to get up and walk on his own. They must have moved him to make him more comfortable or to shield the people from watching one of their own die.

Dron was definetly the leader of the group but there were many who looked to Rynax too. He was important.

Tempest searched the lower deck nearly in a panic.

She couldn’t find him anywhere. The ability to move slowly left her. She raced up to the top floor and looked around for anyone who would be able to tell her where Rynax was.

Finally she turned a corner and saw a makeshift tent that hadn’t been on the top deck the last time she was there.

She breathed a sigh of relief. Rynax had to be in there. It was smart. The fresh air would do him good, maybe even help keep his temperature down.

Tempest all but ran to the tent a wide smile on her face as she pulled back the sheet to open the tent.

Rynax was laying on a tent. His body naked from the waist up. Tempest nearly cried in relief as she watched his chest rise and fall.

She looked him over. It was so strange to see him without all his jewels on. Almost wrong.

He looked so young, so inexperienced.

"I was wondering when you’d come." A voice spoke from the corner.

Tempest’s eyes snapped in that direction. Minnie was sitting there. Tempest hadn’t even realized that there was anyone else here.

"Oh, they just told me that he was going to make it." Tempest nodded and walked closer to the woman. But Minnie leaned away and narrowed her eyes on Tempest.

The energy was off.

"Is everything okay?" Temepst asked even though she knew that it absolutely wasn’t. Just because Rynax seemed to have gotten through the worst of it doesn’t mean that things wouldn’t be different from here on out. There was always the possibility that Rynax wouldn’t wake up from his sleep. He could wake up and be mentally impaired. There was still a number of things that could go wrong.

"Everything is fine." Minnie said slowly.

"You don’t sound like everything is fine. Did something happen?"

Minnie looked at Rynax and then back to Tempest. "You know, I never expected to have the feelings I have for Rynax with anyone. Not on this alien planet. Back on earth, I did my best to steer away from any type of relationship. I don’t like the drama or the stress that comes with it."

Tempest nodded her head, "I know all about that. My last relationship ended when my boyfried cheated on me with my best friend." Tempest scoffed.

"Exactly, loyalty isn’t always as paramount as it should be. I figured here on this planet I wouldn’t have to deal with anything like that. Then I met Rynax and as much as I want to deny it, I know something is happening between us."

Tempest looked around for a second she couldn’t see what Minnie was getting at. "That’s good...isn’t it?"

"I thought so. Then all this happened. Rynax was nearly taken away from me and it felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. Both when Gerax told me that he more than likely wouldn’t survive and then as Rynax began turning the corner and he began calling out for you."

Minnie shot daggers at Tempest through her gaze.

"For me?" Tempest questioned. Even to her, the words didn’t sound as surprised as she wanted them to be.

"Yes, for you. What really is going on between you two? If I’m going to be some sort of consolation prize, I don’t want to be part of this."

"No! It’s not like that." Tempest shook her head hard.

"Isn’t it?" Minnie shot up from where she was sitting but kept her voice a harsh whisper as to not wake Rynax.

"No, I love Dron. I’m with Dron." Tempest argued. It wasn’t the answer Minnie wanted to hear. Tempest knew that.

"And? But is Rynax with you?"

"No."

"So you’re telling me there are no feelings between the two of you."

Tempest wanted to lie. She wanted to tell Minnie that there was absolutely nothing between Rynax and her but she couldn’t do it. Sooner or later Minnie would find out, and she’d feel betrayed. Tempest knew what it felt like to be betrayed by someone she considered a friend.

It was one of the worst feelings she’d ever experienced.

"I’ll be honest with you..." Tempest started. She knew that the moment she told Minnie about what happened during the first leg of their journey, Minnie might not look at him the same. She didn’t want to risk keeping Rynax from his happy ending but more so she felt as if she were giving up a bit of her own power.

Even after they found Dron, Tempest knew without a doubt that Rynax would do anything for Tempest. She was the woman Rynax was trying to impress. The woman he was trying to get to change her mind. If she told Minnie the truth, Tempest knew she’d no longer have that hold over Rynax. She wouldn’t have the advantage. Minnie would take her place.

Tempest could feel a pang of selfishness rising up inside of her. She immediately squashed it down. This was the right thing to do. She knew it.

"In the beginning, Rynax was persuing me. To some very dangerous means actually. He saw what Dron and I had and wanted it for himself. I had to explain to him that it didn’t work that way. We don’t chose who we love and just being away from them doesn’t make the love go away. It took him a little while to understand. It took him a little while to realize what he was feeling for me wasn’t love but envy of what Dron had. There is absolutely nothing going on with Rynax and me. I love him as a friend, as family, nothing more."

Minnie continued to stare at Tempest as if she were trying to figure out if what was being said was true. After a second, Minnie sighed and looked back down at Rynax.

"So I’m always going to be the second choice then?"

The words caused Tempest’s heart to ache, "No, not the second choice. The best choice. There was never going to be any future for Rynax and I. Even he knew that. With you, there’s a future. One filled with love and loyalty. What he felt for me pales in comparison to what he feels for you." Tempest took a step forward, but this time Minnie didn’t shy away.

"I want to believe that."

"You should. I’ve already seen the beginnings of it. The man is completely smitten with you." Tempest smiled wider.

"Ugh, he gets on my nerves."

"Yes, he’s going to do that too." Tempest stood next to Minnie and gently laid a hand on her shoulder. Minnie leaned into the touch.

"I just want him to be okay. I want him to wake up so I can argue with him. Tell him how angry I am that he was calling another woman."

"Be prepared for quite a few jewels. I’m guessing that’s going to be his method of apology."

Minnie scoffed, "My entire bag is full of his jewlery. I don’t think I’ve ever had as many jewels in all my life combined."

Tempest and Minnie shared a laugh before the both of them sat back down, holding each other’s hands.

They watched over Rynax. Both watched out of love, just different kinds.