Mated To An Enemy

Peter had sat by Myka’s side for three hours without any change. He wasn’t getting worse, but he wasn’t getting better either.

But as he stared at Myka, he thought of their conversation inside the tent and their passion throughout the rest of the night.

Peter could not just sit around and wait, hoping someone would find an answer.

He went to the supply closet and grabbed what he needed. Then, he hurried back and collected the samples from Myka.

Peter gently touched Myka’s hair, moving the blue strands from his eyes.

“I’m not giving up,” he whispered. “But I can help you more by working than sitting here waiting.”

His fingers ran over something, a leaf. He pulled it out of Myka’s hair. It was a strange find, but he assumed it must have been from the fight.

Peter pressed a gentle kiss against Myka’s temple before he left the room.

He hurried down the hall when he saw one of the lab techs, following after her quickly and quietly. When she opened the door to the lab, he pushed in behind her.

She tried to kick him out, insisting he could not be there and needed to leave. But Peter paid no attention. He just got to work analyzing the samples he had taken from Myka.

He was alone in that lab for two hours before someone else walked in.

“I gotta say, Peter, I was surprised when I found out that the security team being dispatched to kick out a rogue doctor in one of the labs was coming for you,” Alice smiled.

Peter did not respond.

“You are causing more trouble than I am,” she added.

“If it were Axel, you would have probably already found some hidden cache of buried secrets to heal him with,” Peter grumbled.

Alice clenched her jaw.

“I understand that you are having an awful day and that you are worried for Myka. Because of that, I will let the comment you just made go,” she said, her tone neutral, but her eyes were cold.

Peter glanced up, regretting his words while still feeling them very strongly. He tried, he really tried to keep his mouth quiet. But he could not stop himself.

“Seriously, Alice. Have you even bothered trying to help Myka? You said you looked into the Spring research but did you?”

Alice stared back at him. She licked her lips and took a step closer.

“My morals, the words I say, my character—all these things you can question. In fact, I encourage you to,” Alice replied, a coldness in her words. “But, if there is one thing about me you should not question, it is my loyalty and devotion to those I hold in my heart.”

She paused, taking a deep breath through her nose.

“Axel has stepped in and granted you permission at this hospital for whatever you need,” she told him. “No one else should bother you while you look for whatever you are hoping to find.”

Peter did not respond. He scoffed and shook his head.

“Myka is more important to me than you will ever know,” Alice said, holding back the frustration she felt at his accusations. “I have been there for him for ten years, and I am still. So it doesn’t really matter if you believe me or not.

“All that matters to me is that Myka knows how much I care about him. You and I don’t need to get along if you don’t want to, but if you question my devotion to him again, I–”

“I’m trying to save him,” Peter replied quietly. “I have to save him.”

He sniffled and tried to look away.

Alice closed the distance between them. She grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her. She focused her attention on Peter’s face. Saw the deep pain in the tremble of his jaw, the guilt in his unfocused gaze.

After a long and silent moment, she took a breath.

“He didn’t understand why you left. He also never gave me the exact details of your parting,” she said. “But he never stopped missing you, loving you. He had absolute faith that you would find your way back to him someday when you were ready.”

Peter shook as the hot tears fell from his eyes. He tried to turn away, but she held him still.

“I’m not trying to add to your sorrows,” Alice continued. “He never gave up on you, so now it’s your turn to maintain the faith. Do not give up on him. That boy has survived more than anyone should have had to, and he did so with a smile on his face. Now that he finally has you back, he won’t give up this life so easily.”

Peter listened, feeling a deep and painful swelling in his chest. He could no longer hold back the pain he had been swallowing down.

Alice let go of his chin, and he sunk into himself. Allowing the sobs and the burning tears to flow out of him freely. His entire body shook as he let the feelings roll over him in a tumultuous wave of grief and fear.

She reached out, touching his shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered once his heart had calmed enough to form words. “I’m scared.”

Alice smiled.

“I hadn’t noticed,” she replied.

Peter sniffled.

“Last night… We opened up to each other,” he began. “Shared our pasts, our fears. We learned more about each other in three hours than in the three weeks we spent together.”

For just a moment, Peter smiled to himself. Then his face crumpled into tears again.

“I’m afraid we lost our chance,” he said, his voice cracking. “We wasted five years… time we could have had together. What if… what if he dies…?”

Alice wrapped her arms around Peter, holding him close.

“Axel and I lost so many years… and we’ve both tried to leave this world several times, but, so far, it hasn’t stuck,” she whispered with a laugh. “You and Myka deserve that chance, and you will get it.”

Alice swallowed, clenching her jaw as she pushed back against the worry in her heart.

“Myka won’t die here,” she said, “and if he dares… I will drag him back.”

Peter couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped him.

“You would challenge the Goddess herself?” he asked in jest as he pulled back and wiped his tears.

“I told you before,” Alice smiled, “if someone hurts one of my people, I will come for them. Even the Goddess.”