Mission: Planet Biter (Veslor Mates #4)(17)

A low growl burst from his chest over the insult. “She is ill and frightened. I do not see her that way.”

“I apologize. I also understand. As a doctor, I see a lot of patients but I don’t really notice if they’re attractive or not until they begin to heal. You Veslors are really something.”

“I’m not certain what you mean.”

“You have integrity. You gave your word to Miss Wade and you’re keeping it, even under the threat of me calling security. That’s admirable.”

“It is our way.”

The doctor approached the bed, reaching into the pocket of her coat before she began to put on gloves. “I need to take a peek at what her pupils are doing.”

He tensed.

“Her eyes,” she whispered. “I’ll be gentle, and it probably won’t wake her. She appears to be exhausted and sleeping deeply.”

Roth allowed the doctor to gently turn Vera’s head. She didn’t stir in his arms. Not even when the doctor used two of her gloved fingers to open Vera’s eyes. He couldn’t see what the doctor did, but she frowned before stepping back and releasing Vera.

“I really need to get a specialist in to see her in the morning. We only have two eye specialists onboard.” She met his gaze. “Both refuse to work the night shifts. Speaking of doctors, I had to ban Doctor Brick from storming in here. She tried to pull rank, but you’re not the one being treated.”

“You should allow Jessa in here.”

That had Dr. Kane’s eyebrows arching upward.

“Jessa is the close friend of a female mate in my grouping. I would like her to see Vera.”

“She’s an alien specialist. That’s her field.”

“I trust her.”

“If this were a contagion…” She paused. “A virus or disease that had been picked up on the planet we’re circling, Miss Wade would be her patient. It’s not. This was an Earth-based drug.”

None of that changed Roth’s mind. He trusted Jessa. “I would still like Jessa to see Vera.”

The doctor grunted. “I’d like a lot of things. I’ll check back when we take another blood sample.” She spun, stalking out of the room.

Roth adjusted Vera in his arms and closed his eyes. He would take a nap. The slightest noise or motion would wake him.





Chapter Five



Vera woke again but she didn’t panic that time. She was snuggled firmly against a big bulk of warmth with a heavy arm firmly anchored around her back. Roth, her alien, was still there.

She inhaled, certain it was him. He smelled nice. The rumbling noise he’d made wasn’t there any longer. She heard faint voices though, coming from somewhere else. Utter blackness was the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes.

“I am here, Vera,” Roth’s voice softly assured her.

“I can’t see anything.”

“It may not be you this time. Computer, slowly raise lights on.”

The room began to grow brighter, and she stared at an off-white colored material in front of her. She reached out, running her fingers over the shirt Roth wore. “I can see.”

“Look at me.”

She had to move a little to raise her chin. Roth looked down at her. She stared into his golden eyes. They weren’t human but they were fascinating, especially against his dark complexion. He had long, thick black eyelashes. A very fine layer of fur covered his skin. She wasn’t even sure if she could call it that. It felt velvety soft.

She took in his wide nose next. His lips were what she’d call nibble worthy. She hated thin ones. He was a good-looking alien. Almost human in appearance, but there was no mistaking that he wasn’t.

She lifted her head off the pillow to get a better look at his pointed ear. Vera stopped caressing his cheek and reached up.

Roth pulled his arm from around her waist, gently catching her hand with his. “I am real. You shouldn’t touch a male’s ears.”

She gazed into his eyes. “I’m sorry. Would it have hurt you?” That was the last thing she wanted to do.

“They are extremely sensitive. How do you feel? You’ve been asleep for nearly fourteen hours.”

That shocked her. It must have shown on her face.

“You were exhausted. The amount of the drug in your body is decreasing. They have been taking blood tests. Doctor Kane predicts that in fifteen more hours, it should be completely be gone. She hasn’t found any lasting damage inside you. The black of your eyes isn’t shifting in size anymore, and they match.”

She had to think about that. “My pupils?”

“The black centers. They were doing bad things, but now they appear normal for a human. Are you feeling better? Do you see or hear anyone that isn’t here?”

She bit her lip and broke eye contact with him, turning her head. They were in what appeared to be a hospital room. The door had been mostly closed but not all the way. One wall held clearly marked cabinets for supplies. There was also a bathroom. No bigfoot, werewolf, or her father shared the room with them.

She peered back at Roth before speaking. “It’s just us in here. Did anyone else survive?”

His lips pressed together and his golden eyes narrowed. “My grouping and the human tactical teams sent to the planet’s surface discovered the source of the drug.”