When May opened her eyes, all she could see was blue sky. The sun shone on her face, making her skin hot. She lifted her hand to rub her eyes and was startled when she felt a tiny pull in her skin. Looking down she saw an IV inserted into a vein in her hand, and suddenly everything came rushing back to her.
"No!" she cried, sitting up quickly.
"It's okay," a deep voice said, "May. You're alright."
May looked toward the voice and saw Jericho, observing her with a concerned expression. His eyebrows were drawn together and his eyes looked so dark they were almost black.
"Jericho?" she asked, looking around. She wasn't in Fuller anymore.
"Hi," he said, smiling sadly, "May, I am so sorry."
May shook her head, "I don't understand…" she said and then her eyes widened as she realized what he'd called her, "Oh no… You can't… My…"
Her sister! If Jericho knew who she was, she had failed and her sister was dead. Her throat felt swollen and she could feel tears threatening.
"Your sister is here," he said, his hand covering hers gently and his other hand reaching up to cup her cheek. His thumb ran along her cheekbone gently, "She's probably going to be here any minute."
The door to the room flew open just as the words left Jericho's mouth and May looked up to see a very tall, very fit version of herself standing in the doorway.
May choked on a laugh, joy coursing through her body as she saw her sister standing unharmed, "Hello," she said.
Her sister's face, which just a moment before wore a black expression of annoyance cleared, and became softer, "Hello Sister."
May sat up a little higher and reached out a hand, "Will you?" she asked, hoping that her sister would allow her to touch her, to make sure she was real.
Her sister reached out a hand and wrapped her strong fingers around May's. She surprised May then by pulling her into a strong embrace. She felt her sister lean her head on her hair and breath her in. Her other hand was held by Jericho, who squeezed it, but didn't let it go.
"It's nice to finally meet you," May said, squeezing her sister around the shoulders.
Her sister drew back and laughed, "It is nice to finally meet you as well, little May Nguyen," she said aloud, and then whispered, "Thank you little sister."
May sniffled as she stared at her sister, "I'm your big sister."
She looked confused as she looked at May, "I am much bigger than you," she said slowly, "I could probably crush you if I wanted to."
May smiled, "I'm your older sister," she said, "I should have said that. Sometimes humans use the words "little" and "big" to explain birth order. I should have explained."
Her sister smiled and May felt herself relax for the first time in days.
"He released you," May said.
She heard Jericho growl next to her, "Yes. Because of your foolish bravery."
May turned to look at him. His face was pale and his eyes had darkened. May couldn't help the tremor that began along her spine as she remembered her time at Fuller. She pulled her hands gently away from Jericho and her sister.
"You were not raped," her sister told her quietly and May swallowed.
"Are you sure?" May asked, "I don't remember."
She heard a strange noise come from Jericho's throat; it was somewhere between a whine and a snarl.
"I was almost not fast enough," he said shaking his head, and not looking at May, "Will you ever forgive me?"
May stared at him wide-eyed, and then her sister scoffed, "You saved her," she said, without emotion, then added, "You would not have had to save her if you had not let her be sent to Fuller, but you eventually did the right thing."
May's mouth dropped open, "No," she corrected, "It isn't your fault at all."
Jericho wouldn't look at her and May lifted his chin until she could be sure he was paying attention, ""It is not your fault. I did what I thought I needed to and I lied to you. You came for me. You saved me. That is all that matters."
As May finished Jericho's eyes lifted to hers. He stared at her mouth as she spoke. The last word had just left her mouth when Jericho pressed his lips to hers. May gave a tiny surprised cry. Jericho immediately drew back, but May moved fast, gripping his neck with her hand and pulling back to her.
His lips were strong, but May didn't know what she was doing. She heard a throat clear and pulled back embarrassed.
"Can you please wait until you are alone? I do not need to see you share sex," her sister said.
May giggled and caught Jericho's eye. He smiled at her, a blindingly beautiful smile. She realized that she'd never seen him smile before. She reached up and traced his mouth with her finger.
"When can I leave?" she asked him, and then blushed when she realized how she sounded.
Jericho's face got serious, "You can leave today," he said, "The doctor will be in to check you over one last time and then I will be taking you to my home."
"Wait. What?" her sister said, "I thought that she would come to the women's dorms with me."
Jericho growled quietly and her sister hissed in return. May held her hands out, one palm on each of their chests, "I haven't had anyone who has cared about me in a long time," she said, "Let alone two people who want me with them. Please, let's not argue. We're family now."
"I have arranged for us to have a house," Jericho explained, "I would like for us to live there together. Your sister," he growled, looking over, "is welcome to stay with us."
May looked over at her sister, whose eyes had widened, "Explain," she demanded of Jericho.
"May is my mate," Jericho said, and then looked at May, "You are my mate. I will take care of you. I want you with me. I need you with me so I protect you and provide for you. I want you as long as we are both alive."
May bit her lip and looked over at her sister, who was smiling broadly and nodded at May when she caught her eye. May couldn't help the smile that seemed to stretch from ear to ear.
"I would like that very much," May said, "Can we please leave now?"
Jericho belted out a laugh and May finally recognized the feelings she'd had about Jericho since she had first heard his voice: love.