Chapter Thirty Six

Five hours. Gale had been in surgery for five damn hours. What was taking so long?

Stralath's foot tapped as he folded his arms and stared at the ceiling. He now sat outside the operating theater and kept glancing at the doors.

Galene had seemed tired and impassive before the procedure, and Stralath knew the last few weeks had taken a toll on the feisty mermaid. She'd looked adrift as they'd wheeled her down the passage. Had he made the wrong decision in encouraging the surgery? Did they have a choice?

Stralath swiped a hand over his face as heeled footsteps neared, echoing in the empty corridor.

"Can I take a seat?" Coco's low voice asked.

Stralath dropped his hand and glanced her way. "Yes, boss—this is your facility."

"Our NIRL facility and you outrank me." She nudged his arm with her shoulder. She watched the theater doors. "And the first NIRL earth surgical unit to operate on a fisheri."

Stralath shifted in his seat. He didn't care about any firsts—he cared about the patient.