Seeing the shocked look on her face, Dante pulled back.
"You don't have to answer now. Just give it some thought. I know you have a lot to think about, with five more Avgo events to go through."
"Dante." Candi pulled her hands from his warm clasp. She could not think clearly when he was this close to her.
"Everything is so confusing right now. I don't even know if I should purposely lose so I don't have to deal with that Earth Princess."
He shook his head.
"Try your best. Don't lose on purpose. With the Avgo win comes so much more than just a chance to remain in Erenveil by marriage. It's the chance to stand on top of the Galaxy as a reigning monarch with your husband."
He closed his eyes.
"I would want the best for you, even if it's not with me."
=======
It was another three days before she was allowed to meet up with Slate.
True to his word, Dante took her on his transport pod to Leonardo's floating hospital, high above Erenveil.
Dante's transport pod was the mother of transport pods. He didn't even bother with using one area to do all that was needed to be done. The pod was split up into four sections, each with a dedicated purpose.
There was the bedroom, with an oval shaped bed that could easily fit two people the size and height of the Second Prince. The walls were a muted grey blue color and the bed and floors were of the same muted blue grey colors. It was very much a man's room.
There was a full size bathroom with an oval bathtub the size of the bed. There was also a dining room, with a table that could accomodate four people.
The final space was the command console where the two egg-shaped command chairs were located. It seemed as if these two chairs were the base standard around which everything else flowed.
He took her to the chair and made sure she was securely seated before going to his own chair.
"It's just a short fifteen minute hop, but once we've launched, you can move around and take a short rest in the bedroom if you wish, or we can have some drinks in the dining room."
Candi nodded but she was too anxious to do any of those things. She wanted to see Slate again and to assure for herself that he was doing okay. They ended up just sitting at the console chairs for the duration of the short flight.
Upon docking, Dante had barely taken her out of the transport pod before Leonardo had joined them.
"Where is Slate?" Dante asked without preamble.
"This way." Leonardo took hold of Candi's other arm and led her through a maze of corridors and hallways, past several large hubs of activity.
They finally stopped at a set of double doors.
"Before you walk in, I want you to understand that Slate is not fully conscious. I had to slowly bring him out of his medically-induced coma because Dante said you needed to see him."
Candi turned to Dante with shocked eyes.
"You said in three days!" She hissed.
"You insisted on seeing him even though I told you he was being cared for by Leo." Dante sighed. "I gave it three days before I contacted Leo and told him you needed to see Slate."
"But you said he would be okay in three days." Her eyes teared.
"Candace. I'm not a doctor or a miracle worker. I said you could see him in three days. I didn't say I could cure him in three days." Dante ruffled his spiky hair.
Candi nodded. This was not Dante's fault. She was the one who insisted on going to see Slate. They were simply trying to accommodate her request.
"How is he?"
"See for yourself." Leonardo pushed the doors and walked through.
Slate was lying on the hospital bed with monitors attached to his body. His long black hair had been tied back to accommodate all the wires that were attached to his head and neck. His eyes were closed and he was breathing normally.
He wore nothing except for a sheet over his torso and legs, leaving exposed, his powerful chest and shoulders. There were more monitors attached to the soles of his feet.
"Oh God." She breathed. "He's all hooked up with wires."
Leonardo shook his head.
"It's alright, Candace. They are just monitors to make sure everything is normal."
"This is to monitor his heart." He pointed to the one on Slate's chest. "And these monitor his brain waves." He indicated at the wires on Slate's temples.
"What about these on his feet?" She looked at the various wires taped to his soles.
"Those monitor the central organs such as the spinal column and stomach. Organs like the liver are on the right foot, and others such as the spleen are on the left foot." Leonardo indicated with a gentle finger.
"His lungs and kidneys are on both feet and his toes are used to monitor brain functions along with the monitors at his temples."
"I see," she nodded. "He's still unconscious. Maybe it's best just to let him sleep. I just wanted to take a look for myself, so I know he's okay."
"It's fine. I will wake him up."
Leonardo began laying his hands on Slate's chest. There was a warm yellow orange glow coming from his hands.
Within minutes, Slate began to come out of his induced coma.
"Hey there." Leonardo greeted Slate. "How's my Baby Brother doing?"
"Thirsty." Slate whispered, his blue eyes dull and lethargic.
"You're not dehydrated. I've been giving you intravenous water all this time. I can give you a little bit to wet your mouth and throat."
Slate nodded and Leonardo gave a dropper full of water.
"Stingy ass." Slate growled.
Leonardo laughed.
"Nothing wrong with your spirit, which makes me very happy." He moved back. "I have a visitor here who has been asking about you for days now."
He motioned for Candi to move into Slate's view.
"Candace." Slate whispered, his eyes suddenly lighting up.
She moved closer, reaching out to touch his shoulder. It was the only place that was bare and not covered with some monitor or bandage.
"I'm so sorry for waking you up." She choked back tears. "I was just so worried about you."
"I will be back on my feet soon. Don't worry." He whispered again.
He sighed.
"How many days have I been unconscious?"
"Three." Leonardo responded.
"That's good." Slate nodded with relief. "I was afraid I would have missed out on her events."
"You just get well. Don't worry about a thing. I want to be able to spend some time with you so you have to get better. Otherwise, Dante and Leonardo won't let me see you."
"They won't dare. I will insist on seeing you, even if I have to crawl out of this bed on my hands and knees." His eyes narrowed for a moment.
"Your next event is coming up in four days. I will be there at the Celestial Pantheon cheering you on."
Candi shot a quick glance at Leonardo. Whether Slate could attend, or even leave this bed, was up to Leonardo. So far, he was holding his cards close to his chest. She could not tell what he was thinking.
Candace blew a breath full of apprehension and anxiety.
"The criteria will be Brilliance and Intellect. I have no idea how to prepare for that."
The men looked at each other and suddenly laughed.
Leonardo turned bright aqua eyes at her.
"I think this one is the easiest of all the events for you, so don't worry too much."
She was about to ask him what he meant when a sobbing cry sounded at the door.
Candi turned towards the sound and found herself facing a tall ethereal pale goddess with long black hair and eyes the color of a bright summer day.
"Slate!" She cried and ran to him.
Disregarding all the wires that he was tangled within, she sprang towards him and buried her face into his neck.
Slate chuckled.
"Ease up Lyra, or Candace will think I have a girlfriend."