---
She glanced down at Kai's limp form, lips pursing. "Yes," she murmured. "I see. Place him on the bed. Then leave us."
The cloaked ant did not argue. He strode forward, stepping carefully across the thick plush rug, and laid Kai gently among the pile of pillows. A single droplet of healing gel dripped from the tip of Kai's antenna and splashed onto the blanket. The cloaked ant bowed again.
"I will take my leave," he said, turning sharply and exiting the chamber. The heavy door closed with a solid clunk, leaving Princess Mia alone with the unconscious worker ant.
She sighed, stepping closer to the bed. Her gaze traveled over Kai's battered but healing body: the cracks in his chitin, the partial bruises that still dotted his arms, and the faint hiss of breath escaping from parted mandibles.
