Her feet sank into the sticky mud as the cold rain splashed up her legs and thighs. The fabric of her robes clung to her skin as she pushed relentlessly into the darkness.
Please don’t die.
Lightning struck, illuminating the walls of thicket on either side of the roadsweet perfume of the flowers filling the room. The walls of the room seemed to be carved from seamless wood. Relief sculptures of different animals and plants surrounded them in beauty. Clusters of flowers adorned the walls. Draperies similar to the ones she had seen in Nu’s quarters covered the window, while a soft white light glowed from two golden sconces on either side of the bed.
“Are you okay?” Soren asked, concern seeping into his voice. Vicca leapt onto the bed, turned a quick circle on Cyani’s feet, and plopped herself down. Cyani chuckled but her abdomen hurt from the strain of the run.
“I’m fine. All Azralen pass out when their bodies need to recuperate from something. It keeps us from falling out of the tree if we’re wounded enough to compromise our balance.” Suddenly her mind cleared. “How are you? Are you still ill?” She pressed her palm to his forehead. His skin felt warm, but not feverish.
“I’ve never been better,” he admitted as he pressed a loving kiss to her lips.
“Good, because I’m going to kill you.” She grabbed a pillow and whapped him across the head with it. “You lied to me.”
He laughed.
“Damn it, Soren. You knew you had bonded to me, and you didn’t tell me.” She drew the blanket up over her breasts. “You were going to die because of me.”
“I kept my promise. I gave you a choice.” He planted a soft kiss on her collarbone, right beneath the edge of her necklace.
“You are too damn noble,” she grumbled.
“No, I just love you.” He plucked a deep violet blossom from the post of the bed and offered it to her.
Cyani’s heart fluttered and her hands trembled as she took it. He smiled at her, his eyes glowing a clear bright blue, the exact color of hers.
He gathered her hand in his and planted a soft kiss to her knuckles. “Will you stay here with me? Will you make this your home?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “I love you, Soren.”
“What about Azra?” he asked, his tone still doubtful.
“As my brother so eloquently put it, it’s not my fight.” She looked down and smoothed her hand over the blanket.
Soren slid his hand up her thigh and began a delicious massage of her taxed muscles.
“Cyn will be fine. He’s too much like you.”
“I hope so . . .”
He captured her words in his kiss as his hand brushed over her abdomen.
She smiled as she relaxed back into the soft bed. She wouldn’t deny him, not now, not ever. She was addicted to him, too.
She reached for his shoulder, and pulled him on top of her. He slid into her sore and grateful body, soothing the deep ache and creating a new one.
Slowly he made tender love to her until a new dawn touched the sky.
SOREN’S MOTHER CHUCKLED AS CYANI PICKED AT THE HOPELESS TANGLE OF yarn in her lap. The elder woman’s fingers flicked and spun a hooked needle, creating a soft cushiony fabric. Cyani hadn’t mastered the art of untangling the thread.
“Patience, Cyani. It will come to othr a month. Stay safe.”
“I will,” he promised.
With a flick she disappeared.
Suddenly the ship seemed very quiet and empty.
He couldn’t think about it. If he did, it would distract him. He had work to do.
Static buzzed in the com. Cyn glanced at it. Who would be calling him?
“Cyrus, you there?” Xan’s voice boomed through the com. “I’ve got something for you.”
Cyn brought his image to the screen. “What’s up?”
“Take a look.” The image of Xan flashed off, and in its place a picture of a tall Azralen woman filled the screen. Cyn felt his pulse quicken as he looked at her. She had light hair, bright lime green that flew in a haphazard array of short wild wisps around her face. Her burning gold eyes were focused, intelligent, and there was something else in them. Something that drew Cyn closer to the screen.
“So this is Yara.” Cyn couldn’t stop looking at her eyes. “She’s pretty.”
“She’s a Union commander and an Elite bloodhunter, so don’t get any ideas. I intercepted a communication to the Union calling her back to Azra. She’s been ordered to hunt down Cyn of Cyori.”
Well then, I’ll make sure she finds him.
“Thanks Xan.” He tapped his finger on the edge of the control screen. Xan’s image blinked off.
Cyn smiled as he set his course.