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He stared into the mirror-like surface of the falling water at his reflection and brooded as long minutes ticked by.

Only when his metanoids took over to lower his temperature and calm his frazzled nerves did Riv feel safe to return to his hosts.

When he stalked back to the living space, he found the table cleared of food, plates, and cutlery.

Élisa and Killen sat on the vast terrace in stone recliners, facing the stunning view, each cradling a stone tumbler of whiskey.

He spotted a third rock-hewn seat and sighed, taking his intended place.

He nabbed his cup and drank deeply, welcoming the fiery liquid that echoed the sun’s flames descending over the horizon.

The low-angle dying fireball lit distant mountains, contrasting the deep shadows and red hues of the rocks and sagebrush. The fading rays illuminated shrub-like trees and rocks, elongating them across fissures and boulders.

Riv turned to the woman who used to be his, relentless in his need to know everything about her. ‘How did you come to be in this forsaken place?’

She took her time replying as if choosing her words with care. ‘I spent a year running from Noab Hakim, a Falasian monster who was sent to hunt me. I’d been told of this nebula, and I scouted it for months before being forced to plunge inside after a close chase by my pursuers. I crash-landed on Devansi. The monks found me with a young son. Killen was three at the time.’

‘Damn.’

‘They helped me repair my ship and took us in. We lived in the basement of this place where we learned how to survive. When they left to travel south, they left it all to us.’

‘Why were you fleeing your people?’

Élisa fell into silence, and her face fell into such sorrow he reached a hand to touch hers.

‘You don’t have to share.’

Killen stirred from his stillness, another of his exceptional qualities. ‘She will when she’s ready, Ribau.’

A heavy sadness fell in the place.

Riv’s eyes moved from mother to son. He sensed hidden secrets between them, so painful, so dark that they shrouded their souls.

‘I need that rest now,’ he declared. ‘To think on your offer.’

Élisa turned her enticing eyes to him. ‘You’ll consider taking us?’

Her voice had softened into the husky tones he’d dreamed of all these years. He almost relented, remembering how he’d once vowed to move heaven and earth for her. He wasn’t sure he’d resist her, even now.

All logic fled, replaced with gnawing hunger for her, only her.

Riv had to bite down on his tongue to stop himself from calling for her, clenching his fists to stop from wrapping her in his arms.

For so long, his existence had beenfokkin’ hell that her sweet essence drifting toward him was as potent to him as offering life to a dying man.

‘Naam. I need time to work out things.’ To navigate his sorrow and find a way through the storm churning inside him.

Élisa gave Riv a pointed look. ‘If you decide to take us, perhaps we can discuss our departure tomorrow.’

‘You’re eager to leave.’

She nodded. ‘The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can return.’

Killen lifted a hand. ‘We won’t be returning, Mother, so leaving shouldn’t be undertaken in haste.’

Élisa gave Killen a sharp glance. ‘We won’t be coming back?’

He shook his head. ‘Nada.’