Page 28

Chapter Seventeen

“Cylo, the system has logged a disturbance in Lady Wren’s quarters.” Fyca’s voice from Cylo’s O.D.I. jerked him awake.

He leapt to his feet then hesitated, sweeping a glance down his naked body. After the last time she’d reacted to his nudity, perhaps a garment would be wise? A part of him wanted to dismiss the need to please her, especially when she was in danger.

With a grunt, he succumbed. A quick order from the replicator filled his hands with a pair of sleep pants in a thin, gray fabric. He yanked them on then raced to her room. Once again, he barged in, especially since he’d wasted time covering himself.

A shiver traveled down his spine and tightened his muscles as if he prepared for battle.

Wren wasn’t there.

“Fyca, track her O.D.I.”

“Done. She is…above me.”

Relief washed over Cylo while he hurried to the viewing deck. When he peeked through the hatch, a bundled Wren lay on the floor. She whimpered.

“Ensa?” Was she ill? Had her condition worsened?

“Make it stop. The dreams… I can’t—”

Each of her sobs pierced his heart with a sharp stab. He kneeled beside her, burrowed into the blankets, and slipped underneath to pull her against his chest. “I am here, Wren.”

She moaned, snuggling deeper into his embrace. Not wanting to add to her sensory overload, he struggled to control his reactions to her sweet-scented softness and rein in his thoughts and desires.

“Dreams?” He ran his hand up and down her back, hoping to soothe her.

“Everyone’s on board.” Her whisper would have been lost had he not been Etterian.

“It is worsening?” As he’d feared. He crushed her against him, helplessness driving him to do something. Anything “Come, ensa, Qaff should retest you.” He pressed a kiss to her temple—all he’d allow himself. “I will ask him to let you sleep in the med-E.D.”

She raised her head, hope casting warmth across her pale purple face. “You promise?”

He frowned. The shadows under her eyes hadn’t been there over dinner. She’d been lively, her gaze admiring. When had her condition deteriorated? And she’d begged to be sedated. Had she used the excuse of boredom to hide something more alarming?

He gritted his teeth. Her continued suffering was his fault. Fool . “Why did you not tell me?”

“At first, I was myself in my room. Then thoughts and feelings trickled through. It was tolerable, but during the night…” She swallowed hard. “The brain relaxes, opening a world of imagination. There are no inhibitions.”

Nudging her away from him, he gestured to the ladder. “Let us head to medical.” While she scrambled from under the mountain of blankets, he tapped his O.D.I. “Qaff, to medical.”

“On my way,” the male said, his voice thick with exhaustion.

Cylo descended after her. She waited for him in the passage. Her breath hitched when he faced her.

“What is it?” he asked, inching closer to grasp her elbow.

“Um…your pajamas…” Her cheeks burned a dark purple. She marched off, abandoning him.

He scowled at his sleep pants. “What is wrong with them?”

Since she wasn’t there to assuage his confusion, he chased after her, in time to catch her climbing onto the med-E.D. bed. Her tiny toes and feet led his focus up sculpted calves and smooth-looking thighs. Qaff typed on the device’s console, forming the dome. She squeaked when she began to float.

“Sleep well,” he said without glancing up.

Cylo leaned a hip on the side of the bed, near enough to splay his fingers across the dome if she needed him. “How long until we know?”

“No idea.” Qaff arched a brow at him. “Her exhaustion levels are high. I will awaken her after she has had eight hours of sleep.”

“Eight?” Cylo growled.

“Humans require between six and ten hours of sleep to be fully functional. It varies from person to person, though.” Qaff faced the wall of display vids. “I shall share my findings when I send them to the lima kuu.”

Dismissed, Cylo marched to the comm—too stimulated to be at peace. To find rest now would be impossible. “Fyca, return to your Dar Eth. I will cover your shift.”

The male beamed. “My thanks, Cylo.” He leapt out of the chair and left.

With Wren sedated, Cylo released the control he had on his thoughts and freed his longing.

If only he could— Do what? Kissing her would encourage the need to claim her.

With her new…talent, she had to have a clear idea of what he felt for her.

He didn’t know whether she fantasized about him.

If she was meant to be another male’s Dar Eth, she wouldn’t appreciate any interest but her Eth’s.

She had said, however, that she reacted to him like no other male she’d met before.

He gazed unseeingly at the passing stars, trying to unravel this dilemma. His future had always been clear, his thoughts and emotions in line with his goals. Now, he was at odds.

His O.D.I. dinged, sending a ripple of energy up his forearm.

He drew in a slow breath and activated the message he was sure was from Qaff.

The results were alarming. The DNA markers had slowed on her appearance, some still shifting, others remaining fixed.

As to her empathetic or borderline telepathic abilities, they glowed yellow on the scans as if they raced toward an end Qaff was hesitant to specify.

Cylo opened a comm to another male who might be able to help.

“Operative Cylo, how may I assist?” Adviser Kanzo filled the comm’s display vids with his bare chest and gray sleep pants.

Cylo winced at having disturbed the adviser’s rest. “My apologies, I—”

Kanzo glanced down, a frown forming. “You seem agitated. Medic Qaff has communicated Lady Wren’s latest results. Her abilities are…expanding.”

“I would have said declining,” Cylo muttered.

“Indeed. Into a realm Etterians are not familiar with. Hence why we turned to the Durn for assistance so many centuries ago. Our lima kuu have departed on a scimitar. They will meet you halfway.”

Cylo slumped, relief swift to strike. “My thanks. Do they yet know what can be done to heal her?” His voice hitched. He stiffened, swallowing to hide his…vulnerability.

“I spoke with them yesterday. They have some ideas, but after this new information, I suspect they are eager to reach you before…”

At Kanzo’s hesitation, every muscle in Cylo’s body tightened. “Yes?”

“She is beyond our skills to aid.”

“Alodon’s balls.” Cylo ran a trembling hand over his face. He’d prefer her purple and someone else’s Dar Eth than dead.

“Qaff indicated that she cannot find rest which triggered a retest. Perhaps—” A smile burst across Kanzo’s features. “When will she awaken from the med-E.D.?”

Hope hitched Cylo’s breath. “In five hours.”

“I shall comm then.” Kanzo’s image flickered to black.

“Maker. The male could have at least hinted at what made him smile.” Cylo gripped the edge of the console and studied the kaleidoscope of colors—all good. Five hours? What could Kanzo accomplish in that time?

Cylo pushed out of the chair to pace the comm.

Worrying about Kanzo’s cryptic promise wouldn’t shorten the hours.

Only action could rid him of this…helplessness.

He marched to the common, pulled a greatsword off the bulkhead, and moved through the strike-and-defense techniques all Etterian warriors were taught.

The domed med-E.D. lurked at his peripherals, urging him to look.

He did, only when he changed stances. She was a lure, disrupting his focus.

Drenched in sweat a while later, he clicked the greatsword into its brackets and headed to the replicator for a towel.

With it looped around his neck, he ordered a chilled container of water and strolled to medical.

The lights had been dimmed. Qaff had no doubt headed to bed.

Wren’s skin was a paler purple. Perhaps she was close to returning to her normal? Though, his mind might have been toying with him, a hope on his part.

“How is she?” Hiossu asked, coming to stand beside Cylo.

“Still changing.” He didn’t glance at the Maloidian when Wren was a far prettier sight.

“Olin says the Nahatyr is en route. He, Qaff, and I will rendezvous with the Phoenix . Your lima kuu will continue the journey with you on the Kevol to Issneen.”

Cylo swallowed a growl at receiving the news from an…outsider. “Why was I not informed?”

“Qaff chose not to, citing your obvious distraction.” Hiossu offered a kind smile Cylo didn’t need or appreciate. “A male on board would have had to act as ambassador. Since you rescued her, it is logical you assumed the responsibility.”

“Indeed.” Cylo almost snorted at that untruth.

“I shall await her awakening. Why do you not seek your rest?” Hiossu’s suggestion made Cylo step back to meet the male’s gaze.

“I am expecting a comm from Adviser Kanzo.” Cylo folded his arms across his sweat-drenched chest and hid a grimace. “Perhaps a quick cleanse?”

Hiossu bowed his head and headed toward the rehydrator.

Cylo fled, determined not to take too much time.

As he endured the air dryer minutes later, he wondered if Kanzo knew whether women had an issue with sleep pants?

Since he was an Eth, his Dar Eth would have mentioned a… distaste for such attire.

Cylo ordered a fresh pair of gray sleep pants, wanting to test Wren’s reaction. If need be, he’d ask her. When he strode into the common, Hiossu nursed a glass of Jucot wine.

“Odd choice of garments,” he said between licking his lips.