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She angled her head. “What are the signs? How will I know?”

When she nudged his chest, he drew back so she could sit up.

“He will fall to a knee, enduring an unbearable pain. His eye color will change to ice blue.” He brushed aside a curl then buried his fingers into her hair. “His allegiance will forever alter toward you. Not even the king can separate you.”

“Sounds romantic and scary.” She brought her knees up then wrapped her arms around them. “What happens to me?”

“The same if you were Etterian. For humans, I have heard you will become addicted to your Eth.”

She grimaced. “Not sure I like that. I’m quite partial to my independence.”

He shrugged though he was far from nonchalant. “You become his world. It is just that you, too, should change.”

“I suppose. Marriage is different for humans. It’s a partnership.”

“As it is for us, ensa, but there is no separation. The soul-mate bond, the Ethera, will not allow it.”

She stilled. “What if you die?”

“You will be free to love another. If you, as a human, leave me or die, as you say, I cannot do anything but follow you.”

A tear slipped free, shimmering as it traveled over her cheek. “So you are doomed if you don’t find her and doomed if you do.”

He lifted her onto his lap, ignoring her yelp of protest. “A Dar Eth is a gift, bringing with her joy, light, and life.” He pressed a kiss to her temple while cuddling her close. If he had a choice, she would be his.

“I’d choose you in a heartbeat.”

He jerked back, having not realized he’d spoken aloud.

“Since you didn’t kneel for me, I’m not her.” She scrambled onto her knees, straddled him, and rubbed her sex along his exposed length in the process.

He shut his eyes to better savor the feel of her.

She cupped his cheeks, compelling him to look at her. “I tell you what. Let’s give your Ethera a deadline.”

“Deadline?” His O.D.I. hurried to update him. He laughed. “You cannot issue such a limitation on something ethereal.”

She raised her chin in defiance. “I have free will.”

If only the Ethera worked that way, but he was open to the idea of it. “Very well. What do you have in mind?”

“Would you take me if I stayed purple?” She held his gaze while nibbling on her bottom lip.

“Of course.” An easy question to answer. “Your skin color does not change who you are.”

She beamed. “Let’s give your medical experts a chance to fix me. But even if they don’t, we hook up…say, a month from today.”

“Is that enough time for them?” Maker, I’ll give them a week and no more.

“It should be.” She traced his bottom lip with her thumb. “Since we’re not jeopardizing your void, we’re abstaining for my sake.”

He poked the blackness in his soul and should have marveled at its retreating mass. But with Wren, he’d stopped questioning the miracle that she was.

“Sex is just…sex, but I want you, Cylo.” Her cheeks darkened, and she dipped her chin, hiding her expressions. Doing so forced him to guess what she was feeling.

“What do you sense from me?” He held her gaze and released his meager control.

Her mouth parted on a gasp.

“Good. Now you know. And when the time is right, I expect you to be as vulnerable with me.” He snatched a kiss, then another, sprawling her onto her back to dust her cheeks and eyelids with the barest of caresses. She giggled and squirmed, her fingers digging into his shoulders.

“My apologies, Cylo, the Nahatyr is two hours away.” Fyca’s whisper through the O.D.I. must have been audible to Wren; his intrusion weakened her smile.

“How is that possible?” Cylo asked while brushing hair off her face.

“Durok increased our propulsion, and since the Nahatyr was already at max speed, it closed the distance between us sooner.” Fyca cleared his throat and added, “The lima kuu will be within porting distance in an hour.”

“My thanks,” Cylo said, sadness crushing his chest in a vise grip.

“What is it?” she asked.

He touched his temple to hers. “We have run out of time, thamani.”

“No.” She shoved at him until he leaned back. Her face was pale, her eyes wide. “They’re here?”

“Almost.” He sank onto his backside and stared at their uneaten picnic. “I can no longer be selfish.” He offered her a tentative smile but couldn’t manage to keep it in place. The light glinted off her gift. He caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. “Thank you.”

She leaped to her feet. “If you abandon me, Cylo, I promise you, I will be such a pain in your ass—”

He chuckled. “I look forward to the experience.”

She blinked at him then huffed. “Where I go, you go.”

“Truly?” He smirked and ran his gaze over the ‘V’ of her garment, accentuated by her ragged breathing. “Cleanse with me, sleep beside me, dine with me?”

She stomped her foot. “If you get off this ship, I’m coming with you.”

“Fair enough, minus cesu.” He rose to his full height and gathered her against him.

She rested her chin on his chest while looping her arms around his waist. “Thank you.” She sighed and pulled away. “Let’s clean this up and head to bed.” She glanced at him and grinned. “Separate beds.”

“For now.” He dropped a kiss on the crown of her head and started to gather the discarded food items. The black sliver of her undergarment caught his attention. He tucked it into a pocket, hoping she didn’t notice.

“And maybe you need to…” Her cheeks glowed. “…Cover all that.” She gestured to his undone pants.

He threw back his head and laughed.