Page 34

Chapter Twenty

“Can’t sleep?” Wren asked Qaff as she headed for the rehydrator in the common.

Cylo had said something about changing into his armor.

He’d cast a glance at her wrinkled dress.

His gaze had lingered on her cleavage, his desire bathing her in renewed joy.

The man had game. Damn, if her body didn’t tingle in anticipation.

Especially with his memories hitting her.

A dreamier version of her sprawled beneath him had indeed been beautiful. She blushed at how he saw her.

“Not with the lima kuu about to port.” Qaff’s voice snatched her from her thoughts. “They will have many questions before I leave.”

“Where are you going?” She sank onto the bench in front of him.

“I will travel with the Nahatyr to Yithia. Olin, myself, and Hiossu will aid where we can.”

She coughed, choking on a sip of coffee. “Hiossu, too?”

“His suggestion.” Qaff stared at her cup. “What is that? It smells interesting.”

“Coffee. Let me get you a cup.” She ordered for him and slid it onto the table. “I chose it sweet and creamy for you, but how you prefer it is for you to discover on your own.” Again, she sat opposite him. “Tell me, Qaff, why isn’t Cylo my Eth?”

He hummed between slurps, the cup’s rim almost resting on his lip. “As I told Cylo, the Ethera triggers when the Eth sees all of the Dar Eth, but you are purple.”

“So, I have to be my normal me?” She slapped the table. Cylo could’ve been ravaging her already if it wasn’t for those stupid scientists.

“Yes, or permanently this color. Until the markers stabilize, I suppose.” Qaff smacked his lips after another sip.

She raised her forearm to eye level and glared at it, willing her skin to change.

“What are you doing?” he asked, a smile curling one side of his mouth.

She slumped, giving up on the futile attempt. “If a dream undyed my hair…” She caught a curl and held it an inch from her nose, briefly considering trying to make it pink. “These great teachers—what can I expect?”

“Questions, tests, and—”

“Like a lab rat?” She curled her fingers into fists. If the lure of normalcy wasn’t dangled before her, she’d almost resent them, Qaff, Hiossu, and his crazy uncle. Well, the latter could rot in whatever their hell was.

Wait, as Qaff had told Cylo? She grinned. So Cylo asked him, too? A shiver shot down the nape of her neck, sending a ripple of delicious goose bumps outward.

Qaff angled his head and inhaled, flaring his nostrils. Anger hardened his features. “Your scent is…” … Like Cylo’s. Did they— No. He knows the risks.

She jerked back, then sniffed herself. Did the smell of ‘sex’ cling to her? Her cheeks flushed, and she bolted, abandoning her half-empty cup. “Off to shower.”

She made it to the barracks without encountering anyone. Except, when the door opened to the passage, Cylo stood there, barring her from reaching her room. His eyebrow shooting up said she’d surprised him. Her heart stuttered, and hot need pooled in her core.

He caught her wrist and yanked her against him, then with a sidestep, he had her pinned to the wall. He rested his hand next to her ear and leaned in, surrounding her with his spicy cologne.

“I was thinking of you,” he whispered, his breath fanning her chin and lips.

“Oh?” she asked, unable to vocalize anything more…complicated.

He hummed. “Where are you heading?”

“Qaff says I smell—”

“Like me?” Cylo rubbed his nose along her cheek, sending a spark of heat down her neck.

“Yeah.” She grasped his hip, digging her fingers into the firm flesh she found there. “Thought I better change before—”

“Want me to watch?” He feathered his lips across hers, stealing her breath.

“When we can fuck, that’s—”

He crushed her to the wall and kissed her, claiming her with that skillful tongue of his.

Her knees threatened to buckle. Thankfully, he held her up with his bulk.

She slipped her hands up his armored chest and around his neck.

This plastered her to his body. She moaned then tilted her head to deepen the kiss.

He tastes so good.

She hooked her leg around his hip, trying to rub where she ached across his hard bulge that was digging into her belly. It wasn’t enough. Before she could climb him like a crane strut, he broke the kiss.

Blinking at him, she struggled to gather her thoughts through the emotions pouring off him and—

Amusement hit her first. Hiossu strolled past them without saying a word.

Shit . She stole a peck from Cylo, then slipped around him, dragging her nails across his abs. “See you in a bit.”

Inside her room, she slumped against the closed door, sucking in deep breaths to calm herself. When she could trust her knees, she staggered to the shower. That man was lethal. Untying the wrap dress reminded her that she was sans panties.

“Oh, you hussy,” she said, then giggled.

She unclipped her bra and dropped it to the floor.

Adding another metaphorical padlock to her door, she raised her face as the spray activated.

The hot water drenched her, and along with the divine orgasm he’d wrung out of her, energy thrummed through her.

She didn’t dally, not when the next stage of this insane adventure would kick off soon.

Jeans, a T-shirt in deep purple, and flip-flops had her feeling herself again.

“Opacity: mirror,” she said. In the reflection, her hair shimmered as she ran a brush through it. In all honesty, her old rainbow-colored hair against her lilac skin would have made for a wild image.

Whatever was in the water did amazing things to her hair and skin.

She missed the sharp flavor of toothpaste, but her teeth were clean just from a gargle.

She’d tried to order perfume or deodorant from the rehydrator with no success.

Her eyebrows knitted into a frown. Cylo had said he could smell her arousal.

Did that mean they had heightened olfactory receptors?

She gasped, and her cheeks brightened. If Cylo could smell her, then so could every man onboard. “Just great,” she muttered, tossing herself a glare. “Damn Etterians need to come with warnings.”

“Ensa?” Cylo’s voice via her O.D.I. made her drop the brush. While she scrambled for it, he said, “The lima kuu are here.”

She squeaked, tossed the brush onto the bed, and bolted out the door.

Her fingers trembled, so she curled them into fists and tucked them under her arms. Here she was, running toward her doom or salvation.

She peeked around the wall at the three older men gathered in the med bay.

Nerves had her breathing like an asthmatic splice user.

“Wren?” Cylo appeared before her, his brow arched like a raven’s wing in flight.

“Oh, hi,” she whispered, peering around him.

“What is the matter?” His concern pouring over her made her square her shoulders.

I’m scared. But she didn’t speak those words.

A soft smile curled his sinful mouth. He offered her his palm. “Come.”

She stared at his hand then took it. His touch calmed her staccato heartbeat. At last, she could draw in a deep breath. He led her across the common. As they approached, the three experts alongside Qaff fell silent and waited for her to reach them.

“Lady Wren, allow me to introduce—”

“Maker, she is exquisite.”

“Thank you,” she said, smiling at them, not sure who had spoken.

They glanced at each other.

One man said, “We have not done anything yet that needs your gratitude.”

“Oh,” she flicked a dismissive hand, “for the compliment.”

“Ensa, no one spoke,” Cylo whispered.

Her world tilted. She tightened her grip, needing his touch more than ever. “I heard someone clear as day…” Her cheeks flushed cold then hot. “Qaff, earlier… Did you say, ‘He knows the risks?’”

He leaned back then circled the medics to stand between her and the med-E.D. “I thought it.” He swiveled and hurried to the mounted display vids, tapping them in a frenzy. “On the bed, please.”

She didn’t budge, her mind reeling. If she’d heard his thoughts, then her door wasn’t strong enough for whatever the hell was happening to her.

Worse, she’d surpassed empathy. She cupped Cylo’s hand and brought it to her lips for a kiss.

Closing her eyes as she savored the scent of his skin, she willed herself not to cry.

And yet, the sting of tears was so forceful, a lump lodged in her throat.

Breaking away, she kicked off her shoes and splayed her hands on the bed, planning on hoisting herself onto it.

Up she went, crushed against Cylo’s chest when he scooped her into his arms. “I am here, ensa.”

Unable to trust her voice, she pressed her temple to his shoulder and held on.

He lowered her onto the bed she was fast coming to hate.

Every time she was in the stupid machine, more bad news awaited her.

When he stepped back, the dome formed. Thankfully, only Cylo stood beside her. The others gathered around Qaff.

“Do I have to sleep?” she asked.

Qaff poked his head up. “Yes.”

“Shit,” she muttered, moments before her eyelids grew heavy, and that warm buzz consumed her mind.

Cylo shifted his attention between the lima kuu and Wren. “Am I understanding this? That she is reading thoughts now?”

“If they are tied to strong emotion,” Medic Ariez said, flicking through charts.

“Lady Eight’s markers are slowing. They used to switch every nanosecond.” Medic Zive frowned. “I would say the changes are almost complete.”

“Indeed,” Qaff said. “A minute between.”

“She may remain this skin color.” Medic Yelur said, casting a glance at Cylo. “Your Dar Eth is something unknown, Operative Cylo. I assume that is acceptable?”

Cylo winced, the pain through his heart almost crippling him. “She is not mine, but yes, she is more than acceptable.”

Yelur harrumphed.

Medic Zive snapped, “I am concerned about her psychology. Telepathy is a powerful tool, and a dangerous one in the wrong hands.”

Cylo scowled. Zive spoke the truth, but to imply Wren could be a spy?