Page 25 of Hope Forged
“Yes.” An unexpected warmth bloomed in his chest, softening his heart at her childlike awe.
With a squeal, she dumped the bundle onto the counter and peeled off her old garments, once again exposing herself to him. Before befriending Quin, he wouldn’t have noticed. Now, he couldn’t drag his gaze away.
Ziamee was perfect, from the column of her neck to the swell of a breast and the curves of her hips. Down her thigh was a scar he hadn’t noticed when she’d emerged from the lake. Then, her breasts had snagged his focus, along with her body glistening as if coated with liquid silver.
“My scar…” She paused with the tunic sliding over her top half. “Came from Seba’s mother.” Her eyes darkened with sadness. She drew in a shuddering breath and angled her foot to reveal her inner thigh’s mangled flesh. “She was protecting him when we got too close. That was the day Mudya didn’t come home.” She offered her other leg for his attention—it had an odd bow shape from mid-thigh to mid-calve. “Fell from a chagla tree. Oz said I’d broken the bones in several places.” She shrugged. “Padya did all he could.”
“May I?” Illan asked, for once she went into the med-E.D., all traces of her suffering would be gone.
Drawn by an unknown desire, he knelt beside her, cupping her hip to bring her scars into the light. He ran a fingertip over each gray-blue jagged line. What registered first was how soft she was. His breath caught and held, his ears ringing. A wild craving came over him, one he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
Her muffled gasp teased his ears, snapping him out of his daze. He didn’t lift his gaze past her thighs, her sex close enough to nuzzle. Such a mating wasn’t the Durn way, but he was intrigued. Iddan had transitioned with Cyndy, and with the wealth of emotions that had flooded their mindfusion, Illan ached to try the humans’ ‘lovemaking.’
He whipped his chin up to find her watching him. Her hand rested on his shoulder, and something intense passed between them. Her expression was that of wonder, and he doubted she even knew aboutanyforms of mating.
He cleared his throat and rose, removing his touch with hesitancy.
“Tell me,” she said, leaning around him to snatch up the pants. “Why are your people not Durn?”
“Too few of us remain after the Great Nevid. Any Durn would know that.” He smiled.
She bowed her head, acknowledging his teasing. “And these Etterians are?”
“Universe travelers, warriors, living by a code of honor they are learning, is not as resolute as they once believed.” He sank into a comfy, content to watch her admire her boots before she knelt to put them on. Sitting on a chair and doing so might not be normal for her. “They consider themselves protectors of life, worlds, and cultures. When they picked up your distress signal, they informed me.”
“Why you?” She glanced at him while she stomped around the room. Her brilliant smile made all this worth it.
“Their king invited me to make Issneen my home. I have full access to their archives and what Durn information they have salvaged.”
She pursed her lips as she fiddled with the med-gun and which pants pocket to slide it into. “Much was lost, but Padya has a cube or two we cannot read. Those are all that remain after the crash.”
“Once we have found your father, I will ask him for help. One Durn cannot rebuild our history. Ready?” Illan asked, gesturing to the door. “First a med-E.D. assessment, then weapons.”
Her head shot up. “Truly?”
“Yes.” He squared his shoulders. “I do not like you defenseless.” That was true. He hated that all she had was a tiny dagger where half the blade had been sharpened away.
She scowled. “I have fought with my dagger before.” She jabbed with an invisible weapon.
He laughed. “A miracle you survived.”
She huffed but followed him to medical. Coll rubbed Seba’s lower back with a booted foot. The great beast purred between bites of kreso.
“Medic Coll, may I introduce Lady Ziamee?”
“Lady?” she mouthed before smiling at the older male.
“A pleasure. How may I assist?” Coll abandoned Seba, his attention now on her.
Illan cupped her elbow and steered her toward medical. “Past injuries affect her mobility.”
“Indeed. This way, please, milady.” Coll tapped the bed and settled behind the console.
She hesitated, then swiveled to glare at Illan, bringing her too close for his comfort.
“Is this where you drug me?” she snapped at him, her eyes wide and filled with fire. She waved the med-gun in his face. “Give me tools to lure me here?”
An answering burn sparked to life in his core, and he struggled to form thoughts. He liked her passion, as illogical as that was.
