Page 78 of Seasons of War
Her knees went weak, and not from all this time wandering in the woods. Though Kira knew they'd never see each other again, she caught herself watching for him, still feeling that force yanking her to him. But he didn't look back at her, and she never saw any signs of him. That kiss, that night, never left him either, did it?
Two years, and he still protected her.
The friend raised a small envelope to her. She walked forward on unsteady legs to take it.
“Everything you need to know is on this chip,” he said. “The Phaedra is on your heels about the uranium.”
She wiped her eyes. “Why didn't he come? Why send you?”
“He's away.”
The war. The casualties were escalating. He needed to protect himself, but she feared he wouldn't. “How is he?”
The friend paused. “The truth or what he tells me?”
Anguish tore at her for how haunted he seemed that night. “Both,” she said again.
“He's fine, according to him.” The lie. “He's chosen a very lonely, painful path, and I'm not sure when it'll start paying off.” The truth.
Didn't he listen when she told him to live? He wasn't supposed to be out there suffering by himself. “I want to see him when he's back home.”
“He won't come.”
“Convince him to see me one more time. That's all I ask for.”
The friend shook his head. “He's not a man who can be convinced of anything. I've already tried.”
“I convinced him to stay and watch the Pixi Dust with me.” Her mouth went dry. “I convinced him to kiss me.”
“Then it's up to you. Find a way to send him a message. I hear you're smart. You'll figure it out.”
The rain lightened to a soft sprinkle, and her only connection to her stranger walked away.
Kira wanted to watch over him and protect him just like he did for her, but he denied her that chance.
Why didn't he want to see her?
It hurt.
It really hurt.
The devoted care he showed felt even better, though.
And that felt dangerous.
CHAPTER 20
Miya
The Territories
Archai, Caspador
833 P.C. [Post-Collapse]
Miya's perfect opportunity to investigate Lance arose two days after they found the soldiers in the woods. With the winter festival underway in the town square, no one in Krowe’s estate was eager to pass up the festivities, except for Miya, because she came down with a timely case of the cold.
Cough, cough.
