Page 83 of When Eden Falls

Rooke gave me a careful look, concern filling his expression. “How are you feeling?”

I stopped next to him by the wooden railing, overlooking the sea and the raft floating behind. “A hangover threatened to persist earlier, but Yuska’s disgusting breakfast juice seemed to do the trick.”

A brief smile pulled at his lips, before returning his gaze to the ocean. It was obvious he was trowelling with a series of thoughts, so I spoke. I had to get this off my chest.

“Rooke…last night…I’m…I’m beyond sorry if I did anything stupid. I was…”

“You didn’t.” His eyes locked with mine and I felt my stomach flip. “We were both high on atmosphere. And after speaking with Kobe this morning, it appears we were acting under the influence of drugs.”

“Zamya said the same.”

“Hmm. So, you have nothing to apologise for.” He returned his gaze to the ocean again. “If that had been a party back on Allura, I doubt either one of us would have paid that type of attention to the other.”

I stared at his profile, trying to ignore the pain of rejection striking through my heart with every beat. I forced myself to smile, but I couldn’t prevent the frown forming as I replied, “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

He nodded his head impassively and gestured to the raft. “Looks good, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah.” I refocused my attention to the task at hand. “How easy will this be?”

“By the sounds of it, fairly easy. We have enough manpower. Dybgo has assured me we should be back in time for dinner.”

“Good. Any news of Troy?”

Avoiding my eyes, he shook his head. “Once we get the Parvos back, Kobe’s going to construct a laser signal which should penetrate the jamming signal. If Troy’s there, hopefully he’ll reply. If he’s not…we attempt to send a signal home.”

If Troy wasn’t there, it was inevitable we’d have to endure another six, seven, perhaps eight months of Akquarian rule and hospitality. How long would I be able to avoid Dybgo’s subtle advances without being forced to abide? I didn’t warm to the thought.

The boat was fast. It only took us twenty minutes to reach the cove where the scouting ship sat decaying against the harsh rockface. The two piles of stones covering the sand graves of Captain Lewisham and her lieutenant were visible from where I stood at the stern of the ship. The harrowing thought of how that could have been our fate, if we hadn’t discovered the Akquarians, was unsettling. We owed them more than I was reluctant to accept.

We rounded a familiar headland; fully aware our ship was positioned up the beach a mile or two. A strange excitement tingled through my body. We could be going home in the next week if repairs went to plan.

Before the ship came into view, the sun behind me was blotted out by Dybgo’s towering shadow. He lightly touched my arm and I huffed at his persistent attention.

“Tell me.” I snapped my head towards him. “Does the touching stop when the season is over?”

I could’ve sworn he looked offended, but he chose to ignore my question and the tone I addressed him in. Instead, he said, “When the raft is taken to shore, you are to remain on the ship.”

“Um…no, I don’t think so.”

“You have no say in the matter.”

“Like hell I don’t! My commander asked for me to accompany him…”

“Which I can’t understand why.”

I stared at him, registering his tone was the sharpest I’d ever heard him address me with. “Havav said if Rooke deemed my presence necessary, I could leave the fortress. I am Rooke’s second in command.”

“Yes, but you’re also female.”

“Don’t start that bullshit again!”

“Eden,” he snarled; a deep, authoritative rumble emanating from his chest. “You are to remain on the ship. That is my order, and that is what you abide by. I don’t care what your commander says. He isn’t in charge here. I am!”

A commotion consisting of a solitude voice stopped me from retaliating. Behind Dybgo, with Oz in tow, I saw Rooke storming towards us. His face was angry but as pale as the sun casted moon.

“Where is it?” Rooke shouted at Dybgo. “Where’s my ship?”

I frowned, wondering what he was talking about. Turning, I scoured the coastline for the sleek, albeit decaying Solarfleet vessel—our lifeline. I found nothing but sand and rock.