“Sleep well,” he said without glancing up.
Cylo leaned a hip on the side of the bed, near enough to splay his fingers across the dome if she needed him.“How long until we know?”
“No idea.”Qaff arched a brow at him.“Her exhaustion levels are high.I will awaken her after she has had eight hours of sleep.”
“Eight?”Cylo growled.
“Humans require between six and ten hours of sleep to be fully functional.It varies from person to person, though.”Qaff faced the wall of display vids.“I shall share my findings when I send them to the lima kuu.”
Dismissed, Cylo marched to the comm—too stimulated to be at peace.To find rest now would be impossible.“Fyca, return to your Dar Eth.I will cover your shift.”
The male beamed.“My thanks, Cylo.”He leapt out of the chair and left.
With Wren sedated, Cylo released the control he had on his thoughts and freed his longing.If only he could— Do what?Kissing her would encourage the need to claim her.With her new…talent, she had to have a clear idea of what he felt for her.He didn’t know whether she fantasized about him.If she was meant to be another male’s Dar Eth, she wouldn’t appreciate any interest but her Eth’s.Shehadsaid, however, that she reacted to him like no other male she’d met before.
He gazed unseeingly at the passing stars, trying to unravel this dilemma.His future had always been clear, his thoughts and emotions in line with his goals.Now, he was at odds.
His O.D.I.dinged, sending a ripple of energy up his forearm.He drew in a slow breath and activated the message he was sure was from Qaff.The results were alarming.The DNA markers had slowed on her appearance, some still shifting, others remaining fixed.As to her empathetic or borderline telepathic abilities, they glowed yellow on the scans as if they raced toward an end Qaff was hesitant to specify.
Cylo opened a comm to another male who might be able to help.
“Operative Cylo, how may I assist?”Adviser Kanzo filled the comm’s display vids with his bare chest and gray sleep pants.
Cylo winced at having disturbed the adviser’s rest.“My apologies, I—”
Kanzo glanced down, a frown forming.“You seem agitated.Medic Qaff has communicated Lady Wren’s latest results.Her abilities are…expanding.”
“I would have said declining,” Cylo muttered.
“Indeed.Into a realm Etterians are not familiar with.Hence why we turned to the Durn for assistance so many centuries ago.Our lima kuu have departed on a scimitar.They will meet you halfway.”
Cylo slumped, relief swift to strike.“My thanks.Do they yet know what can be done to heal her?”His voice hitched.He stiffened, swallowing to hide his…vulnerability.
“I spoke with them yesterday.They have some ideas, but after this new information, I suspect they are eager to reach you before…”
At Kanzo’s hesitation, every muscle in Cylo’s body tightened.“Yes?”
“She is beyond our skills to aid.”
“Alodon’s balls.”Cylo ran a trembling hand over his face.He’d prefer her purple and someone else’s Dar Eth than dead.
“Qaff indicated that she cannot find rest which triggered a retest.Perhaps—” A smile burst across Kanzo’s features.“When will she awaken from the med-E.D.?”
Hope hitched Cylo’s breath.“In five hours.”
“I shall comm then.”Kanzo’s image flickered to black.
“Maker.The male could have at least hinted at what made him smile.”Cylo gripped the edge of the console and studied the kaleidoscope of colors—all good.Five hours?What could Kanzo accomplish in that time?
Cylo pushed out of the chair to pace the comm.Worrying about Kanzo’s cryptic promise wouldn’t shorten the hours.Only action could rid him of this…helplessness.He marched to the common, pulled a greatsword off the bulkhead, and moved through the strike-and-defense techniques all Etterian warriors were taught.The domed med-E.D.lurked at his peripherals, urging him to look.He did, only when he changed stances.She was a lure, disrupting his focus.Drenched in sweat a while later, he clicked the greatsword into its brackets and headed to the replicator for a towel.With it looped around his neck, he ordered a chilled container of water and strolled to medical.The lights had been dimmed.Qaff had no doubt headed to bed.
Wren’s skin was a paler purple.Perhaps she was close to returning to her normal?Though, his mind might have been toying with him, a hope on his part.
“How is she?”Hiossu asked, coming to stand beside Cylo.
“Still changing.”He didn’t glance at the Maloidian when Wren was a far prettier sight.
“Olin says theNahatyris en route.He, Qaff, and I will rendezvous with thePhoenix.Your lima kuu will continue the journey with you on theKevolto Issneen.”
