“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 kuuare 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’dheardhis 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.
Cyloshiftedhisattentionbetween 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.”
