Page 72 of Diamond

His grin drops a bit. "They have been on me since birth, Nasrin. I don't know."

I sigh, letting it out in one big breath, dropping the topic. There are worse changes in my body. This one might prove useful. Maybe?

We get up, making our way back to the argila, who are still peacefully laying in the same spot. We're still tired enough to quickly fall asleep again, wrapped up in each other's arms.

The sun is just starting to rise. When I open my eyes once more and I feel more rested than I have in a long time, definitely since I've come to this alien planet. I sit up and look around me.

Has it been hazy before this and I just hadn't noticed?

The sky is green and purple with a blazing sun, but it doesn't feel hot against my skin. In a different place, and in a different mood, I might have called it beautiful. Now, it's just blinding.

Oh, right. I remember now. I got new eyes, which see better in the dark, more colors during the day, but are light sensitive. More pain is the last thing I need. This place has too many discomforts as it is.

The events from last night play in my head, making me suck in a gasp and turn around. "Alhamdulillah, you're still here," I whisper in relief to the other female when I glance at her green hair and quiet sleeping form.

It wouldn't be surprising if someone managed to take her while we were asleep after our little trip to the stream last night.

Especially given how we have lain more in the open than we usually dare to up until now, we have set up camp not too far from where we found the other woman, with a large rock being pretty much our only protection from the elements and any potential predators but I know Kuret was watching and that let me sleep soundly.

I continue to stare at her still body, jealousy and pity mixing together in the pit of my stomach to make an annoying new feeling. I don't know whether to be happy for her that she has not yet started to experience the insanity that is this place or to be sad about the confusion that will overtake her every single waking hour, so I settle on looking away.

I can only do my best to ease her into the whole situation and make sure no one takes advantage of her the way Tehlmar tried to take advantage of me.

We owe her that, at the very least.

I stretch my hands over my head and let out a long yawn, then walk toward the cart. As I get closer to the cart, I spot the rest of my crew—and finally, Kuret.

He is shirtless and looking down at his stomach, arm and shoulder muscles rippling in a way that makes my heart leap. I'm aroused, but it occurs to me that it isn't the overwhelming arousal that I had before.

I see him much differently now and I don't know how I feel about it, especially since almost no time has passed since I was convinced he was a psychopath. Is that what happens when you have sex with someone before you are really sure of them? You get all mixed up inside? I hate it.

He has shown he can change, and I cannot deny my attraction. Like an aching that only he can soothe.

Is it real, though?

They did something to me, and I'm not sure that my body can tell the difference between somebody I like and somebody I'm stuck with.

For now, I push the thought aside. I'd rather continue to bask in my ignorance than start digging into what should not be. For now, I'll just wait and see if this longing fades.

Turning away and on to different things, I clear my throat to get his attention and I hear Roshan and Darya racing toward me, their collective low braying tickling my ears. I laugh as they jostle me and I try not to fall over from the sheer size of both of them, my hands going to scratch at their fur.

I try to look past them and see what Kuret is doing, but they keep blocking my view. So I continue to pet them until they calm down. Spending time with these two is something extremely therapeutic; they help me let go.

Time to stop overthinking things with Kuret. My body can keep saying all it likes, it's my mind that chooses, and I just need to get to know him better, that's all.

"You look brighter," a voice calls from behind me and I jump then relax on seeing my tall, glow-in-the-dark companion behind me. "I take it you slept well."

There is a marked lightness to his tone. I can tell he is still proud of himself for having found the other woman yesterday. And that he should be.

I smile at him. "I feel much better, yes."

I don't realize that he is moving the chamber until he drops it in the cart.

I glance over to see the argila nibbling on him and it helps loosen some of the fear and pity. I can't do anything about it, so I let it go.

He's looking at me with a softness in his features, his mouth opening and closing like he's searching for the right words.

He finally settles on something. "I'm sorry, Nasrin. I wish I knew how to stop these changes; I can't imagine how terrible it must feel to not know what might come next."

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