Page 39 of Offering Herself to Darkness

The One frowned sternly.

“You must pluck it now while the shine is the brightest. Besides, you are not with young.” He leaned over and sniffed her, much to Nora’s embarrassment. “I do not smell a conception taking place within you.”

Nora wasn’t sure if it was even possible for someone to smell conception, but she supposed she would have to take a risk. Letting go of Xarex, who still had one long arm around her, she reached for the Flower of Healing and picked it carefully. The stalk was thick and she struggled for a moment, but then it seemed to release and come to her hand easily.

The Flower seemed to hum as she picked it and the glow dimmed for just a moment but then resumed its brilliance when Nora brought it to her nose and sniffed.

An indescribably beautiful fragrance filled her senses and she suddenly felt stronger. It was like new life was flowing through her. She straightened up and looked at the blossom.

“How do I use this to heal my daughter?” she asked the One who Cares for All.”

“Allow her to smell the fragrance as you just did yourself,” they answered. “Take it now and go quickly—the fresher it is, the more healing properties it has.”

“And…you’re sure I’m not pregnant? Or might not be getting pregnant right now?” Nora could feel her cheeks getting hot with a blush but she had to ask. She was still dripping with Xarex’s seed!

The One shook their head.

“No, for your body has not released an egg to meet with your mate’s seed. But next time your body may be ready to grow a child, so be prepared. Now go—and take the Bloom with you.”

“Thank you.” Nora nodded and held the flower carefully in both hands, like a bride with a bouquet. Indeed, the Bloom was big enough to be a whole bouquet itself, and heavy enough for her to need both hands.

She wanted to say goodbye to their new friends, even though she was embarrassed that she and Xarex had been having sex in front of them. But when she looked out into the crowd, she didn’t recognize anyone. Either Twilla and Jammu had left the circle or they had changed so much they were not recognizable. Where they had been sitting, she saw a tall man and a short woman with small breasts but their facial features were too different to be sure if this was their new forms.

“Thank you,” she said again and looked up at Xarex. “Should we go?”

There was a cold, distant look on his face which worried her, but he only nodded.

“Yes. Let’s go. I will ask the Mother Ship to fold space for us at once.”

Nora nodded and waved hesitantly at the people around us.

“Uh, thank you for everything. Goodbye.”

They all patted the ground again and Nora wondered if she should bow, like an actress who had given a good performance. But Xarex was already leaving the little village in the clearing, his long legs eating up the distance so quickly that she had to hurry to catch up with him.

She supposed they could talk about what had happened between them once they got to the ship. But to be honest, she was more focused on getting home to Anna.

She had no idea that Xarex was already planning to leave her.

24

XAREX

I don’t deserve her—not after what I did.

Xarex cut his eyes to the right, looking to see what Nora was doing. She had gone to the back of the long-range shuttle to clean up as soon as they got inside but it hadn’t taken her long. She’d taken a quick shower and now she was sitting in the passenger seat beside him.

Since their clothes had been left behind, back on Primus Nine, she was wearing one of his spare uniform shirts. The shirt fit her like a dress, falling to her mid thighs and she had rolled up the sleeves many times but she still looked utterly lovely to him with her long, damp hair curling over her shoulders and her eyes fixed on the huge glowing flower she held carefully in both hands.

Xarex was tempted to take down the mental barrier he had put up between them…but he was afraid of what he might hear from her. He was surprised she hadn’t berated him yet—which was exactly what he deserved. He had been berating himself silently ever since coming out of the lust-trance he’d fallen into. But so far, Nora hadn’t spoken a word about the way he had treated her.

Her silence made his guilt—he was sure that was the emotion he was feeling—even worse. Xarex wished she would get angry with him—wished she would shout and him or tell him how badly he had treated her. Instead she had a happy, hopeful look on her face—an eagerness to get home and use the Flower of Healing which she held so carefully.

Well, if Nora wasn’t going to talk about what he had done, then he would have to, Xarex decided.

“Nora, I am…deeply ashamed of what I did to you,” he said at last, not looking at her as he maneuvered the long-range shuttle up into space.

“Huh?” She actually sounded uncertain about what he meant.

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