Page 62 of Fire Forged

“Is that so?”He smirked, loving her ease at teasing him.“I have found my Dar Eth—that alone is reason to stare.”He swept her against him, startling a gasp out of her.“I would gaze upon you for your beauty alone.”

Her cheeks flushed.She opened and closed her mouth without saying a word, then whispered, “Is it still a no?”

“If you wear Etterian armor, carry a med gun, and accept being chained to the interior of thekuta, then yes.”He pressed his nose into her hair for a deep inhale.“AndI want your vow to remain out of sight until I deem it is safe to exit...”

The smile she blessed him with swelled the light in his heart to such an extent that he half-expected his ribs to crack under the pressure.The Ethera had so many characteristics they hadn’t known about: the visions, the excruciating agony, the clinching of his heart at odd moments, the addiction to her scent, the unbearable lust… And now, this light.If Aldur was well, Nerx would ask him if he’d experienced the same.A full medical assessment might be wise.

Chapter Seventeen

Withvictorymakinghersteps buoyant, Britt left the haven of Nerx’s arms to approach her mother, who stood to the side, out of the way of the men working on Aldur and Haiz.Worry furrowed her brow.Sadness lingered in her gaze.Not once did she glance away from Aldur.

“Mom?”Britt touched her mom’s hands, calming the white-knuckled grip.

She jerked back and blinked in a daze.“Oh, honey,” she said, dragging Britt into a crushing hug.

“Was thinking, while they heal Aldur in that pod thingy… A shower wouldn’t go amiss and maybe something to eat?”She didn’t pull out of Mom’s embrace, letting her take as long as she needed.

“I feel so helpless,” she sobbed.“Their tech is so advanced, I’m of no help.And I’m not an expert on their physiology, not yet anyway.But yes, I can’t just sit here.A shower would be nice.”She chuckled through her crying.“I could kill for an herbal tea.”

“How’s your hip?Did they at least scan you with their med gun?”

Mom nodded.“All good.”

Britt slumped.“I’ll ask Nerx to fetch you the moment Aldur stirs.Let’s get you freshened up.”She tugged on Mom’s hand, almost dragging her from the medical.

With one stumbling step at a time, Mom followed.

Britt paused next to Nerx still standing guard at the entrance of the common, his brooding scowl in place.“Please—”

“I will,ensa.”

She smiled.“And send Lily to me if she’s done playing with her dolls.”She stole a kiss, not sure why, but with her lips tingling, glad she did.There was just something potent about the man she’d hated days ago.Whatever this was, this alien attraction, she was helpless against it.

“What was that?”Mom asked when they entered her quarters.

“Same as you and Aldur, so it seems.”Britt pinched her lips to swallow a laugh.“Who would’ve thought… Now, hop in the shower, and I’ll get your clothes and tea ready.”

Mom hurried to the bathroom; no doubt eager for that tea.Britt smiled as she gathered capris and a blouse from Mom’s closet.She’d soon feel like a human again, and once she had tea and perhaps her favorite PB&J sandwich in her, she’d be ready to face anything.

When Mom emerged in her toweling robe, Britt gestured to the table.Her clothes were draped over the back of the chair.But Mom sat and cupped the mug.

She hummed after one sip.“They only eat fruit, which is fine, I guess.”

Britt sank into the chair opposite her.“At least they fed you.”

Mom harumphed.“Can you see Nerx eating fruit?”

Britt grinned.“So you’re happy being Aldur’s Dar Eth?”

Mom stilled, met Britt’s gaze, and nodded.“I would’ve fallen for him even if there wasn’t this Ethera-thing between us.Still, as a doctor, a chemical bond like this, almost sentient, blows my mind.My scientific brain calls bullshit, and yet…” She splayed her fingers across her chest.“I feel it here.A certainty, a warmth cocooning my heart.”She shook her head.“My peers would think me insane.”

Tears pressed the backs of Britt’s eyes.To finally see her mom settled, in love, after all this time… She swallowed a sob.

Mom bit into her sandwich and moaned.“It’s the texture—soft bread, crunchy peanut butter, and sweet jelly.They say it’s called palate fatigue.I can believe it.”She met Britt’s gaze.“I thought you hated Nerx?”

“I thought so too.Turns out…not so much.And um… I dunno how to say this, but you’re a grandmama now.”

Mom choked on a bite, coughed, then took a desperate sip of tea.“Lily?”

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