Page 66 of Neverwylde 6
Chapter 31
Neverwylde
“Watch. Dia Mose is about to drop.” He tightened his arms around her as they waited. The blood red moon lifted itself above the tops of the buildings. For several seconds the orb appeared to tremble. Then, suddenly, it fell. Kelen gasped, and he smiled.
“It looked like it was about to land on top of those roofs!” she murmured and glanced back at him. “Will it fall again?”
Kyber shook his head. “No. They only do it once, but they fall every evening.”
“Will each moon do that?”
“Yes. All of them. Do you want to stay and see?”
“Please. We have time.”
He laced his fingers through hers and she lifted his hand to kiss the knuckles. They were alone out here in the amphitheater with the circular benches. The others had gone inside once the suns had gone down.
“You look good in black,” he murmured, nuzzling the back of her head.
“Yeah, well, now we look like a pair,” she half teased.
“And your hair is shorter.”
She couldn’t tell him how it had been sliced away. She couldn’t tell him the extent of the injuries she’d suffered. He didn’t need to hear that. Not yet. Maybe later, when he was ready and well enough to hear the details. Much, much later.
“It’s easier to manage when it’s short,” she remarked. “But I can grow it back out again if you wish.”
“Do what is best for you.” He dropped a kiss to her shoulder. “When do you have to leave?”
Kelen smiled. “We leave when we’re ready.”
“Maybe I should ask how long can you stay? I mean, how long will you be on Seneecia?”
She turned around to face him and tenderly cupped his scarred cheek. Lifting her mouth, she kissed him, and he drew her closer against him. He felt so fragile, no longer the strong muscular warrior he’d been. Yet she was certain that, given time, rest, food, and love, he would recover fully.
When they finally pulled away, Kyber glanced at the sky to see if the second of the four moons had appeared.
“You really don’t know what’s been going on, do you?” she asked him.
“No. They tell me nothing. I have no idea what they will do to me next, or when. I can only pray that you do not become part of my punishment.”
Sniffing, she lovingly brushed her fingertips over his furred face. “Kyber, you have nothing to fear anymore. We’ve won. We’re free to love now. That’s why I’m here. I’m taking you away from Seneecia. Away from them ever torturing you again.”
His one remaining eye stared at her in disbelief. Kelen nodded.
“I have so much to tell you. So much to share with you. But for now, rest assured. We’ll never be apart again.”
“How is that possible?”
“It’s a long story, and we’ll have time later for me to get you caught up on the details. But here are the most important ones. Once we leave here, you can never come back. You know the Triumvirate will keep you incarcerated for the rest of your life if you do.”
“I understand. I would expect as much.”
“When we return to Outpost Delta Six, we are to report immediately to theArcturus.Are you familiar with that ship?”
His brows knitted slightly. “Is it a science vessel?”
“Yes. A very prestigious one. In fact, it’s the flagship vessel in the science fleet.” She lightly kissed his chin. “We’ve been reassigned to it. You and me, and all the others.”
