by T. C. Edge
"Good," grinned Dom, drawing the old man into a hug. "Safe travels, old friend. You better take care of them. They are a precious cargo indeed."
He looked at Kira, whose eyes were already glistening. She turned away, and Merk took his leave, knowing they'd need a moment alone.
Kira gathered herself, gulping, blinking away the blossoming dew. She looked up at Dom, standing two feet away. They locked eyes for a moment. And then, as one, they enveloped each other into a passionate kiss, arms drawing tight around each other's backs.
The world faded into blackness behind their closed eyes, and Kira prolonged the moment as long as she could. For several seconds, they held each other. And then, pulling away, Kira said, "I wish you could come with me."
Dom held his poise better. He'd come to see that bonds like this were rare for Kira. The sharp wounds of forbidden love would take time to heal and scar over. And though she'd suffered great loss before, this was something new.
"I wish I could too," said Dom, trying to sound stoic. "But I have to stay here. You said it yourself, Kira. I have to stand up and do what's right. I need to rule this city as my mother couldn't."
"I know," agreed Kira, wiping away a burgeoning tear. "And you'll do a great job, I know you will." She shrugged. "You know, maybe I'll come visit? I don't know what I'll find when I get back home. My war could well be over. If we've lost, I might have nowhere else to go."
Dom reached forward and took her hand.
"Then come back," he said, nodding with wide-eyed hope. "Whether you've won or lost, come back."
"I...I don't know. I'm just being silly. I have friends, responsibilities. If we've won, I'll need to stay."
Dom had a terrible thought, that he didn't voice or let settle in his mind. But it came anyway, so briefly, and told of his affection for this girl.
Then I hope you've lost...
He hated the thought, some remnant of that cruel part of him that remained. Some horrible gift of his genetics, of his mother. He turned it aside and nodded.
"You're right," he said. "And I'm the one being silly. I guess love makes you say stupid things..."
"Love," whispered Kira, gazing up.
They hadn't spoken the word, too foolish at is seemed after so little time, in such unlikely circumstances. Dom felt ridiculous for having said it. He frowned and tried to step right past it, but Kira wouldn't let him.
For her, the word had never been said, least not in these terms. And the meaning it carried, the feeling it evoked, hadn't ever swelled within her as it did now. She'd never quite understood it, watching people gush and fall so swiftly into one another's arms. Now, she did. Now she understood.
She smiled and kissed him again, and down by the pier, the boat started to chug and get ready to depart. She pulled away, and looked into his eyes. She wanted to say it. She wanted to have that feeling. And she hoped, she prayed, to hear it back.
"I...I think...I...um..." she shook her head, choking on the words. Her eyes dipped away.
When Dom lifted her chin he was smiling, as he so often did. Yet this was different. She was innocent, this girl, in a startling way. This girl who spent her life killing, spying, warring...she was afraid of a few silly words.
So Dom took the task away, and he said it for her.
"I love you, Kira," he said. "I really, truly, love you."
Kira tried to hold back the gathering storm, but she couldn't. She allowed herself a girlish indulgence, and began crying there right in his arms.
And through her sobs, she said it too.
"I...love...you."
The boat was now chugging harder, and were it anyone else, they'd be being pestered to hurry up. Dom knew, and didn't want them to risk dangerous weather by such a delay. He drew Kira into a final embrace.
"I'll tell you what," he said. "If you get back, and your war's lost, you come right back here. I'll set a watch on the coast. I'll find you if you're there."
Kira let out a breath.
"OK...that sounds good," she smiled. "And, if we've won?"
"Well, then I guess you might need some help with the rebuild," grinned Dom. "You know, I've always been keen on seeing a bit more of Haven. Perhaps a diplomatic mission between our two cities might just be in order."
He smiled bright, and so did Kira.
And with their fingers sliding off each other, she stepped back onto the deck of the boat, joining the others as Gwyn wrapped her into a hug. Merk waved, and Finn dipped his chin in respect, and the boat began drifting away.
Dom stood at the end of the pier for some time, his eyes never leaving Kira's. And she stood on the deck, hers never leaving his. His regular eyesight soon failed him, but still he didn't move.
Because he knew, deep down, that Kira was still watching. And he knew, too, that even when the boat was far away, her enhanced hearing would pick up his voice.
So with the boat becoming a blur to his eyes, he drew a smile, looking at the faint outline of Kira on the deck. And he spoke.
"It's been an adventure, beautiful," he said. "And it's not over yet." He lifted his hand and blew her a kiss. "One way or another, I'll see you again soon."
THE END
Find out what’s next overleaf!
Next Up - The Enhanced: Awakening
First of all, thanks so much for reaching the end of this spinoff. I hope you had a great time!
The good news, however, is that there’s more to the story!
A sequel to both the Enhanced and Warrior Race series is now available, bringing together both Brie and Kira’s tales not long after their various adventures!
The book is called…
THE ENHANCED: AWAKENING
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Also by T. C. Edge
THE ENHANCED SERIES (MAIN SERIES):
The Enhanced (Book One)
Hybrid (Book Two)
Nameless (Book Three)
Assassin (Book Four)
Captive (Book Five)
Renegade (Book Six)
Invader (Book Seven)
Avenger (Book Eight)
Defender (Book Nine)
Nemesis (Book Ten)
Sequel (to main Enhanced series, and Warrior Race series):
The Enhanced: Awakening
The Enhanced: Conquest
THE WARRIOR RACE SERIES (ENHANCED UNIVERSE):
The Warrior Race (Book One)
The Red Warrior (Book Two)
Angel of War (Book Three)
CHILDREN OF THE PRIME SERIES:
The Chosen (Book One)
Trial of the Chosen (Book 2)
Blood of the Chosen (Book 3)
March of the Chosen (Book 4)
War of the Chosen (Book 5)
OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR:
THE WATCHERS SERIES:
The Watchers Trilogy:
The Watchers of Eden (Book One)
City of Stone (Book Two)
War at the Wall (Book Three)
The Watchers Trilogy Box Set
The Seekers Trilogy
The Watcher Wars (Book One)
The Seekers of Knight (Book Two)
The Endless Knight
; The Seekers Trilogy Box Set
THE PHANTOM CHRONICLES:
The Last Phantom (Book 1)
Phantom Hunter (Book 2)
Phantom Legacy (Book 3)
Phantom Unleashed (Book 4)