Iri wasn’t sure what she expected them to do. Run for the hills. Laugh. Stare at her like she was a mental case. But they did none of those things. In fact, they waited quietly, expecting her to say more. “That’s it!” She threw her hands up. “There isn’t anything else. Say something!”
Atu was the first to speak. “That’s quite a talent.”
The quiet acceptance in his voice brought unexpected tears to Iri’s eyes. Never, never, had she ever had anyone say that to her.
“Wow—that’s quite something!” Jaden whistled. Iri could smell a hint of envy coming from him.
“So that’s how you could read me so easily.” Kayla chuckled. “I thought I was losing my touch.”
That did it. Iri began sobbing. When Kayla’s arms closed around her, it didn’t help, just turned the faucet all the way open. Iri had spent so many long, lonely, painful years on her own, rejected time and time again. And here, out of the blue, were three people who accepted her as she was. It was too much.
It was a long time before she stopped crying. When she did, Iri looked up, expecting pitying eyes. But Jaden and Atu were tending the fire in the pit next to the patio. Their white halos indicated their peace. Judging by the mouthwatering aroma, dinner would soon be ready. When Jaden and Atu noticed she had lifted her head, neither stared nor avoided her gaze. They simply nodded and carried on with their business.
Iri sucked in a wobbly breath. She couldn’t remember anyone ever doing that, just letting her be, without pressure to conform. Iri snuck a peek at Kayla.
Kayla smiled. “Feeling better?”
“Yes, thanks.” Iri drew back from Kayla with a watery smile. “Thanks for not . . .” She floundered. “Well, you know.” Iri waved her arm in the air in a helpless gesture.
Kayla nodded. “Sure. I understand how much that means more than you realize.” When Iri gave her a quizzical glance, Kayla explained that she had had to deal with countless rejections because of all their moves.
“Oh, Kayla, I’m sorry.” Iri put her hand on Kayla’s arm. She read the hurt Kayla still felt, though Kayla had buried it deep.
“I didn’t tell you so that you would feel sorry for me. I just wanted you to know I understood.”
Iri smiled. “Thanks for sharing that with me. It means a lot.”
“Shall we join the boys? That dinner smells wonderful.”
Iri laughed. “And I thought the boys were the ones always thinking about food.”
Kayla giggled. “Well, I at least have the excuse that it is dinner time—those boys will eat any time you let them.”
Atu and Jaden were just taking the meat off the fire when they joined them. Iri didn’t miss the way Jaden smiled at Kayla. When she smiled back, the simple act lighting her whole face, Jaden looked like he had momentarily lost track of what he’d been about to say. But from the colors around him, he was grateful Kayla had taken care of her.
“Is that plate for me?” Kayla put an arm around Jaden’s waist and winked.
Jaden looked down at the plate he still held. “Sure, you can have this one.” Selecting another plate, he handed it to Iri. “And you can have this one.”
“Tuck in,” Atu encouraged when the girls took their plates and waited for the boys to get theirs. “We didn’t cook this food so that it could get cold.”
Kayla snorted. “I bet you didn’t.”
As they ate, the darkness around them deepened, and the first stars popped up.
“I think we should get the disc,” Atu said, pointing at the sky.
Iri glanced up. Overhead, the sky was sprinkled with sparkly silver lights, as though someone carelessly tossed glitter over a dark, velvet blanket. It was breathtaking.
“Wow, you don’t see stars like that in the compound,” Kayla whispered.
Jaden reached for Kayla’s hand, the blue hue around him becoming more vibrant. “Spectacular, isn’t it?”
Shifting her attention, Iri relaxed, watching the panoramic view expand.
“Ugh, I’m getting a crick in my neck,” Kayla said. “Let’s get our sleeping shells and spread them on the grass. It’ll be way easier to watch the sky that way.”
“And far more comfortable,” Iri agreed.
“While we’re doing that, we may as well pack up,” Jaden said.
“Why? We don’t even know if we’ll find anything,” Kayla countered.
“But if we do, we may have to leave in a hurry. Remember finding the second relic stone?”
Iri wondered what had happened. The oranges around Kayla were muted, but unmistakable. Noticing her confusion, Kayla explained. “We didn’t expect to find the second relic stone. Suffice to say it resulted in a hasty exit with a Gaptor in pursuit. Jaden’s right. We should be ready for anything when we find the map.”
Jaden did a double take. “Say what? Can you please repeat that?”
Kayla slapped him playfully on the arm. “I’m not the only one who’s ever right!’
“Yeah, that’s true.” Jaden grinned, snapping his fingers. “I forgot, Taz is also in that elite group!”
Kayla only laughed. “Tease all you want. Let’s clear dinner and make sure we haven’t left anything in the cabin. That would be disturbing for the people who are living here when time returns to normal.”
Iri groaned. ‘Did you have to mention that?”
“I thought you’d be glad to be getting out of here.”
“I am. The sooner the better.”
They made short work of packing up. Thirty minutes later, they were sprawled on their sleeping shells, their heads resting on their packs and the last bag of cookies on the ground between them.
Jaden handed the disc to Atu. “Here, I think you’ll be better at finding what we’re looking for than I will.”
“I’ll do my best.” Wasting no time, Atu held the disc up to the sky.
“Find anything?” Iri grinned at the eagerness in Jaden’s voice.
“No, but that patch of stars at the very edge of the horizon looks promising.” Atu handed the disc back.
Iri wondered about Atu. Of the three, his color palette changed the least. Based on the dominant whites surrounding him, he had no issues with life, except for the purple tinge that was always there, underlying the white. She wanted to ask what sorrow troubled him, but she didn’t feel like she knew him well enough. And it was a big part of him right now. She didn’t want to jeopardize the group’s unconditional acceptance.
Jaden took the disc and compared it to the cluster of stars Atu indicated. “Yeah, those do look like part of the pattern. When do you think the rest of it will be visible?”
“A few hours at least,” Atu replied. “I suggest we check every hour or so, long enough that we don’t drive ourselves nuts and short enough that we don’t miss anything.”
Jaden set the alarm on his PAL, and the four of them relaxed on their sleeping shells. Iri was delighted when Jaden began filling her in on their stories. This was their first chance to catch her up when any or all of them weren’t too exhausted to do anything except sleep. And catch her up they did, each sketching various parts of the story between their regular checks of the stars. When she heard about Atu’s missing parents, she understood the purple hues and was thankful she hadn’t had to ask.
It was well past midnight before they had her up to date. “It sounds like you’ve had more than a few adventures without me. Zareh is interesting, but it seems you don’t know a lot about him?”
“That would be because that’s what he intends,” Jaden bridled. “Believe me, you’ll understand if you ever get to meet him.”
Iri chuckled. “If you say so. I wonder why we didn’t meet before you retrieved that last artifact? Seems you could’ve done with help fighting off those Gaptors before the Legion arrived.”
“A question we’ll never know the answer to,” Atu put in. “I do believe that there is a reason for everything, though. If you were meant to be with us before now, I’m sure that would’ve happened.”
“Thanks,” Iri said dryly, “that really makes me feel wanted.”
“Sorry, that’s not what I meant. I only . . .”
Iri grinned and put a hand in the air. “It’s okay. I’m just teasing.”
Jaden relaxed. “I’m glad we found you. It means we’re making progress.”
Kayla rolled her eyes.
“What?’ Jaden asked, dumbfounded.
“What he means,” Kayla explained, eyeing Jaden as she did, “is that he’s glad you’re with us.”
Iri smiled. If Kayla hadn’t corrected Jaden, she wouldn’t have noticed that his revision hadn’t been any better than his first faux pas. That was a revelation. She must be more comfortable with these people than she’d realized.
“Yes, what Kayla said,” Jaden admitted, looking sheepish.
After that, he didn’t say more. Was he was worried he would upset her to the point of making her cry again? The colors around Kayla shifted as she sensed Jaden’s discomfort. Kayla wriggled closer to Jaden, resting her head on his stomach, and Iri smelled the calming effect Kayla had on him. Jaden began running his fingers through Kayla’s tresses, and his remaining tension eased. Having someone that you could rely on so much must be wonderful. Iri never had anyone she could do that with—until now. Here were three people she could share her burdens with. And that was a gift to be treasured indeed.
Chapter Twelve
With Jaden’s hands running through her hair, Kayla closed her eyes and indulged in the exquisite pleasure.
“I think we’re getting close.” Atu’s unexpected statement got everyone’s attention.
Kayla sighed as she sat up, regretting the loss of contact with Jaden. Turning, she found Atu holding the disc up against the starry sky.
“May I see?” Jaden asked, impatient as always.
Atu grinned and handed the disc over—to Kayla. She took it with an impish grin.
Jaden shook his head. “Yeah, go ahead and laugh. Have fun while you can.”
“Is that an invitation?” Kayla asked gleefully.
“No,” Jaden grumbled, not bothering to look at her.
Kayla grinned as she studied the stars. Her perusal complete, she smiled sweetly at Jaden before handing the disc to Iri. Iri began her own comparison of the tiny holes in the disc to the twinkling canvas overhead. Kayla stifled her burgeoning laughter as Jaden fidgeted. When Iri lowered the disc, Kayla nudged her, and Iri obligingly raised the disc once more. But when Kayla made to nudge Iri again, Jaden caught her.
“Okay, hand it over,” Jaden ordered, holding out his hand. The girls giggled as Iri complied. Resigned, Jaden sighed and raised the disc for his own inspection. “You’re right. It should be soon.”
“An hour or two at most,” Atu guessed. “Since I fell short on sleep this afternoon, is it okay with all of you if I nap?”
“And if I join him?” Jaden quickly added.
From the bags under his eyes, Kayla knew his extended shift from the afternoon was catching up with him. She almost regretted teasing him. Almost. He hadn’t bitten her head off despite being tired, so he was making progress with that temper of his. And she couldn’t refuse his request. Not after the cherished time they spent alone this afternoon. And not after he allowed her to sleep longer than she should’ve. “Yup, cool with me.” Iri nodded her consent, and the boys snuggled into their shells.
When Iri pulled a book from her pack, Kayla blinked. If Iri lived at the back edge of beyond, where did the book come from?
“Don’t be so shocked.” Iri grinned. “Just because I prefer living by myself doesn’t mean I avoid civilization altogether.”
Kayla grimaced. “I can see how this reading emotions thing is going to get us all in trouble.”
Iri laughed. “You don’t know the half of it yet.” She paused. “So you and Jaden are…close?”
“We are.”
“Isn’t that complicated? I mean, with the mission and all?”
“It could be, if we let it. Or you could see it like we do—because of the mission, we’ve realized that time is fleeting and life is short. You have to make the most of things while you can because you don’t know how long you have.”
“That’s a rather morbid outlook!”
“Perhaps, but a realistic one considering the circumstances we find ourselves in.”
“I guess.” Iri waited a few moments. Then she blabbed the question that was clearly bothering her. “I assume you’ve thought through all the consequences?”
Kayla studied Iri. “Why don’t you just spit it out?”
Iri reddened. “Well, what if something happens to one of you?”
Kayla sighed. There it was. The question that plagued her from the time she first allowed herself to accept what she felt for Jaden. “I could say that we’ll be strong enough to put our personal feelings aside until the mission is over, but I won’t know if that’s really true until the time comes.”
Looking guilty, Iri put a hand on Kayla’s arm. “I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“You and me both,” Kayla murmured. “You have anyone special in your life?”
“No. I don’t get to meet any cute boys living like a recluse.”
They lapsed into silence. Kayla was sure she dozed, because when Jaden’s PAL beeped, indicating two hours had passed, she felt like it had only been moments since she and Iri had been talking. Stretching, she looked around and found Iri watching her. The boys were still trying to rouse themselves. “Did I nod off?”
“You did.” Iri grinned.
“Sorry,” Kayla mumbled. “You should’ve woken me. Some companion I am falling asleep on you.”
“No problem. I enjoyed having time to myself. You all talk too much.”
Kayla laughed. “I bet it seems that way when you’re used to having peace and quiet. Let’s wake those boys.”
The boys had been waiting for those words. They popped their heads out of their sleeping shells.
“No need for anything drastic,” Jaden blurted, spotting Kayla as she moved toward him. “I’m awake.”
“Ah, and I thought I’d get to mess with you.” Kayla grinned.
Laughing, Jaden inched out of his shell. “Maybe we can tag team Atu,” he threatened, noting Atu hadn’t moved since poking his head from the shell.
Hurriedly, Atu sat up, pushing his shell down to his waist and reaching up to rub his eyes. “Leave a guy to wake up in peace, would you?” His grumpy tone had the others chuckling.
“Someone didn’t get his beauty sleep,” Jaden teased.
“Yeah, and someone had too much,” Atu retorted, shoving out of his shell.
Jaden opened his mouth to say something else, but Kayla placed a warning hand on his arm. “Give him a moment,” Kayla said in an undertone.
Leaning close to her, Jaden whispered, “Yeah, he’s not exactly Mr. Nice Guy when he wakes up. The last time I woke him, he came up with fists flying.”
Kayla giggled as she took Jaden’s face between her hands and planted a quick kiss on his mouth. “I’m glad he didn’t make contact.”
Jaden chuckled. “No chance.” He took her hands in his own and kissed the palm of each before releasing her and turning to dig in his pack for the wooden cube.
Kayla laughed when he found the cube and made a show of holding it up like he’d found treasure. “Idiot!” That produced a smile, and she took a moment to take a mental photo. If anything, that smile made him more appealing than any man had a right to be.
She watched, fascinated like always as his long fingers spun the sides of the cube until the disc fell free. Then he stood there with the disc in hand, waiting for Atu to finish wrestling his shell into his pack. Jaden’s patience impressed her. When Atu eventually stood, flushed
with annoyance, Jaden offered him the disc. “Care to do the honors?”
Atu glared at Jaden, still trying to find his sense of humor. It was a full minute before Atu huffed and took the disc. “Sure, why not?”
“Good man,” Jaden said, clapping Atu’s back.
Atu managed a shrug, but his grouchiness lingered. He took a moment to rub his eyes again before lifting the disc to the heavens. “Yes, perfect timing. It’s all . . .”
Yelping, Atu leaped back. Bright light streamed through the holes in the disc from somewhere unseen, angling away from his face and toward a point behind him. His sudden movement shifted the disc, and the light disappeared as abruptly as it had materialized.
“Dude,” Jaden breathed, “what did you do?”
“Nothing! I just held the disc up to the sky.”
“Please, Atu, do that again,” Iri urged, so softly that the others strained to catch her words.
“Why?” Jaden caught sight of Kayla’s frown and said in a more amenable tone, “Did you notice something?”
“I think so. I’m sure the beams were converging on something on the ground.”
Jaden rounded on Atu. “Well, what are you waiting for?”
Grumbling, Atu apprehensively lined the holes in the disc up with their matching stars. When light flared through the holes again, Kayla chuckled. Atu got more of a scare the second time—probably because he’d been expecting it. She smiled apologetically when Atu honed his glare on her.
“Where’s the light coming from?” Intrigued, Jaden peered behind the upheld disc.
Kayla focused on the light, then squealed. “Who cares! Look where it’s pointing!” As one, the others followed her gaze.
“My backpack?” Jaden ventured.
Kayla bounded over and upended it.
“Hey,” Jaden whined, “that took a long time to pack.”
Any further complaints died as the beams of light realigned themselves. When they settled, something on the ground began glowing—the book Awena gave them. In one leap, Jaden was beside Kayla, flopping down and opening the book. Instantly, the light went from white to golden as the rays were absorbed. The light faded, and darkness returned.
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