Storm of Arranon Fire and Ice

by Robynn Sheahan

  “Yeah, well, I hope I never see another one. If it hadn’t been for the maejen coming for me and taking me to safety, I’m sure the Shifters would have grown bold, their curiosity changing to something much worse.”

  Cale watched her, an expression of wonder in his eyes. “This connection you have with the animals. It’s amazing.”

  Erynn frowned. “If no one lived to share an experience, how do you know these things about Shifters?”

  Cale shrugged. “Ancient writings. Tales passed down through the generations.”

  Her stomach rumbled.

  A smile spread to his blue eyes. “How long has it been since you’ve eaten?”

  She brushed at the material over her stomach. “Ummm, yesterday evening, a protein bar and some water.” She grinned. “They may be complete nutrition, but I don’t want to eat them if I don’t have to.”

  “Go to the dining hall. Then get some rest.”

  Erynn’s brow drew together. “I need to find Jaer first. I want to apologize to him.”

  Cale put his hand on her lower back and pushed her gently toward the door. “Jaer’s down in the lowest tunnels, testing the security of our perimeter. You can’t go down there. Jaer wants no one in the area while he and his people are on patrol. It’s too dangerous.” Cale stopped before the door. “Jaer takes the security of this base seriously. His need to protect you is personal. Go eat. Jaer’s over being angry with you. He can’t stay mad at you for long.” He chuckled.

  Erynn’s head jerked toward the hall. “So what’s with Zach, my guard?”

  Cale’s eyes narrowed, his smile gone. “Protecting, not guarding. Give us this one small concession, Erynn.”

  Erynn nodded and felt the corners of her mouth turn up a bit. She stepped through the door. “Come on, Zach. Hope you’re hungry. We’re going to the dining hall.”

  Zach remained in the common room, giving Erynn her space, but making sure she was aware of his constant presence. In her quarters, she watched the world outside the base on the DVSL. The sky darkened as night approached. Snow fell. Large flakes raced sideways when the wind gusted.

  According to Cale, Jaer was no longer angry with her, but she hadn’t heard from him since his reprimand in the transport bay.

  Exhaustion won as the day outside succumbed to night. Erynn crawled under thick covers, asleep before the next gust slammed against the mountainside.

  More disturbing dreams haunted her sleep, only this time the shadowy beings moved closer.

  Deformed faces with wide black eyes and mouths full of pointed teeth took shape out of the gloom. They danced and writhed around a raised stone alter. A large form slowly came to a sitting position on the dais. His face in shadow turned to her.

  Erynn sat up and gasped, wide awake.

  Jaer stepped through the door, sliding it shut behind him. The dim light from the corridor briefly cast a faint radiance around him. “I did not mean to startle you.” He sat on the edge of her bunk and pulled her into his arms.

  “Jaer.” She nestled against him, breathed in his spicy scent, took comfort in his closeness.

  He stiffened, relaxed, and drew her closer. “You were dreaming. What was it?”

  “Nothing. Cale and I talked about Dhoran today, about the Shifters. They were on my mind and I dreamed about them. That’s all.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Jaer understood that her dreams were often more than what most people experienced. Sometimes they were visions or predictions of the future.

  Erynn glanced up in the dark. She reached out, grasped the back of his neck, and pulled his face close. “I’m sure.” She found his mouth with hers.

  “Come back to my quarters. Sleep with me tonight.” His lips curved in a smile. “It has been a long time since you stayed with me. I need to hold you, know you are close.”

  “Let me get my boots and coat.”

  “No. I will carry you.” He wrapped her in the blanket and scooped her off the bed.

  Erynn laughed quietly as he sidestepped through the door and into the quarters next to hers.

  He set her gently on the bed. “I will be right back.” He disappeared into the washroom.

  She was still on the edge of the bed when he came out wearing warm, baggy sleeping pants and turned off the light.

  He slipped onto the bed behind her and propped himself up on his elbow. “Light, dim,” he called softly, and a globe above the head of the bunk glowed with a faint radiance.

  Erynn turned her face to him. His bare chest radiated heat, muscles bunching under his smooth skin. “I thought you wanted to sleep.” She reached out and ran her fingers against the silky texture of him.

  He smiled and patted the bed with the flat of his hand. “I do.”

  She snuggled in next to him, still wrapped in the blanket, her head rested on her hand, elbow bent. She frowned. “Do you want…” She bit her lower lip. “I mean…don’t you—”

  He put a finger against her lips, tracing their outline. “When the time is right, we will both know.” He rolled to his back, reached a powerful arm around her, and pulled her against him. “Light, out.” The room went dark. “There is no hurry, Erynn. I do desire you, very much. I want to have that special bond between us, but I can wait.” He chuckled. “As I told Cale once, my experience with women before you never included love. I want you to understand that what we have is…true. The real thing.” His breathing became soft and slow.

  A peaceful sleep surrounded them—his, and hers. Erynn floated in Jaer’s arms, and he was safely wrapped in hers. Breathing in time with him, their heartbeats were in harmony, as one. His heat was hers and her warmth his. Their two souls combined, joined. Where one stopped and the other began was impossible to determine.

  Erynn sat up, pulling out of Jaer’s sleeping embrace, and screamed, “Noooo!” She leapt out of bed, tripped over the desk chair, and hit the wall next to the door with a crash.

  Jaer was there, catching her as she rebounded off the hard stone surface. She slid to the floor cradled in his arms. His voice shook. “Erynn, what is wrong? Lights!” he shouted.

  His face swam out of focus. The salty, coppery taste of blood contacted her tongue. She frowned, trying to force clarity. Concentrate! her mind shrieked.

  There was something. Something important. I need to remember. To warn Jaer.

  The fog in her brain cleared, and she struggled to stand. “It’s happening again. An attack. The Shifter is back.”

  Jaer picked her up and laid her on the bunk. “Stay down. You are injured.”

  She sat up and wiped at her nose. Blood covered the tips of her fingers. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

  Jaer pushed on her forehead, forcing her back down. He tapped his computer. “Contact all teams. Sweep the tunnels. Check for intruders.” He rushed to the washroom and returned, slipping into his tunic. Jaer held a moist cloth in one hand. He pressed the cool compress to Erynn’s nose and lip.

  She took the cloth, held it tight to staunch the bleeding, and sat up again, tucking her legs under her.

  “Do you know where?” Pulling pants over his sleepwear, Jaer reached for boots.

  “There are large crates stacked along one wall.” She squeezed her eyes shut, took in a deep breath, let it out slowly, and stared up at Jaer. “Not in the tunnels. It’s the back of the transport bay.”

  Jaer stepped to the computer and tapped. “Aven, take a team to the transport bay. I will meet you there.”

  Erynn climbed off the bed still holding the bloody cloth tight to her lip. The stone floor was cold under her bare feet. “I’ll get dressed, go with you.”

  Jaer spun to her. “You are staying here.” He took her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. He guided her back to the bed, helping her to sit. “Maybe Zach should take you to the Medical Unit.” He was out the door and gone before she could respond.

  Chapter 6

  A THOROUGH SEARCH OF THE tunnels and transport bay revealed nothing to indicate there had b
een another attack. Erynn got the news while in the dining hall with Tam, Sean, and of course Zach, as it came over the DVSLs lining the walls. Faces turned in her direction, and whispering voices murmured behind her back. She could imagine what was being said. Erynn wanted to disappear. Her false alarm had panicked the entire base.

  Erynn stood up to leave. “I have COM duty today. I’ll see you later.”

  Zach followed. His long gray-brown hair clasped at his neck hung straight down, past his waist.

  Tam twisted in her seat. “Erynn, wait. When your shift is over, come with Sean and me. I’ll buy you a drink. You can relax, have some fun.”

  Erynn frowned. “Your quarters?”

  Tam pointed to a door at the far side of the dining hall and grinned. “No. There. Cale’s reopened the base bar.”

  Sean pushed away from the table. “It helps keep everyone together, improves morale. Gets people’s minds off the attacks.”

  “Attack,” Erynn corrected. “There’s only been one.”

  Sean turned to her. “I believe you saw something, maybe a warning.” He glanced around the room. “Everyone here believes in you.”

  Heat rose up her neck and into her face. “Maybe I’ll come. I’ll let you know later.”

  The base’s equivalent of a bar was a darkened room with a large U-shaped counter. Inside the U, the bartender kept green, amber, and blue bottles of various shapes and sizes. Small white lights were strung overhead, twinkling off the colorful glass. Around the outside of the U, tables and chairs filled the remaining area. More strings of lights edged the perimeter of the bar. The space was dim, crowded, and noisy. There were no empty tables, so Erynn, Tam, and Sean stood against the wall to the right of the door.

  Roni walked in and surveyed the crowd. She spotted Erynn and joined them.

  When Roni entered, Zach left.

  Changing of the guard.

  There was no use fighting this.

  “Did you and Aven find the alien soldiers?” Sean handed Roni a beoir.

  Roni nodded. Her gaze surveyed the packed room. “What was left of them. We found spent weapons and their blood in the snow.”

  Erynn’s hand tightened around her beoir. She felt responsible for their deaths.

  If I’d told someone, anyone, that those two enemy soldiers were out there in the forest as soon as I knew, they’d still be alive. Their deaths are on me.

  “It’s amazing they stayed alive as long as they did. It was only a matter of time.” Roni glanced at Erynn. “The scene was old. They were dead before you left that day, Erynn.” She frowned. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say the whole thing was staged, like a trap, with the enemy soldiers as bait.”

  Laughter rolled over the boisterous conversations. The hum of so many people talking at once buzzed in Erynn’s ears like swarming centinents.

  “I’m leaving. See you tomorrow.” Erynn raised her bottle and tipped the last of the cold, spicy liquid into her mouth, draining the contents. The beoir warmed her inside, all the way down. This Arranon drink was much stronger than what she was used to on Korin.

  Before she could turn away, Sean pushed another beoir into her hand and put his arm around her shoulders. He stared into her eyes, his breath spicy. “They could have turned themselves in at any time. It was their choice to stay where they knew it was dangerous.” He squeezed, let go, and stepped back. “I know what you’re thinking. It’s not your fault they’re dead.”

  Tiar made his way through the growing crowd. He nodded toward Erynn, his brother Sean, and Tam but stood next to Roni.

  Erynn saw the blue tendrils coil from Tiar and slip around Roni, undulating and snapping through the air. Erynn had recognized that there was something between them on the trip here. Every time Tiar looked at Roni, his hard green eyes softened, and she would blush, just slightly.

  Erynn glanced away and smiled, putting her hand over her mouth. “Ouch.”

  “What?” Tam whispered.

  “Hurts my lip when I smile.”

  “I’m sure, but that’s not what I was asking. What’s funny?”

  “Not funny. Sweet. Tiar and Roni.” Erynn nodded in their direction.

  Tam grinned. “Yeah, I figured as much.”

  Erynn faced Tam as they talked, her back to the others that lined this side of the wall. A warm body pressed against her, and she spun at the intrusion.

  “Sorry,” a man said. His voice was soft, pleasant against the din around her. “I was trying to read the plaque behind you. It’s new.”

  Erynn turned toward the wall. On the smooth dark rock hung a shiny silver engraving with a list of those who had died in recent battles against the alien invasion. “Oh.” She moved aside so the man could read.

  “To the brave,” he said when he’d finished and held up his drink.

  “To the brave,” Erynn and her friends chorused and took a drink.

  “I’m Nev,” the man said after he swallowed.

  Erynn introduced them. They nodded as she said their names. “And I’m Erynn.”

  He smiled, and his gaze darted over them. “Nice to meet you. But I know who you are. I know who all of you are. I may not leave the Medical Unit much. They keep me busy, but word gets around. I hear things.” He stepped forward, squinted, and studied the cut running below Erynn’s nose to her lip. “Looks like you should have made an appointment.”

  Erynn brushed at the cut with the back of her fingers. “It’s nothing.”

  “You work in the Medical Unit?” Tam asked.

  Nev took another long swallow. “Surgeon,” he said quietly, glancing away.

  “You know Kira?” Tam grinned and glanced at Erynn.

  Erynn ducked her head, trying not to smile. Kira had shown great interest in Jaer during a training session he and his brother Aven taught in the exercise room.

  “Kira?” Nev turned to Tam.

  “Tall. Blonde. Friendly,” Tam added with a smirk.

  Nev’s forehead wrinkled, and then his eyes widened. “Oh, Kira.” He chuckled and dropped his gaze. “Kira works in Records, entering information into the computers.” His expression changed, turning serious. He gazed at them, his eyes sad and far away. “We owe all of you a dept of gratitude, especially you Erynn. You were very brave to go aboard the enemy ship. I don’t think any of us would be here if you hadn’t.”

  Erynn turned away, her cheeks warming. His praise made her uneasy. “I had help,” she mumbled, remembering Faylen’s ultimate sacrifice.

  Faylen’s help aboard the enemy ship had made the difference. Without him, Erynn didn’t think she would have succeeded in preventing the invasion of her worlds. And for all Faylen had done, his reward was death.

  Erynn shook. The pain of Faylen’s loss was still raw.

  Nev lowered his voice. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intention to make you uncomfortable.”

  “I think we owe you thanks,” Sean said, taking the focus off Erynn. He always managed to come to her aid. “I heard that because of the great work all the medical staff did, you saved many lives. There are people still walking among us because of your skill and dedication.”

  “Well, I had help too,” Nev said. “Hey, a table just opened up.”

  Erynn glanced at Sean and mouthed, “Thanks.”

  Sean winked at her and smiled.

  They hurried over. Nev made a point of sitting next to Erynn. In the low lights, she could only make out that he had light hair, probably sandy brown, and eyes that were most likely blue. He was trim, not heavily muscled, and above average in height.

  From the front of the room, colored lights came on, and loud music started.

  Erynn felt the quick rhythm vibrate through her boots.

  People moved onto the dance area.

  Nev leaned toward her. “May I ask a favor?”

  Erynn glanced at him and nodded. “You may ask.” She worked to keep a frown from forming.

  He smiled and stared down at his beoir. “There’s a boy in the hospital wing. His
name is Cace, and he just turned fourteen. He’s not exactly a boy, I guess. Cace never complains. He was born with multiple birth defects, but it hasn’t affected his mind or his spirit. His mother has raised him by herself since his father left them.”

  Nev paused, glanced out at the dancers, and took a drink. “Cace spends a lot of time in the hospital. Complications with his immune system. Every few weeks, one of his vital organs begins to fail. We can’t pinpoint the trigger causing the recurring inflammation. We’ll keep trying. Anyway, Cace talks constantly about Interceptors, pilots, and flying.” Nev dipped his head. He lifted the right corner of his mouth in a crooked and completely charming half smile. “Cace would appreciate…I would appreciate it if you could come visit him. I guarantee you, he will test your knowledge of Interceptors.”

  A slight smile relaxed Erynn’s guarded expression. “When?”

  Erynn found a message from Jaer waiting for her in her quarters.

  His face cleared into view on her computer screen. Those brown eyes that stole her heart each time she saw them had lost their shine. “I have been called away on a…family matter. Everyone is fine. Do not worry. An issue needs my attention. Aven is with me.” He paused, staring out at her from his three-dimensional likeness. He smiled, but the expression was forced. “No matter what happens, Kipa, know that I have loved only you.”

  Erynn’s stomach lurched, and the floor wavered under her. She tried to breathe but her lungs had filled with a solid substance that refused to yield to the air she required. She dropped onto the chair. The force of hitting the seat unlocked her chest muscles.

  Not remembering how she got there, she moved through the hall outside her quarters. Zach was back in the common room, guarding. She needed to talk to Jaer. Now. Find out what this was all about. She walked up to Zach, speaking before he acknowledged she was there. “I need to talk to Jaer.”

  Startled, Zach glanced up. “Jaer will be back tomorrow or the next day, at the most. Can it wait? I’m not sure we can contact him.”

  Erynn leaned over, her hands fisted on the arms of Zach’s chair. “You’re in communication with Jaer. Don’t tell me you’re not.” Her hard gaze bore into him.