Page 79 of Stars in Halo

Even as he applied an antibiotic ointment to the laceration, Xion admired the lithe, graceful structure of the woman he’d made love to. His regard, even in his weakened state, got his desire rising.

In a Sable meta suit, she’d shed her feminine sensuous dresses.

It was also the first time he’d seen her without makeup and messy hair and, like him, needing a bath.

Yet she was still a queen in every sense of the word. Elegant and so fokkin’ beautiful, he wanted to drag her to the ground and sink inside her.

He reminded himself that she was a dangerous equation, and he needed to steel his heart lest he find himself back in a compromised situation.

He wouldn’t indulge his desire for her until he grasped the game her family and the King of Iccythria were playing.

That said, she’d rescued him, which went a long way in his books.

With an indecipherable snarl, Xion plastered an adhesive bandage over the wound, then drew her suit back onto her shoulder.

He would have zipped the garment for her, but she did it herself, her head bent over the task, her fingers slow.

While she did, he tried to wake his neural node to summon Mirage.

It was to no avail.

All he got was the buzz of static.

He needed more meta-power coursing through him to do so.

He had to wait a few more hours, taking them past dawn.

He cursed at the sight of sunrise peeking over the horizon.

‘We need to find shelter.’

Katya nodded in agreement, her movements stiff from the injury.

They set off once more, this time Xion supporting Katya.

He glanced around as they cautiously climbed, searching for a safe place to hide and regroup.

The adrenaline that had pumped through his veins from the drone attack began to ebb—leaving behind a dull ache and a growing sensation of nausea and fatigue that threatened to overwhelm him.

Despite his physical exhaustion, Xion scanned the area, his senses on high alert.

The terrain was rugged and unforgiving, offering little in the way of cover.

Finally, he spotted a small cave entrance nestled within the rocky outcrop nearby.

It was a tight fit, but it would have to do for now.

With a silent jerk of his chin, Xion led Katya to it.

Inside, the rough stone walls seemed to press in on them, the darkness enveloping them like a shroud.

Katya followed his lead, her steps cautious. She kept her hand in his and squeezed it, needing his reassurance through the pitch-blackness.

Deeper, they found a compact alcove providing enough space to sit.

The cave was damp and musty but offered some respite from the elements and potential pursuers.

Xion retrieved an LED light lamp from his back and turned it on, hanging it off a jutting rock ledge. It illuminated the tiny cave as they settled in a corner, their backs against the cold stone wall, listening for any sounds of danger outside.

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