Page 70 of Romancing Rem'eb

Yet…I am supposed to, am I not? I have vowed to return. I have declared that my people must come first.

So I step forward and grab the rope that dangles in the center of the floor. I take it in hand and straighten, standing on the mark that Harlow points at. She makes another gesture, indicating I should put my shoulders back and keep my chin up. This is safe, I tell myself, even as I shoot an unnerved glance over at the fallen Noj’me. This is not some trick…

But I think of my Tia.My sweet stranger. I am keeping my promise to her.

A bright red light flares in front of me and a sharp, hot flash streaks through my skull. As I sink into darkness, I wonder…would I do such a thing for any of my people?

Or just Tia?

My head throbs, a pulsing heat behind my eyes. I groan, reaching for my brow, only to have my hand gently pushed aside.

“Here, let me.” A wet cloth is pressed to my brow, cold and unpleasant instead of soothing. “Actually, I don’t know that it’s helping. Do we have any warm water, guys?”

“The fire is down below,” says another voice. “Once they are fully awake and can climb down, we can heat water.”

“Yes, but that doesn’t help now,” the sweetest of voices says, close to my ear. Warm fingertips brush over my skin. “If you can understand me, open your eyes slowly, Rem’eb. The light might bother you and make the headache worse.”

Tia.

Even as I recognize her voice, I notice that she speaks a different language than mine…and yet I understand it well. There is no confusion, no hunting for meanings. I know her words as well as I know my own. I open my eyes and wince at the light that streams in, blue white, unnatural and without warmth.

“I told you to open your eyes slowly,” Tia chides, leaning over me. We are still up in the heights of the ship, upon the slanted floor. My foot rests against a wall, my shoulder against Tia’s hip, and we are still anchored together. Her worried gaze skims over my face and her fingers caress my jaw. “Did it not work? Say something to me, Rem’eb.”

I lick my lips. “You are still the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.”

Her eyes flood with tears of relief and she gives a watery chuckle. “Oh, thank god. I was going to ask how many fingers I’m holding up, but that sounds better to me. Say something else too, so I know you’re not just being randomly romantic.”

“My weight could have pulled you out of the ship. It is dangerous for us to be tied together. I do not like it.”

“I kept you anchored.” She flicks the rope attached to her waist, and I notice there is a second one attached to a railing on the wall. She is tied to the ship, and also tied to me. “I wouldn’t let you fall.”

My lips are dry, so I lick them again. “I do not like it. Your safety?—”

One of her hands goes to her hip. “Are you really going to pick a fight now? When we can finally talk clearly?”

I struggle to sit up, managing after a moment. The tilt of the floors is making me dizzy, and I remain where I am, waiting for my mind to settle. “I do not want to fight at all.”

“Right. Because you’re leaving soon.” Her voice catches. “You’re right?—”

“I do not want to fight because it is foolishness.” I take her hand in mine and press a kiss to her wrist. “Because I would rather say other things to you.”

She glances around the room. “Perhaps we should wait until we’re alone.”

I can see others lying nearby, being tended to by the human females that journeyed with us. Do I want to wait? Perhaps. But the desire to never cause another moment of pain to Tia overrides the need for privacy.

Her hand still in mine, I rub her knuckles against my lips. “We have many things to say, you and I. But I have realized something and I must speak it first.” I gaze up at her. “I will stay here with you.”

“Here? Like in the ship?” Tia’s brows furrow. “Why?”

“No, you misunderstand.” I stroke her soft fingers, marveling at their delicacy. So fragile and yet she is so strong of will. I kiss her fingertips, content with my decision. It will pain me, but the pain of failing my people will be less than the pain of failing this one lone female. “I will stay here. Above. With you.”

I wait for her to be full of happiness. For her to squeal with joy and fling her arms around me. I want to see her joy.

But her mouth flattens into a line and she gives me a troubled look. “We’ll talk more when we’re alone.”

Chapter

Thirty-Three

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