Page 20 of Sheltered in the Storm

“The raiders do not cross the swamp,” I said, since she likely would think them the biggest threat. “I have nothing worth stealing, so they do not bother me.”

“If they figure out you killed a bunch of them, including that Atolani who might have been their leader, they might make an exception,” she said, her expression and tone grim. “I hope you had time to cover your tracks.”

“I did.” I hesitated, then added, “I also ensured what remained of your fighter was destroyed and its debris sank to the ocean floor so it could not be plundered by the raiders.”

“My poor ship.” She took another shaky breath. “I understand it had to be done. But how did you manage it?”

I explained that I had returned to the site while she had sleptand used one of the raiders’ own sea mines to destroy the fighter.

This news seemed to trouble her, for reasons that became clear a moment later. “I thought you were with me the whole time.” She said it so quietly that I thought she might be talking to herself.

“Poe guarded you while I was gone,” I said. “I did not wish to leave your side, but you were stabilized, and I believed you would not want the raiders to profit by your accident.”

“Well, you’re right about that.” She rested her head on my shoulder once more. “I hope the raiders leave us alone, then. Is there anyone else who might come around?”

I shook my head. “I live many kilometers from the closest village. No one wanders here. The swamps and marshes contain enough dangers to make crossing them inadvisable. If a villager wishes to reach a safe beach, there are closer places to go.”

Calla flicked her gaze up at me. She opened her mouth, closed it, and said something else. “Tell me about these swamp dangers, then.”

I wondered what she had started to ask before reconsidering, but did not press her about it. “The largest predators are reptilian and amphibious, as you might expect from a moon that is mostly water and experiences a long rainy season. The most common danger is the kaory. They are large and scaled, with a venomous bite and barbed tail. They are also quite fast.”

She made a face. “Lovely. What else?”

I told her about other dangerous creatures and how best to avoid them. She seemed to take the information in stride, as I might have expected from a fighter pilot who had been stationed on several worlds with dangerous native species.

But the moment I began to describe the kinds of venomous and constrictor serpents of the swamp and marshlands, her scent changed dramatically, and her fingers slipped into my hand.

I broke off mid-sentence and looked at her hand where it rested, so small, bruised, and seemingly fragile in my own much-larger one.

Much to my disappointment, she pulled her hand away the moment she realized what she had done. “Sorry to get squeamish,” she said. “I promise I’m not a coward.”

As if I would ever have thought so.

“I really don’t like snakes and serpents,” she continued. “I got bitten by a deno’lia on Fortusia and damn near died. Ever since, I just can’t stand anything that slithers. Not your tentacles, though,” she added quickly. “They’re fine. Quite comfortable, actually. Anyway…” She cleared her throat. “I need to know what’s out there, I guess, so keep going.”

“You may hold my hand if you need to,” I said, trying not to show how much I wished she would do exactly that. “I am no more a fan of serpents than you, though I have chosen to share their habitat.”

Calla’s eyes narrowed. “Is that your way of saying you’re kind of afraid of snakes too?”

It was my turn to clear my throat. “I do not fear them. I simply take great pains to avoid seeing or encountering them.”

For the first time, her lips turned up in a real smile. My hearts seemed to stutter in my chest.

“Oh,” she said, her tone light and mocking. “Well, that’s totally different, then.” She settled into my tentacles’ embrace with a wince. “Go on about the local serpents, then, Vos the Fearless.”

Coming from anyone else, such a flippant remark would have enraged me, but nothing could take away from the fact I wanted that smile and her casual nickname for me to be the centers of my existence.

Minutes later, as I described the hunting habits of the area’s largest and most deadly constrictor, her breathing pattern changed, becoming slow and deep. I let my voice trail off.

Careful not to touch any of her cuts or bruises, I brushed stray hair back from her face. My mate let out a soft sigh, her body warm, still, and fast asleep in my embrace. Heavy rain fell on the roof and ran in sheets down the windows, but inside we were warm and dry.

I rested my chin ever so gently on the top of her head and lost myself in her scent.

Save for her injuries and the knowledge she did not intend to stay with me, this was the most perfect moment of my life. If I could have frozen time, I would have done so without a second thought and lived in this moment for eternity.

I drifted in quiet happiness for a long time, until my own restless thoughts shattered my peace.

Surely the universe would not send me a true mate, only for her to leave again. Not even the most capricious gods would wish me such pain—not after all I had already suffered.

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