Page 40 of Guardian's Destiny

"Okay."

Blackness moved around me as much as blackness can move, but far off, I could make out a faint light. "I see something."

"Good, move toward it."

The light was becoming brighter, and orange and red hues lured me closer. I stepped into the most magnificent forest I had ever seen. My lungs filled with a fresh scent that made me dizzy. "Beautiful."

"What is?" She asked.

"The trees, the leaves are reddish, and there are purple flowers and orange ferns. The ground is red and brown, and the air," I took another inhale, "so fresh and fragrant."

"Good, keep going, Vraax. Do you see a path or something?"

Voices penetrated my mind and I followed their sound, until I saw… I saw…

"Argh," my head seemed to explode.

"Easy, Vraax, easy. Stay with me. Nothing can hurt you. These are not memories. Vraax," her voice stayed with me. Slowly, the pain receded, but it kept hovering right at the edge as if it were a predator waiting to jump.

"What do you see?"

"People," I nearly laughed. So many. There were buildings, too. Houses, and workstations. Every one of the people had silvery skin and black hair, like mine. The females wore finely woven dresses in bright colors and the males pants in deeper, darker hues.

"What are they doing?"

"Walking, talking, working," I said as I watched myself walk into the village. The familiarity of it spread an ache through me that was very different from the headaches. Just as painful, but it encompassed my entire body. The feeling of loss was so strong that it nearly took my breath away.

I heard laughter, light, and tinkling, and my head felt like it was about to explode into hundreds of thousands of shards.

"It's okay, Vraax, relax. Nothing can hurt you there." Light fingers massaged the back of my neck, but it wasn't enough.Memories assaulted me so fast I couldn't hold on to any one image. With a start, I sat up.

"What happened?" She asked me, her hands pulling on my shoulders to lean back, but I couldn't. My breaths came out uneven and panting.

"I don't know. I heard something, and I… I couldn't… I couldn't…"

"It's okay. Her legs retreated from around me, and their warmth left me and made me feel bereft. I turned and put my feet on the ground, while Sloane moved around the bed, kneeling in front of me, she placed her hands on my thighs and damn, that felt like another explosion moving through me just a different sort.

"It's okay. We learned so much today."

"We did?" I gave a dry chuckle. "I think it brought up more questions than answers."

She nodded. "It did, but we also know that the Ohrurs had contact with the Darlams before, that they betrayed you."

"We already knew that," I contradicted.

She sighed loudly, and her expression told me what she didn't put into words, yetquit being so difficult.

"I don't understand," I gave voice to the questions running through my mind before she could form her thoughts into words, "how can I have memories of a place I've never been to?"

She looked thoughtful. Her green eyes were ablaze with a fire I had only seen in them when we were sparring, when she was determined to beat me. I realized this was a challenge for her, a puzzle she wanted, needed, to figure out.

For once, not willing to give into any sexual innuendo with her kneeling between my thighs, I got up so abruptly that she nearly stumbled to the ground. Anger surged through me. I didn't want to be a puzzle for her, a challenge. Well, maybe achallenge, but not something she needed to unravel. I wantedherto wantme.

"What you need is a round with the robot." She got to her feet as well.

What I need is a round in bed with you, my mind screamed at her. I was sure my eyes said as much because her pupils dilated as if… as if she wanted me too.

I narrowed my eyes at her and took a step forward. She didn't move. Her breasts heaved a little heavier as I closed in on her. My arms moved up, my right hand snaked around her neck, buried itself into her hair, my left arm snaked around her waist and pulled her forward until her stomach was flush against me, until I was sure she felt my arousal.

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