Page 14 of Heart's Keeper

Lana turned her back to peel off her clothes. Though her heart beat faster than usual, she shook her head. "No."

She felt his body press against her back, his arm wrapping across her chest. His other hand drifted down her belly, then to her hips and thighs as he buried his face in the curve of her neck. She felt his teeth prick her neck, and her body tensed though he never broke the skin.

For a brief moment, she felt a sinking feeling followed quickly by the sense of guilt. She didn't know why she felt so wary, but she blamed the feeling on the anticipation for tomorrow.

"If you're not feeling well, we don't have to..." Lana said, twisting her head away.

A low rumble vibrated against her back. His traveling hand was answer enough that he wanted her then, despite whether he felt well or not. "You'll soothe me, and I will sleep deeply because of it."

He picked her up, cradling her against him, then dropped down into the bed. Lana curled into him as he lay her out. He took his pleasure in her and seemed all the better for it after, falling asleep to Lana's soft touch.

***

The light broke over the horizon as they entered the shipbed, bathing the area in dull pinkish light. Lana and Xerus' ship sat, ready for take-off, its dark shape absorbing the sunlight around it. A soft morning mist hugged its surface as the cool air from the night evaporated from the growing heat. All of the housekin waited outside to see them off, giving a curt bow as they passed. At the ship's entrance, Xilya and their team stood ready to depart. Each adorned their set of armor plates. The sisters, Dyrsa and Nix, kept their scyths sheathed at their hips. Aryus, their sniper, carried his shooter across his back. The two others—Gyrix and Krel—were from the same family line. Gyrix was an elder of his class, an older vrisha whose scales were faded and horns worn-down but who still held immense energy. He was also an impressive bomb maker. Krel was much younger, a spry warrior with great potential, who'd been recently given the highest rank in his age bracket. He was swift and agile and quick thinking, though still naive and spirited in his youth, he was well-trained and an extremely good fighter. Unlike Gyrix, his skin had a healthy orange sheen, and his horns, though smaller, were sleek and symmetrical.

With them also was a small crew for the ship, just four others to be exact: A group of dirra—the weakest class, who served in other ways that didn't involve fighting or guarding or tending households but who had vast insight into vrisha tech. As they bowed to her and Xerus, they boarded the ship, preparing the engines for take-off.

"A fine morning," Xilya said, greeting them.

"It is," Lana replied.

Xilya glanced over at Xerus and bowed her head. "Slept well, I hope?"

Lana looked to Xerus, who was staring off toward one of the outer walls, his tail swaying heavily. Lana turned back to Xilya and smiled. "Yes, fine, thank you. And yourself?"

"Well enough." She peered at Xerus again, then back at Lana. "The dirra say the trip should only take a couple of days. We will make for the planet where I dropped off the women as our headpoint into human territory. The world is located on the edge of their governing system, or so I was told."

"It might have expanded quite a bit since then," Lana said.

"Your return must bring many emotions."

Lana looked over at the ship and nodded. "Yes. I'm still not sure if I'm excited or terrified."

"Naturally." Xilya glanced behind her once more and said in a quieter tone, "And your predomis, how does he feel?"

Lana didn't look over her shoulder, unsure exactly how to answer. Though the night was calm and they each slept as well as could be expected (save for the vivid, chaotic dreams that plagued her once more), come morning, Lana could tell Xerus was acting off. He was distant, even more than before, his answers to her questions short and impersonal. He barely talked as they dressed, didn't even comment when Lana chose to adorn the horns he gave her, and was silent when they made their way up to the shipbed. Though he might not have mentioned anything, by his tension and silence, Lana knew it would be another difficult morning but chose to give him his space until his mind cleared again. As much as she would miss her home, she was anxious to be off and have the mission to distract them.

"He is...excited and terrified as much as me," Lana finally said. "There are a lot of memories, both bad and good, of our time in Earth's systems. It's a complicated return for us both."

Xilya grunted. "I imagine so."

As the ship's engines began to slowly roar to life, the housekin came up and said their farewells and good lucks. Xini came up last and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"May Veradis' bravery and Rikasha's strength guide you," she said. Lana smiled and squeezed her hand before Xini released her shoulder and started back for the house with the other housekin. As she passed by Xerus, she gave a low nod that Xerus did not return. Lana watched them disappear one by one before turning back to the others.

"I am grateful that you serve me on this mission," Lana said to the five warriors. They bowed their heads and commented how honored they were to be chosen. Krel, in his boldness, knelt and cited some flowery verses about his duty to guard his queen before getting kicked in the hide by Gyrix, who grumbled something about "silly, dramatic youths.” The sisters each gave their respects and promised to destroy her enemies swiftly and without mercy which, by common vrisha etiquette, Lana accepted. Aryus came last and gave a solemn bow and nothing more. Though he was quiet and seemed standoffish even to her, Lana trusted his loyalty.

It was expected for Xerus to be by her side as the warriors gave their honors and vows, but he had remained behind her instead, watching the others closely. Though he had been the one to pick them out himself, he barely acknowledged them as they started into the ship. Lana looked at him and was about to tell him to come when she stopped.

Xerus stared at her with a sort of grimace that made her feel suddenly cold despite the heat. "Xerus?" she called to him but didn't move readily toward him. "Xerus, the ship awaits. We have to go."

He didn't respond. He tipped his head to the side, then took a step toward her. One of his armor bands slipped from his arm and hit the ground with a softthunk.He didn't move to pick it up or put it back on and, with a confused frown, Lana went to grab it herself. As she picked it up off the ground and went to place it back on him, Krel suddenly appeared beside her.

"May I, Risa?" he asked, bright-eyed.

Confused at first, Lana almost shook her head but then remembered it was considered a sign of great respect for a young warrior to serve those higher-ranked than themselves, even if it was something as trivial as refixing a band. Krel, though taking his duty as a warrior a bit too seriously, clearly wanted Xerus' favor. Hesitant at first, but not wanting to deprive him of this opportunity, as small as it was, Lana handed over the band and stepped aside to allow the young vrisha to re-equip the band to Xerus' arm.

With swift fingers, Krel readjusted the band to Xerus and tightened the straps. Xerus didn't move as he did it, his eyes fixed away somewhere else. When the band was fastened tight to him, Krel took a step back and bowed his head, but Xerus didn't respond. Confused, Krel glanced her way, looking for direction. Lana had opened her mouth to tell him she was grateful for his help when the vrisha turned back to Xerus and reached out his hand, as if making sure the band was fixed properly and he hadn't done something wrong.

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