Page 122 of Stars At Dusk

‘What about Ruben?’ Harlow eventually asked.

‘Don’t worry,kara. We’re going hard after him. He’s wounded, so he’ll need good medical care, and we’re hoping that draws him out. This time, we’ll nab him and ask some earnest questions.’

They waited for Xion and the support crew to show up. Kage let them in and took them through the scene. It was chaotic initially as they worked out their action plan.

Once Xion had a handle on things, Kage whisked Harlow to his apartment at 498.

Inside, she quickly shed her clothes and jumped in the shower at Kage’s urging. When done, she slid into one of his tees. She moved with the minimum effort needed, mechanically, almost robotically, her face closed off. Kage instantly knew that she was feeling the stress of the night start to grind down on her nerves.

‘Kara, need anything?’ he asked, watching her with some concern.

‘No, thank you. I just need some rest.’

She gave him a shaky smile, folded herself into the side of his bed, and pulled the covers over her body.

He took a deep breath and hit the head to freshen up. By the time Kage was done, Harlow was fast asleep.

He slid into the bed beside her and stayed awake for many long minutes after, watching her sleep, his heart heavy for her, his soul lifting her above the fear and the cares of the day and into the stars.

III

It’s often in the darkest skies that we see the brightest stars

13

The dark turns of a beautiful love

Harlow

The unusual lunar heat spell bathed her skin in sweat. Harlow lay in bed, tossing and turning, lost in a dark dream. Her sheets were tangled and damp with sweat, sticking to her skin.

She yelled suddenly, bolting upright in bed. Her eyes flew open, and she shook and trembled, staring into the semi-darkness of Eden II’s half-month twilight.

Kage, sleeping by her side, was startled awake. His eyes flew open, and he took a moment to clue in.

‘Baby?’

She sat there unseeing, trembling and silent.

‘You OK,kara?’ he said, low and slow, rising carefully to sit beside her. ‘I’m here.’

That’s when she turned and blinked as if seeing him for the first time.

He rose to his knees and crouched before her on the bed. He opened his arms, and she crawled into them, still shaking like a leaf.

Eventually, she sighed against his chest.

‘Want to share?’ he probed gently after a long moment.

Harlow gazed up at her man. Her gorgeous, stunning, beautiful man. He was the first to see her this way - at her rawest state. She felt anxiety clamour in her throat as she grew terrified of opening up to him and then losing him.

She hoped Kage wasn’t going to push her away. But, if he did, it might end her, especially after the events of this evening.

She’d survived alone for many years, but somehow Kage Sable had made her deeply dependent on his TLC. And she knew she had to bite the bullet and see if he, indeed, was in it for the long haul.

So she shared.

‘It’s a dream I have every couple of months or so. I’m alone in a dark dormitory, chained to a bed. I’ve no food or water. There’s a massive storm outside, and a flood fills the dormitory floor from outside. A large creature hovers over me, screaming at me to comply with its demands. They will set me free if I do, and I won’t die in the torrent. I refuse. The flood rises over me, and I flail in it, unable to breathe. That’s the moment I wake up.’

---