“Hey, are you having trouble sleeping?” Private Ruus, in the bottom bunk across from him, whispered.
Mal looked over. “Yeah. That song keeps spinning through my head.”
“I know what you mean. Since the first time I heard her sing, I haven't been able to get to sleep without one of these.” He tossed Mal a little container that rattled.
“What is this?” Mal looked at the cylinder and read a strange word printed on it.
“Medean medicine to help you sleep.” Ruus was a healer. He worked in the fortress's med hall.
Mal sat up. “Medicine?”
“Yeah, they're pills. You take one, and you'll be asleep in five minutes.”
Mal opened the cylinder and looked at the pile of little white pills. “Five minutes?”
“Yup. I promise. Keep that bottle. I can get more. If you want it to work faster, crush it up and put it in some juice. You won't even taste it.”
“Thanks, Ruus.” Mal got up to get a glass of water.
“No problem.”
As Mal watched the water pour from the bathroom's faucet into his glass, a plan formed at last. A good one. Hegrinned into the mirror and swallowed a pill. He had to know how strong they were.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Vor
Two days after Lena told him to be hers first, Vor stood in the bedroom doorway, staring at Lena as she slept. Like a madman. He sighed and forced himself to walk away. Their breakfast would be there soon, and then he would wake her. And a new day of excruciating longing would begin.
Vor had never wanted a woman as badly as he wanted Lena Drask. Even when he wasn't with her, she consumed his thoughts. His heart would speed up when she looked at him. When she touched him, he couldn't think at all. And she'd been touching him often ever since their kiss.
He was a Nethren commander in charge of an army, sent to the surface to secure a foothold for his people so that they may come forth and claim their piece of Para. But his goal faded when Lena was near. All he wanted was her. The surface didn't matter. Or rather, it did, but only because being there made it possible to be with her. Vor did not want to lose these new feelings he had for her, even if he didn't understand them.
A knock came at the apartment door, and Vor hurried to unlock it and let the private in with their morning meal. The man carried a large tray and surprised Vor with a smile. His soldiers were changing as rapidly as he was, smiling and laughing aseasily as a Medean. The private set the tray down on the dining table and headed for the door.
“Wait, you're one of the men we recovered, aren't you? Private Lovall, right?”
“Yes, Commander!” Lovall grinned and inclined his head.
“What are you doing delivering food?”
“Oh, I'm on rotation with the kitchen. I'm an excellent cook, actually. I made the pie.”
“Pie?” Vor frowned at the tray. “For breakfast?”
“Oh, it's an egg pie, Commander. It has a normal pie crust, but I filled it with whipped eggs, vegetables, cheese, and smoked meat before I cooked it. It's, uh, my invention.”
“Is it?” Vor lifted his eyebrows. “I'm looking forward to trying it.”
“Thank you, sir. I hope you enjoy it.” Private Lovall inclined his head and left, shutting the door behind him.
Vor stared after the man. He had created something new. When was the last time a Nethren had bothered to create anything? Not invent, mind you. Tech inspired new inventions occasionally, but creations of the artistic sort, such as a recipe, weren't often done. There were old recipes that Nethren chefs stuck to, recipes passed down from their ancestors. New recipes weren’t necessary or even desired. But here, on the surface, his people created things. They craved more.
“Vor?” Lena called out.
Vor locked the door and turned to smile at her. “Good morning, Lena. Breakfast just arrived.”
“I see that.” She cleared her throat. “I just need to use the bathroom first.”
