Chapter 18
The next day
Heather sat on a bench, trying to act like she wasn’t attempting to spy on what was happening with Devlon and the new Drastan. Her muscles ached. She’d slept restlessly, finally getting up earlier than she’d planned. She missed being in Devlon’s arms. She knew he probably wouldn’t be able to join her in her subcar with the senior commander there. She saw them briefly as they walked the perimeter, but didn’t try to interrupt them.
She watched the young man take everything in. He was attractive. Tall, dark, and handsome, like all the Drastans she’d met. But Devlon, though older with distinguished streaks of grey in his hair, was just larger than life. He seemed to tower over others, his shoulders always broader and stronger. He had eyes that held wisdom and knowledge but also kindness and compassion. No other man could compare to him.
“You’re staring at him again,” Mabel whispered next to her.
She quickly turned away. “I’m not staring!” she denied vehemently.
Mabel chuckled. “I’m not blind, honey. The two of you can’t take your eyes off each other. When you’re close to one another the temperature goes up. Be honest with yourself and with him, if not with anyone else. You care for him.”
She looked around, grateful that her people were occupied and no one else could hear them. “I don’t just care for him—I love him.”
Mabel clapped her hands together in excitement. “I knew it!”
“Shhh...I don’t want anyone to know yet.”
“Why not?”
“I’m not sure how he feels about me, and I want to get that worked out between us first. We have a lot of things we need to make decisions about.”
Mabel nodded her head. “I understand. Will you be leaving with him to travel to Drasta?”
“I’m not sure. He asked me to consider it.”
“He did? That’s got to mean he’s serious about you.”
“I don’t know. We haven’t talked about our feelings for one another yet. What if I go with him to Drasta and things don’t work out?”
“What if you stay here and let him go and never find love again?” Mabel countered.
Heather sighed. “I took a chance once and it ended up in a horrible loveless marriage. I can’t take that risk again without knowing that Devlon feels the same way about me that I feel towards him.”
“What if he decides to remain here with you?”
“I could never ask him to stay. He has family that he’s close to, and they can’t remain here forever. His grandchildren deserve a better life than living underground or in a dome. Going to Drasta will allow them to live aboveground in fresh air and sunshine. He really tried to sell me on the idea of going with him and I have to say...I’m tempted.”
“Maybe when we get all this stuff with the tribe leaders settled, you two will have time to talk and figure it all out.”
“I hope so. Come on, let’s get the subcars ready for our visitors.”
They had been preparing subcars for the tribe leaders coming there later that day to sleep in. They were doubling some of them up just to make security easier, which was one of the requests that Devlon had made. She felt very uncomfortable about having Mark come there. It would be the first time that she’d seen him in person in years, and on top of all that, Devlon would be there too. She groaned.
“What’s that sound for?” Mabel asked as they entered the next subcar. Her people had already come through, stocking and cleaning, but she and Mabel were doing spot checks.
“I was just thinking about how uncomfortable it’s going to be with Devlon and Mark in the same place at the same time.”
Mabel snorted, trying to hold back her laughter and failing miserable. “Sorry, Heather. I’ve not seen your Mark, but I for one can’t wait to see Devlon stake his claim on you.”
“He’s not staking anything.”
“You are so wrong. That is one very alpha male if I ever saw one.”
As much as she agreed with that, she also knew that Devlon was good at keeping his calm. “Devlon is good with keeping his emotions in check. He has to be, as commander of the fleet.”
“We’ll see how well he holds up.”
