He frowned. “We were destined by the goddess to—”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Galians basically believe the same thing.” She rolled her eyes. “I think all of you are a little bit crazy truth be told.”
“Nevertheless,” Gio bit out, “will you slow the cruiser?”
Kari struggled with the decision laid out before her. Yes, additional help would be great, but what if Gio was lying? Even if he wasn’t lying, wouldn’t he be leading Isar K’al Draji straight to her?
“If Isar—Death—is not with you…” Her gaze narrowed. “…Then why did you say he told you I would fight like hellfire?”
“He told me this byholo-call,” Gio smoothly lied. He couldn’t tell if Kari believed him, but she was for a certainty giving his words much thought.
“It’s not that I distrust Isar,” she said defensively. “It’s just that he can be a bit overbearing.”
“Mayhap he but worries o’er your safety.”
Kari couldn’t deny that the warrior they called Death had gotten under her skin and remained there, yet she had also just watched Klykka’s warnings about warriors and their necklaces come true before her very eyes. Dari’s life was hers no more. That wasn’t something Kari wanted for herself. This was proving to be an impossible decision.
“The more eyes the better,” Gio reminded her. “We do not know for a certainty what it is we seek beyond the silver-ice tree.”
She swallowed against the lump in her throat. They—whoevertheywere—really had heard the entire story.
“Tell me one thing,” Kari demanded.
“Aye?”
“Do you believe every word of Dari’s story or do you think she’s just got an overactive imagination?”
Gio didn’t hesitate. “I believe every word. Leastways, after hearing it, it put many of mine own questions to rest.”
Kari slowly nodded. “I’ll slow the cruiser down,” she relented. Her silver-blue gaze found his lavender one. “I swear I will make you pay for it if you cause me to regret my decision.”
Gio believed her. Yet did he also believe she would be happy once High Lord Death claimed her for all times. “I understand. Now please slow the cruiser in as much as is safely possible.”
Chapter Ten
Naked, Dari awoke in the plush raised bed she’d grown accustomed to sleeping in whilst aboard thegastrolight-cruiser. She thought naught of her nudity for ‘twas how all Trystonni slept, yet something felt different. Her eyes still closed, she frowned as she batted her lashes, trying to awaken from the deepest slumber of her twenty-fourYessat-Years.
Twenty-four… she’d forgotten that today was her birthday! Leastways, ‘twas no doubt what seemed different to her. Stretching and yawning, she batted her eyelashes a final time.
“You have awoken.”
Dari yelped as she sat up in the raised bed. Her hearts’ rate soared. “Gio,” she breathed out. He was seated on avesha-benchacross the bedchamber. “You are here,” she said dumbly.
“Aye. I am.”
Her pre-slumber memories came flooding back.Hyatzi. She and Kari holding hands as they prepared to make their cruiser invisible. Gio transporting onto their ship at the last possibleNuba-second. Her clothes being summoned off. A necklace clasped unforgivingly around her neck…
Dari’s glowing blue gaze widened on a gasp as her hands flew to her neck. Oh goddess—she hadn’t dreamt that part.
“What have you done?” Dari asked, wide-eyed. “I would not have you punished by the Emperor or my sire for—”
“The deuce of them both gave me their ayes.” His lavender gaze searched her face as if to memorize it. “Why did you not come to me, Dari? Why would you flee without trusting me?”
“Nay. ‘Twas not like that. I give you my vow.”
“Then what was it like?” She could see the vulnerability writ across his handsome face. “Why did you not come to me?”
“I-I thought…”
