A grand aurora draped emerald and violet curtains over the atmosphere, while a terminal rain of meteors etched silver scars across the gloom.
The sheer, silent scale of the universe bore down on her, beautiful enough to cause an ache in her ribs.
How lucky was she to be alive?
The thought again reminded her of those who were no longer with her, from her parents to Imani and Brad.
Tears spilled over, hot and unbidden, tracking through the dust on her skin.
A sudden gust of draft rocked her, and a dark cloud raced toward her as the skies blackened.
She didn’t hear him approach, but she parsed the shift in the wind as his body intercepted the gale.
Idan stood behind her, a massive, radiating shield of muscle and heat.
He didn’t touch her, yet his proximity acted as a thermal cloak, tethering her to the earth while the sky roiled above them.
They remained in the shimmering dark for a few long moments, two silhouettes staring up at the wild, cosmic display.
Finally, Idan leaned down, his fingers brushing hers as he took the bellows from her tightened grip.
Sliding his hand into hers, his grip firm and certain, he led her back toward the glowing warmth of the hut.
Later that night, Sheba stood over the stone basin, her palms going numb in the melted water as she scrubbed gruel from a bowl.
Sheba wondered if her sister was aware of her plight by now,and she sighed.
Any evacuation would be two to three weeks out at the very minimum, given how far Tansinia was from every other planet in Pegasi.
Also, arranging a flight to pick her up in an unspecified location would require some operational coordination.
The grief, once again, of why she needed to be lifted off Tansinia hit her unexpectedly.
A dizzy spell rolled through her, a rhythmic, sickening pulse that threatened to pull the floor from under her feet.
She white-knuckled the edge of the counter, forcing her breath to level out.
With a whisper, the air behind her shifted.
Idan stepped behind her, his presence sending shivers down her spine.
His protective nature was another aspect of him she was yet to get accustomed to.
He had a way of sensing her moods and being present for her.
Which confused thefokkout of her, unused to having a man at her six on all fronts, including emotionally.
She wasn’t sure how to feel about it; part of her told her this was a green light, that she shouldn’t fear a man who had no qualms showing up for her.
She just wasn’t used to it.
He reached past her to fill a mug with water, pressing it into her hand.
She took a long, shivering pull of the sweet liquid. ‘Sante. I’m okay now.’
He didn’t move.
‘Really, I am,’ Sheba muttered, rinsing a knife at the sink, shaking water from it before placing it on a sculpted wooden drying rack.
