Page 184 of Moon Chosen

Nik kept her arm, linking it with his own so that they walked side by side, their heads tilted toward one another, to the rusted hulk of the only bridge on and off Farm Island.

“Then promise me you won’t put yourself in danger if you can help it,” he said.

“Nik, I’m all for not being in danger. I don’t want to be hurt. I’m not crazy! I just have to do the right thing, and recently I’ve realized that sometimes the right thing seems crazy to those who don’t want change.”

“Okay, stay close,” Sol said as they caught up with him just before the bridge. He took a torch from its holder at the entrance to the bridge and held it high. “This thing is rusted through in more spots than it’s not. Keep ahold of Mari, Nik.”

“That’s my pleasure.” Nik took Mari’s hand, steadying her as they picked their way over the crumbling byway.

In the center of the bridge Mari paused, looking to her left. The night had started as still, clear, and warm, but as dawn grew progressively near, the wind had increased drastically, sending mounds of clouds scudding across the moon. The fat, glowing crescent broke through the billowy veil, turning the mud-colored Channel to liquid silver and illuminating a line of houses, connected by a long dock that appeared to be floating in the middle of it.

“That’s where the women are kept, isn’t it?” Mari said.

Nik stopped beside her. “It is.”

Mari studied the area, and then nodded with satisfaction. “The moon will definitely have no problem finding me there.”

“You’ll be careful?”

Mari studied Nik. She felt something break loose and turn over within her. This man who had once seemed so strange, even dangerous, now felt right by her side. He felt safe. He felt like family. She drew a deep breath, and spoke the words that would change her life forever. “You don’t need to worry. Earth Walker women aren’t violent. They’re just sad. It’s only our males who are violent if they don’t have a Moon Woman to Wash the Night Fever from them.”

Nik stared at her. “You mean their sadness isn’t because they’re captives?”

“In a roundabout way it is. Because they’re captives they don’t have access to a Moon Woman. Without a Moon Woman to wash Night Fever from them, Earth Walker women fall into a terrible depression and, eventually, will themselves to die. With men it’s not depression. It’s violence.”

“But the men who attacked Sora weren’t captives. They had access to you, and yet they were violent.”

“That’s because I haven’t been Washing the Clan. Nik, I wasn’t the Moon Woman. Mama was. Sora was her apprentice. I was just her daughter.”

Nik touched her face. “Justher daughter? It seems to me that you were her everything.”

“And she was mine. Until Rigel. And Sora. And you.” Mari stared out at the floating prisons.

“And now you have Jenna, Donita, Father, O’Bryan, and Sheena and her Captain, too.”

“Nik, having them—having all of you in my life—it’s taught me to be the Moon Woman Mama hoped I could be.” She stared at him, wanting him to understand, but not sure how to reach him.

“That’s why you have to go to them, isn’t it? It’s what your mother would want you to do.”

“Yesterday I would have said yes, I’m doing this for Mama. I changed today. Your people changed me. Today I’m doing this for my Clan. We are every bit as human as your Tribe, and I believe if Sol sees that—if your people just see that—it will be the beginning of changing our world.”

“And our world does need to change,” Nik said.

“So you agree with me?”

“I do, Mari. You can count on me. I have your back. I’ll always have your back,” Nik said.

Mari stared at him, hearing the words she and Leda had shared echoed in his. With tears brimming her eyes, she stepped into his arms. Nik bent and pressed his lips to hers. Mari returned the kiss—tentatively at first—and then her hands slid around his strong shoulders and she clung to him, opening herself to the thrilling sensations that were coursing through her body.

“Nik, Mari, come on! There’s time for that later! Sunrise is near!” Sol called from the island side of the bridge.

Mari’s face felt hot as she and Nik disentangled. Embarrassed by the new feelings that were awakening within her, she tried to pull completely away from him, but he snagged her hand, coaxing her back to his side.

“Hey, I’m sorry if I moved too fast,” Nik said, touching her face gently and brushing a blond curl from her cheek.

“You didn’t move too fast. I—I just never kissed anyone before,” Mari blurted.

“So you’re not sorry?” Nik asked.