Page 64 of HaL

The longing on his face is unmistakable, though the moment he realizes we have noticed, he quickly shutters his emotions.

“I did not mean anything disrespectful, HaL. Your Dam is a fine female.”

“Yes, she is, and you are correct. She is beautiful, but in my eyes, she always has been.” I study him for a moment. “I did not realize you knew her well.”

“I tried to court her when you were a youngling, and she turned from my advances. She is also the reason I never relocated to the compound. I would be uncomfortable seeing her with another.”

Dawn’s lips curve into a smile. Then comes that strange little eye twitch again, followed by her eyebrows going up and down. I am beginning to wonder if she is having some kind of seizure. Before I can ask, the cruiser comes to a stop, and Oset and Troza are immediately at Gelid’s side.

“HaL, help us get him onto the stretcher.”

Troza stops dead when Jeton appears beside her.

For several tics, neither of them says a word. They simply stare at one another.

I feel Dawn gently squeeze my arm as we watch them, and I am beginning to suspect there is far more to their history than I was ever told. Only Gelid’s exaggerated clearing of his throat breaks the spell.

“Hey … I am injured worse than he is. Jeton, wait your turn.”

Dawn turns away quickly, her shoulders shaking as she tries desperately for them not to see her laughing.

Between Oset and I, we get Gelid onto the stretcher, but neither Jeton nor I are prepared for what happens next. Dam reaches out and takes Jeton’s good hand in hers.

“Jeton, Gelid is right. He is in worse shape than you are, but please come with me. I will get a poultice on that arm to help with the swelling and pain until I can look at your hand.”

I have never seen Dam unsure of herself.

Yet now, there is something in her expression I cannot place. Something distant, as though an old memory has suddenly come rushing back.

Jeton simply nods.

I watch Dam physically relax.

Dawn and I follow behind the hover stretcher, but we barely make it to the med center before Troza is shooing us away.

“Go take care of yourselves, younglings. I will comm you when I get these two fixed up.” She grabs my arm before I can leave, looking me over from head to toe. “Neither of you are hurt, right?”

“We are fine, Dam.”

“Thank the heavens.” She exhales shakily. “I almost had a heart attack when Bane told me you two were out in all that.” She pats my arm like she is reassuring herself that I am here and safe. “Go on. I will contact you later.”

I nod, then pick Dawn up once again.

She immediately wraps her arms around me, and together we head toward our dwelling. Only now, with the med center behind us and everyone accounted for, does the fear finally catch up with me. This rising could have ended very differently. I tighten my hold on Dawn, as I fight the shakes that seem to have settled over me.

CHAPTER 20

DAWN

Hal sits me down right outside the bubble, only to decide to follow me through. I see him wince at the heat in here, so I walk over to the control center and lower it into the low forties. I know it’s still extremely warm for him, but it has to be better than the seventy I have it set at now.

My fingers start hitting the many buttons that seal up my super suit, and as the material loosens, I turn back to him.

“Next time, I get to plan the romantic, life-threatening trips.”

“I was terrified.”

“You hid it well … especially with all that fancy driving. I will say, even though some rather remarkable things happened while we were out on that adventure, I am truly damn sick and tired of the universe trying to unalive me.”