A/N: Everything comes down to this short, simple chapter. Hope you like.
Thank you to my steadfast reader/reviewers – Focus SJS, Winchester-grl44, xrystofer, and a big welcome back hug to louisestarfly. Without you, all the hard work would seem to be for naught. You have been with me since Sacrifice and your constant support and encouragement keeps me at the keyboard. Each of you is beyond wonderful!
Chapter 11
"Volu, where is Warren?"
"In the gathering room."
Ettwanae left her chambers and walked the few feet to find her soulbound asleep. Stepping inside the room, the door dilated closed behind her as Volu made the decision they required privacy. She silently padded over to where he lay on the lounger; one wing hung over the edge, the other covered most of his body.
Lowering herself to the floor next to him, she studied the man in his sleep. He lay on his stomach, face turned toward her. So handsome. So perfect. Flawless in design as their creators had intended. The U'larr and Ozshi'wanae together brought forth the Eshaaru. The ancients created the species and gave it Aru; their goddess favored it with Ura. And now, perhaps she and Warren were the last of their kind. Her breath hitched with the thought. Yet she held fast to the hope that perhaps others were out there in hiding as she was. Or hiding in plain sight as Warren had been, disguised as a mutant on a planet with many such beings. Yet he denied his heritage. She would not attempt to change his mind. Warren deserved respect of his belief he was Human, but she'd hold to her belief that he was Eshaaru until Volu determined he was not.
She listened to his quiet breathing, watched as his eyes moved with a dream. What was his subconscious trying to work through? What was nocturnal wisdom showing him? A lock of hair had fallen across one of his eyes. Carefully, she brushed it aside. Even that barest of touches created shivers of delicious desire. Warren moaned.
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He and Ztar were standing in the great room of Warren's mountain retreat. The Turzent drew him into for a deep kiss, the hands moving up Warren's back to the wing base. Sexual delight flooded his body as the Turzent found the sweet spot at the wing base. He moaned into the kiss. Then Ztar pulled away and scanned Warren's face.
"I love you," the man proclaimed.
"And I love you," Warren declared back.
"But I also love another."
"As do I."
Ztar smiled. "Then all is right and well."
"Yes," Warren agreed.
"We are blessed by the gods."
"We are."
The room around them morphed into a blend of the Mi-Lartui and Volu, but that caused no concern. Warren walked toward the windows that now showed the blackness of space and familiar star streaks of faster-than-light travel.
"I will be going away for awhile," he told the Turzent while watching the star trails.
Ztar moved up next to him. "There are dangers out there."
"Many. Answers, too."
"To your questions."
"Yes."
"I will always be here for you, my Archangel."
"I know."
"Love her without reservation. It's the only way."
Warren turned sharply toward Ztar. He remembered those words. He'd spoken them once before, but to whom? When? A strange feeling came over him. Was this a dream? Warren struggled to sort it out.
Ztar reached over and brushed aside a lock of hair that hung down his face that hadn't been there a moment ago. The touch sent tingles through his body. 'Dreaming,' he told himself. Warren slip into higher consciousness and the scene faded.
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Warren stirred and she watched him rise to wakefulness. Her chest tightened, as did her throat. Tears threatened. Her body shuddered. She was about to tell her soulbound they would be going their separate ways. When he opened his eyes, she smiled despite the anguish.
Startled, he blinked and then returned the smile. "Hi."
"Hello."
He sat up slowly as if getting his bearings. "Was I out long?"
She looked up into the face she wanted to burn into memory. "I'm not sure. I came in just a couple minutes ago."
The silence was uncomfortably long.
"Warren, I-" "Ettwanae-" They started simultaneously and then chuckled nervously.
"You first," she offered.
Warren shook his head. "No. Ladies, first."
'Goddess, give me strength!' she prayed and rose from the floor to sit across from him. "Very well." She sucked in a breath and prepared to say the next words as quickly as possible fearing she may not be able to speak for long. "Warren, I've made a decision. We will take you back to Earth and the rest of us will leave. We'll find Etxan'Ir and when we have a cure for the nannites, I'll return to Earth and give that to you. Then you'll be free. I can't ask you to stay with us. It would be too hard." The telling was done, and her heart broke and her soul cried. She tethered the tears and sobs by the merest thread. Looking at him was too wrenching, so she focused on her hands resting in her lap, clamped tightly together. "It- it's for the best."
Warren was surprised, but gladly so. The woman who claimed to be his soul mate was willing to walk away. He chose to take that as confirmation that she was not employing any form of control over him. It was the last piece of persuasion he needed. Rationally, he could make arguments about manipulation and reverse psychology, but his gut said her selflessness was genuine. The emotional turmoil he was sensing from her was too real, too sincere. Her whole body spoke of anguish…hunched shoulders, the downcast gaze, hands clasped against inner pain, wings drooping behind her. The body language jived with the words, both said and unsaid.
He scooted to the edge the lounger. "Ettwanae, thank you for that. Knowing you would not keep me against my will or somehow try to maneuver me into staying, means a lot. I, too, have made a decision." He waited until she looked up to see why he stopped talking. He gathered himself for the next words that two days ago he would have labeled unthinkable and irrational. "I have decided to go with you on your quest, failed bond or no. I want to find a cure for the nannites. I want to break the bond with Ztar."
Her eyes widened. "You- you want to stay?"
He nodded.
Her reaction was hesitant. "Warren, remember what Volu said. The longing will eat at our souls – it will not give up. I can't put you through that."
"I remember, but I can help with the search. I've been in a scrap or two in my day, so I have experience on my side. I really want this, Ettwanae. Maybe you will find Etxan'Ir on your own, but if my skills can make that search shorter, then I'm willing to give it a try if you are." Doubt still filled her face. He locked his eyes onto hers. "I've made my decision. I will go with you – all you have to say is yes."
Shock and then elation filled her eyes and face. The wings came up, the posture straightened, her hands unclenched, and a smile that shone like the sun on a clear, summer day warmed him to his soul. She leaped off the chair and nearly threw herself into his arms. "Yes! Oh, yes!" Her arms wrapped around him in a crushing embrace, wings spread wide. "Thank you," she murmured into his ear. The expected sexual heat ignited two heartbeats later; their bodies trembled in response. He drew his hands up her arms and gently pushed her back. Ettwanae didn't resist. "We'll need to learn how to deal with this aspect, though." Warren observed as she moved back to her chair.
"It will be difficult." The happiness dissipated slightly from her angelic face, and her hands were in fists.
"I accept that. We'll figure it out."
She nodded, brushing a stray hair away from her cheek, sending another wave of desire through Warren. 'Such a small thing and I'm on fire,' Warren commented to himself. 'Difficult may be putting it mildly.' He shoved down the ache as much as he could.
"If I'm going with you, we need a game plan. I'd like to meet with everyone to map that out and hear all the details I'm missing on where and how you've searched to this point."
"Should I get Gatebi and Flint?"
"No time like the present."
"I'll take care of that," Volu's voice softly filled the room.
"Give me two minutes," Warren requested. Nature called. "Then we'll meet in the galley." He needed something to drink and eat.
As if reading his mind, Ettwanae offered to get out snacks and nearly bounced from the room in joy. Warren smiled watching her leave. 'Yes, this will be difficult, but hopefully worth every bit of discomfort and potential danger.'
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A/N: Next chapter is longer as Warren asserts himself into the search and the dynamics of the group. He has much to learn.
And I haven't forgotten about Den-neer. He's out there…waiting.