Page 49

Cloudy smiled and looked around at the men and women who had survived the end of the world. “Yeah, this is a really good party.”

* * * *

Aya spent a few days shopping and hanging out with family, but then it was time to go.

After hugging her way through family, she got on the shuttle from Devran’s ship, and it took off. She was going home.

Devran was waiting for her at the shuttle, and the moment the doors opened, she was hugged. She chuckled while their minds mixed and melded.

He looked at her with a smile. “You had a nice time?”

“I did. What’s a gatherer?”

He stilled. “Why?”

“I met one. I met the courier, too. Matilda is a hoot and an amazing singer.”

“Did she connect with Kazi?”

“She did. She has the official records about Ra and the pharaoh goat.”

“Good.” His hands roamed over her back, and he chuckled as the shuttle crew passed them. “I suppose we can retire to our quarters.”

“I bought you some things.”

“Did you?”

She sighed. “Yes. Stop poking at my brain!” She smacked his arm.

He laughed, and she looked down to see her bag on the deck next to her. She picked it up and said, “Let’s go so I can unpack.”

He extended his arm, and she put her free hand on the back of his wrist. They walked through the ship, and twenty minutes after she arrived, she was back in their room, opening the pack on her desk.

“So because you have your ears pierced, I got you some jewellery with charms denoting my world.” She held up a box with two small Earths hanging from the chains that would fit his ear piercings. Her birthstone was in each one. The little sapphire was on the spot where she was born.

He blinked. “Really?”

She grinned. “Really.”

She felt him delicately touching her mind. He chortled. “We can match?”

“We can match.”

“Excellent. I will look at the presents later. Please get into your comfortable wear, and we will go and do the first blood transfer.”

She looked at him. “Not even a shower?”

“Take a sonic.” He was excited.

She laughed, took a sonic shower, walked out into the bedroom naked, and pulled on one of the loose dresses, with her little slippers. “Okay. I am dressed, boss.”

He laughed and offered her his wrist as he walked close to her.

Aya inhaled and exhaled slowly, holding his wrist. “It was really nice to visit with family again. Thank you for the opportunity.”

“It was fine. You enjoyed yourself, so that is all I wanted. Will you return?”

“Yvari has allowed me the ability to call Siloven home. I don’t really want to live there, but I need an anchor point.”