The trip to Daphoene would take a few days, and I was beginning to have my doubts about going. I knew it was important to meet Dario’s family, but my last memorable trip to Daphoene had involved being stalked by Pax Cyprian. If Drex hadn’t knocked the man loopy, none of it would have happened to begin with.
“Maybe, we shouldn’t go. Everything is perfect, and I don’t want to take any risks.” I caught myself biting a nail.
Yukihyo stepped over a doll, a transport, and the destroyed remnants of a tower of blocks like a giant. He smiled at me with his beautiful mouth, and soothed me through our empathic bond. “There is no risk. Furthermore, this is a social trip for you and Dario and a business trip for Ponidi Propulsions. I plan to meet with ship builders. For you, meeting with House Galerius is your duty and may even end up being enjoyable.”
Sparrow’s voice reached us. “There won’t be anything to do onboard other than your favorite activity.”
Xavier said, “I have gathered together several books, games, and arts and crafts. You can also work on your prototype in a shielded lab.”
“I wanted to go mountain climbing.”
Xavier said, “We have plenty of time for that. Anyway, the mountain goats are in heat. Now isn’t a good time to climb.”
Sparrow snorted. “You stay in heat.”
Yukihyo met my eyes and grinned.
Unlike Sparrow, Tracy and Terre were excited to visit Daphoene. Between the two of them, they had most of our free time planned. Sparrow wouldn’t be bored once we arrived. I had been insistent about having one day of extravagant shopping.
When we boarded the Empress, my ladies and I discovered that the males in our lives had made their own preparations for the trip. A room beside the nursery had been cleared of furniture and transformed into a playroom. Another room had been remodeled to resemble a small salon complete with massage tables. Kaoti led Violet to a chair, helped her get comfortable, and then placed Poppy in a walker beside her. I put Peter in the starship walker that his brother and sister had outgrown. I noticed that someone had found our wooden baby swing and had set it up in the sitting room.
“Chirp! Chirp!” Thunderdrop spotted a color shape in the new playroom and ran for it. Neema and Niklos ran after him.
“Here, Sparrow. Sit and relax,” Xavier said. After she sat in a chair, he covered her with a blanket, and put a basket full of books beside her.
Terre and I sat on a couch. A grinning Phillip covered us with a blanket and offered us yarn and knitting needles. Not really caring what they were up to, I shrugged and picked a skein of pink, purple, and blue yarn along with a set of thick needles of Arachnean wood. Tracy sat and contentedly studied Daphoene’s marine life on her vid-screen.
Dario, Eli, Drex, and Farowyn had each given me hugs and kisses before boarding their ships. Momma and her ladies had been insistent that our arrival to the planet be a grand display. Traveling with me were Yukihyo, Nico, Fitz, and Zared. That in and of itself had the tension easing from me. Four husbands were a much more manageable amount. Although, Quaid had alluded to the possibility of us seeing each other soon in one of our conversations. Having nine husbands was overwhelming me, and they knew it. However, even with only one husband a piece, my ladies had been feeling just as overwhelmed. Violet was tired due to her pregnancy. Once we were in orbit, our husbands left us to our own amusements.
“They must have realized they were wearing us out,” Tracy mused.
“Thank goodness,” Terre mumbled.
“Is that the reason for the spoiling, or do you think Terre’s mother scolded them?” Sparrow asked.
I shrugged. “I don’t care. I’m just going to enjoy it while it lasts. Each of you only has one. I’m dealing with nine. What the stars was I thinking?”
Sparrow said, “I can bet I know with what you were thinking. However, Quaid is away with Daddy on the Hadrian, and we don’t see them often enough.”
Agreeing with her, I finished casting on.
With my husbands keeping themselves busy, the children and I had the next morning to ourselves. Our day involved them sneaking into my bed and cuddling with me until we fell back asleep. Waking up with Neema on one side, Niklos on the other, and Peter glued to my chest had me waking up in baby heaven. After breakfast, Violet and I took Thunderdrop and the children for a walk around each deck. Holding onto Poppy’s stroller stabilized poor Violet.
“Feeling better?” I asked her.
“Yes, I’m just tired. I thought this journey would be too much for me, but it is turning out to be just what I needed.” She gave me a small smile.
“I think we all needed a break.”
“Chitter.”
“No, of course, you don’t. You are a very strong and fierce spider. You are as formidable as Yukihyo.” I nodded sagely at him.
“Drop is good,” Niklos said.
“Very good,” Neema said as she threw her doll up in the air for Thunderdrop to catch.
“Chirp!” He attached lines of silk to the doll’s arms and made it walk before our strollers along the corridor. The children screamed with laughter at his antics, and several crewmen did shocked double-takes at seeing what appeared to be a tiny baby walking along unassisted. Violet and I laughed along with them.
We passed Cedrenus, Ross, Binder, and Izaac who were on their way to the gym. Thunderdrop’s antics didn’t surprise them. I hoped that Inquisitor Rovek wouldn’t see me. I had been participating in our studies, but I wasn’t in the mood for sparring or jogging. Izaac winked at me and telepathically promised to redirect Rovek’s thoughts away from me. I blew him a kiss.
After lunch, instead of exercising, Terre and I tried out the massage capabilities of Ulf and Choji. We learned that aside from being talented masseurs, they were both flirts.
By the time Daphoene came into view, the five of us had read all of the novels that Xavier had bought for Sparrow, had knitted all of the yarn, and were in need of new amusements. Hours before we were supposed to dock, Choji and Ulf got to work on our hair. While waiting for them to be done, we watched the newsfeeds from Daphoene and chuckled to ourselves. The Empress was shown approaching the planet, flanked by Eli and Drex’s warships, with Dario in front of her, and Farowyn behind us. We had traveled slowly enough for the Eloneave to keep pace. We were putting on a display for the citizens of Daphoene. Dario had coordinated our arrival for optimal effect.
“I’m arriving in my own ship, and the ones surrounding us belong to my husbands. How badass does this look?” I asked while admiring the sight on the vid-screen.
“Mommy!” Neema scolded.
I blushed. Yukihyo and Neema had a deal. Anytime a bad word slipped from my lips and she tattled, she got a new toy. She ran to him. Moments later, Yukihyo poked his head into the salon to smirk at me. He, Fitz, and Phillip were dressed in new suits. Nico and Zared wore their dress uniforms.
Fitz said, “By accepting Dario, you strengthened House Probus along with all of the Houses with which it has affiliations, including mine.”
I said, “That was kind of the point. Dario and I are friends. I trust him and find him attractive.” I shrugged. Dario and I would have the more traditional type of Parvac marriage of which Victoria had been lecturing us.
“Shall we?” Fitz asked as he offered me his arm.
Thunderdrop climbed to my shoulder, and we all made our way down to our transports. Eli slid into the seat across from me. Rather than a uniform, he wore a black suit that did everything to accentuate his strong shoulders and dangerous good looks. Too often, my Inquisitor worked to disguise himself to blend in, hiding his attractiveness so he wouldn’t draw notice. His lips lifted in a subtle smile causing me to raise my eyes from them and to the intelligent set of eyes above them that studied me. Leaning back in my seat, I studied Eli in return. He was mine. I didn’t have any reason to be ashamed of ogling him.
“Eli, are you trying to seduce me with your choice of formal wear?”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “I thought you should know how it feels.”
I laughed at him. “What are you trying to say?”
“I’m saying that you should be seduced, and often. Everything you wear, I want to remove slowly. You are like a gift I receive each day, and time slows to an excruciating pace as I eagerly await the moment when I can tear the wrappings and bows from you. During the course of this day, this night, tomorrow, the next day, and the next for however long it takes before I touch you again, know that all I think of is your bare skin beneath my palms.”
Eli’s intensity heated my core, forcing my body to breathe faster in a futile attempt to cool itself. However, I knew of only one thing that would douse my flames, and it was the slick tongue that he had used to seduce me with his words. Eli knew me well. He knew what made my heart pound, and that sweet heartfelt words were my weakness. Through the bonds we shared, Yukihyo, Nico, and Zared shifted uncomfortably in their seats. My passion and need had ignited their own.
“Thanks, Eli. Now, we can all be horny as hell for the duration of this party,” Nico grumbled.
Eli smirked at him. “Deal with it. I spent the last two and a half years painfully aroused. True torture is unrequited love, and bliss is having your love returned.”
Eli did love me, and I loved him. I asked, “So, when do you plan to display me before your family?”
“You have taught me something about myself, Teagan. I am selfish and don’t want to share you with them. I’d rather take those wasted hours and keep you for myself.”
I couldn’t take my eyes from his. Eli held me in a trance of longing and desire. He broke our eye contact to catch something Yukihyo tossed to him. Curious, I looked at it and saw a small bag of ice. Nico snickered. “What’s that for?” I asked.
“To cool his lust,” Yukihyo said sardonically.
“Chirp! Chirp!” Thunderdrop found us all to be amusing. My spider baby had been in an adorably playful mood. He placed his front legs against the transport window and looked out.
“Oh! What’s that, Daddy?” Neema asked. Her jade eyes had gone wide.
Sensing his sister’s excitement, Niklos strained to see. My jaw dropped. On the lawn of the primary seat of House Galerius, was a playground paradise. It put our children’s parties on Parvac to shame.
“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” Neema fought her seat while Yukihyo tried to get her out.
Nico freed Niklos, and I took Peter. Dario came to my door and opened it, helping me out. Placing my hand on his arm, I dragged my eyes away from a merry-go-round whose seats were colorful birds in flight with a sculpted tree at its center.
“Princess Probus, may I introduce Praetor Galerius, my father, and the Lady Lillith, my mother?”
I curtsied deeply to Dario’s parents. They shared the same black hair and brown eyes as their son, and neither of them appeared to have any blood other than Parvacian running through their veins. Praetor Galerius’ eyes were deep with a wisdom I found to be intimidating, but his mother seemed sweet and almost innocent despite her years. After exchanging pleasantries and making the rounds of introductions, I soon learned why. The women of House Galerius had spent their lives sheltered and protected. They had never suffered, been hurt, beaten, or forced to fight for their survival.
While I didn’t think that any of the Galerius women could win a fight against a silk square, they had devoted themselves to the pursuit of knowledge. Even though I felt superior to them in the areas of self-defense, weaponry, and captaining a vessel, I felt grossly and intellectually inferior to them even though they made no attempts to elicit such feelings from me. The ladies of House Galerius were astounded that I could fly a fighter ship. None of them had ever bothered to learn to drive a transport. They didn’t need to learn. There was always someone available to assist them with anything they might need. In fact, security was so tight at the Galerius estate that Eli had given Kaoti the day off. He was enjoying the playground with Violet and Poppy.
When I snuck away to the bathroom, Terre followed. “Are you alright?”
Before I could answer her, Sparrow and Tracy squeezed into the room with us. Sparrow asked, “Is it just me, or do you all feel like cacti in a greenhouse full of orchids?”
I widened my eyes. “So, it’s not just me?”
Tracy said, “I feel more like a whale floundering in the desert. Mother always drilled manners and proper behavior into my brothers and me, but this is an entirely new level of refinement.”
I laughed at the image and felt sorry for the whale.
Terre said, “You should all be proud of your accomplishments. Being from other star systems, it may take some time before you become accustomed to our ways. I experienced some rather extreme cultural shock while on Scipio.”
With a straight face, I asked, “Was it in your vagina?”
“Teagan!” Terre’s cheeks turned red.
“Well, that is where you surrendered to Phillip’s manly attentions, right?”
She rolled her eyes at me. “I had set my mind to him previously. Those females….” Terre’s embarrassment turned to anger.
I asked, “Don’t you remember me warning you about how females throw themselves at him?”
Terre nodded. “Phillip and I have spoken of that sort of behavior at length. Females may throw themselves at him, but he will no longer be catching them.” Her strict tone sent us all into fits of laughter.
Eventually, we saw to our toiletries and returned to the party. Dario grinned at me from where he stood conversing with his father and one of his uncles. He put his drink down on a table and walked over to me. Vice Admiral Dario Galerius was undeniably sexy when he strutted across a room. I smiled at the twinkle in his eyes. My friends left me to join the company of their husbands. Dario moved in close and leaned down to whisper in my ear.
“Are you enjoying the party?” His breath tickled my neck making me smile as he moved his hand down my arm to take my fingers in his.
“I am. It’s beautiful here,” I whispered into his ear, which I had to lift up on my toes to reach even with him bent down.
“The fountains in the gardens may be of interest to you if it is beauty you enjoy. May I show them to you?” Dario’s lips touched my cheek as he spoke.
Farowyn discreetly watched us as we exited the main room, but so did everyone else.
When we were far enough away not to be overheard, I nervously asked, “Does your family like me?”
Dario almost stumbled as he stopped and gazed down at me with concern. “Teagan, they adore you and couldn’t be more pleased for us.” Dario’s arms went around me with a tenderness that had me emotionally stumbling. It was as though I was a porcelain teacup so finely crafted as to be transparent when held to the light.
“Dario, why are you looking at me like that?” My voice shook. Water splashed into mosaic tiled pools around us from fountains made to resemble joyous nude females.
Tenderly, Dario stroked my cheek. “I must confess something, Teagan. I am your friend and always shall be. The political affiliation we have formed by joining our houses was reason enough for me to offer myself to you, but it wasn’t my reason.” He stared down into my eyes as he whispered truths from his heart into my ears. I feared that I might lose myself in the brown of his eyes. They had begun to remind me of Arachne’s rich soil, resting beneath a blanket of fallen leaves. “I was yours the first time I saw a tear fall from this eye as it left a sad trail down your cheek,” he said as he traced a finger gently down my face. “Each one I saw that day broke me. Only your happiness can mend what your tears have torn apart.”
“You love me?” My voice was so quiet that I barely heard my own question.
Dario cupped my face with tender reverence. “I love you from the depths of my soul, from depths I didn’t know I had. I feared if you knew what you truly mean to me, that you would deny me. You might have done so to protect me, but I don’t expect your love in return. Your friendship and trust are enough for me, but never doubt my love for you. I understand your need to be self-reliant, to be able to depend on your skills, but you never need to prove your worth to me. I already know it, though I do not believe that you do. In time, you will learn that there is nothing for you to fear from me, no reason for you to struggle, argue, or fight. Anything you want or need, I will provide. Any goal you wish to achieve, I will facilitate. I am yours, your champion, my will is an extension of your own, and my main concern is to make your life more pleasing to you in every way. The Emperor has my loyalty, but my body and soul are and forever shall belong to you.”
My emotions were like the waters of the nearest fountain, splashing about, moving, and never remaining still long enough for me to examine them. However, they resembled the look of joy depicted on the fountain’s female subject’s face. “You want to treat me the way those ladies in your house are treated. You want me to be happy and safe.” My hands trembled, and Dario took them into his large warm hands to still them, but the trembling moved from my hands and up my arms into the rest of me.
“Teagan, come, my darling,” Dario whispered as he picked me up and carried me to a private gazebo with a cushioned floor. Sitting with me, he lowered me to his lap and held me while I struggled to process his meaning along with everything else I had learned about House Galerius and its treatment of females.
“I don’t know if there is any innocence left within me for you to protect.”
Dario stroked my hair. “I can see it with my own eyes that your heart is full of it, and I will do everything in my power to keep you from losing any more of it. I vow to protect your daughters and make their every dream come true, be those dreams of adventures in the stars or of a quiet life in the most idyllic setting I can create.”
“I only have one daughter.” I turned my face to brave a look into his eyes.
“The future may bless us with many more,” Dario said with a kind smile.
I kissed him with a desperation that surprised and confused me. He was vowing to be for Neema what I had never dreamed of having for myself as a child, a protector. I had feared Nathan Green, dreaded the sound of his footsteps and the pain they would bring. Seeing the Galerius females forced me to see how truly wrong my childhood had been. Yukihyo would protect Neema. I knew that. We were his, and he would protect and provide for us for all of our days. There was just something about seeing how things could have been had my Papa had the chance to care for Momma and me that made everything seem so much more tragic. It made the memory of Papa’s hands around Felix’s neck as he squeezed and squeezed make so much more sense. Papa had wanted to keep Momma and me as protected and pampered as the Galerius ladies.
“I wonder if my pain hurts Papa each time he sees it.”
Dario whispered, “It hurts him, Teagan. It hurts us all, but promise me you will not hide your feelings. I must know what hurts before I can fix it.”
“Yukihyo, Zared, and Quaid always know what I feel and think.”
“Yes, we all should be aware of you as a whole.” Dario moved an arm behind my back. “Are you comfortable?”
“Yes, but I just realized something. Soon after we were married, Yukihyo and I had our first fight. It was silly now that I think about it, but it wasn’t at the time. I went off with Thunderdrop without a male escort. Yukihyo was so angry, but this is why. He wasn’t trying to control me. He needed to keep me safe. He was compelled to do so.”
Dario smiled and kissed my forehead. “Let’s go find him and the children. Shall we?”
I nodded.
We walked past fountains, artfully manicured flowerbeds, and shaded seating areas on our way to the lawn where children seemed to be everywhere, laughing and playing. Niklos and a boy his age with black hair were racing each other down kiddie slides. Nico and a man, who I presumed to be the boy’s father, stood watch while having a friendly conversation. Catching Nico’s eye, I smiled at him. The grin he gave me in return said he wanted to throw me over his shoulder and carry me away to someplace private. I winked at him. Yukihyo stood with his arms crossed over his chest watching the merry-go-round. He looked as though he were about to laugh. Then, I saw why. Neema was laughing from where she sat securely in a blue and pink bird seat. Thunderdrop had attached a line of silk above her and floated a few feet away as they went around and around.
“Faster, Drop! Faster!” she yelled at him.
Each of the ride’s seats was filled with a laughing child. I ran to Yukihyo. He uncrossed his arms in time to catch me to his chest. I smiled up at his white eyes as traces of pink and gold appeared within them.
After the party, most of us had gone to Dario’s private residence, but a few of my entourage had either gone to hotels or returned to the ships. Currently, the children were napping, and Terre, Sparrow, Tracy, and I were lounging around Dario’s swimming pool. Terre had bullied us out of wearing swim dresses but couldn’t convince us to sunbathe in the nude as she did. We had compromised enough to lay out topless after making the males in our lives swear to us that they wouldn’t come out to the pool. The four of us soon dozed off in luxurious peace and quiet. Until….
“Chitter! Chitter! Chitter clack!” Thunderdrop said.
I woke up with my spider baby’s blue-grey abdomen in my face and the prickly feel of his eight legs on my bare skin. He stood on top of me, covering me.
“Oh!” Tracy said as she covered her chest with a towel.
Inquisitor Rovek stood at my feet, watching us in a creepy manner. “What the hell are you doing out here? The pool is off limits for males! We reserved it.” I glared at him around Thunderdrop.
“Chitter! Chitter!” he agreed with me.
“As I told you on Parvac, the curriculum must be satisfied for this grading period. You will have plenty of time to lounge about after completion of your team’s first survival trial. Get dressed or go as you are.” Rovek gave me a bored expression.
I scowled at him. “You’d like that. Wouldn’t you?”
Without expression, he asked, “Who wouldn’t?”
Sparrow said, “You’re being an asshole.”
“I agree,” Tracy said.
“Rovek, did it occur to you to signal for entry at the front door?” Eli asked.
“No.”
“Go inside. Leave the ladies in peace,” Eli said.
“There isn’t time for that. The grading period ends in six days. Ensign Probus has a responsibility to her team. Between the explosion on the stealth ship, and Teagan’s chemistry evaluations and attendance, without a successful survival credit, her team won’t pass.”
“So, you just had to sneak up on us while we are practically naked at the pool?” I asked sarcastically.
Rovek said, “The Lady Svenson is quite naked, and it is perfectly natural. The sector where you were held captive is to blame for imbuing you with a shame of your body. Each one of you is lovely.” Rovek’s eyes roamed over Tracy with obvious lust.
“Oh, shit,” I said. “Rovek, you’d better run for your life.” My warning came too late. A pair of furious black eyes glared out of Jazon’s face.
Terre sighed, wrapped a towel around herself, and went inside. Once Thunderdrop moved, I covered myself and waited to see if Jazon would beat up my teacher. Tracy blushed furiously while putting on her robe. However, it was less a blush of embarrassment and more of a blush of pleasure at being viewed as desirable. The males of Aurilius hadn’t done much for her self-esteem. It was nice to feel beautiful. Tracy tensed beside me. Jazon didn’t attack which confused both of us. Tracy, Sparrow, and I followed Terre inside.
“Ensign Probus, I will await you out front. Ladies, it was a pleasure,” Inquisitor Rovek said.
Tracy looked completely befuddled, and I didn’t want to leave her but had no choice if I wanted to pass.
“Zared,” I called.
He was in our room laying clothes out on the bed. “I know. Don’t worry about the children. I think you would be better off wearing layers. A swimsuit would be better than undergarments. Here are some shorts and a loose pair of pants. A T-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, and pair of exercise shoes should be comfortable. Oh, and here’s a hat.” I looked over the color coordinated attire he had selected with my comfort in mind that would prove useful no matter what horrible camping nightmare Rovek had planned. Then, I kissed Zared long and deep.
“Where do you think you will be going?” Yukihyo asked from the doorway.
“I will tell you once she leaves,” Zared said.
“You know?” I asked.
“Yes, I read Rovek’s mind. You will only be allowed the clothes you wear.”
I started dressing. Zared couldn’t tell me anything else, or it would be considered cheating. “Is Jazon going to beat up Rovek?”
Zared shook his head. His long, dove-grey hair was in a ponytail at the nape of his neck. “He planned to do so. However, just as you realized, Tracy was flattered by Rovek’s attention. He may allow him to give her flowers and a few gifts before publicly beating some sense into him.” I laughed but started worrying about the children. “Don’t.” Zared ordered. “They have full schedules planned for them each day at the Galerius Estate. Your marriage to Dario has provided the children with several new cousins with whom to play.”
“Peter?” I asked.
“Will be spoiled and have no shortage of arms wishing to be filled by him,” Yukihyo assured me.
I looked between them. “I’m so very fortunate to have such loving, supportive, and absolutely gorgeous husbands.” They nodded. I rolled my eyes at them and continued dressing.
Yukihyo asked Zared, “Do you want to take a drive out to Neema’s diamond mine with me?”
Zared grinned. “Sure. It will be a welcome diversion.”
I went to the front sitting room and heard an argument that was occurring outside. Slowing my steps, I crept closer to listen. “If she comes back with so much as a scratch, there will be nothing left of you to find,” a male voice said with a cold, seething rage.
“She wants to do this, and it is only for a few days. Her team will be with her. If I were not certain that her studies and training had prepared her for this, I would have failed her team and held them back. However, participation in training exercises is part of our regimen of which you are all too aware.” The voice belonged to Inquisitor Rovek.
“A medic should go with them,” the angry male said.
“A physician will be in place at a nearby location, prepared for any medical emergency, heart related or otherwise.”
A loud boom made me jump. I risked a look. The voice I hadn’t recognized had belonged to Eli. His voice and his features had been transformed by a rage that he had redirected at the side of the transport near Rovek’s head. His fist left a large dent. I had never seen Eli lose it before. I found it to be incredibly sexy. As nonchalantly as possible, I walked from the house down to the two men. Eli’s calm mask was once more in place. Slipping my arms around him, I gave his neck a gentle nip.
“Rovek, I’m going to need one more hour.” I grinned up at Eli, who looked confused by my reaction to witnessing his display of temper.
“Fine. However, the delay will cost your team two days of water and rations.”
Narrowing my eyes at him, I flipped him off and took my seat in the transport. Eli bent down to kiss my cheek. “Don’t take any unnecessary risks. Let your team handle them. Promise me.”
“I promise to let the boys show off.” I grinned and kissed his lips. “Eli, take care of our family while I’m wherever I am.”
“Always.” He closed my door and stared at Rovek with a clear promise of death until we were out of sight.
“So, what are your intentions toward Tracy?” I asked as I swiveled my chair to the side to face him. I rested my chin on my hand and waited.
“What business is that of yours?”
“She’s my friend and adopted sister-in-law. Don’t make me repeat my question again, or I’ll scratch myself on purpose and cry to Eli about it.”
Rovek chuckled. “You win. I plan to court Lady Tracy.”
“Are you crazy? What about Jazon? Do you have a death wish?” I stared at him in shock.
“No, but I’ve been told I have a masochistic streak.”
I frowned at him. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
“Ask your husbands.” Rovek drove to a dock where a small boat waited. Soon, we were sailing across the ocean to a small island. My hat lifted from my head, flew away, and floated on the water for a moment before sinking in our wake. I frowned at it. Then, I turned back around in my seat. Rovek stopped the boat several miles from the shore. “I will be monitoring you. Find your team, survive for five days, and you’ll pass. Get out.”
I looked around at the water surrounding us. “Get out? There’s no dock. Aren’t you going to take me closer?”
“No, swim.”
Frowning at him, I removed my safety belt, stood, and climbed up onto the boat. I felt a moment of gratitude to Quaid for teaching me how to jump into deep water. Shoving myself as far away from the boat as I could, I held my breath and jumped. My feet hit the water first before it gurgled over my head and muted all sound. After breaking the surface, I started swimming for the shore. My clothing made it more difficult. It was farther away than I realized. By the time I crawled onto the shore, my arms were burning with exhaustion, and my mouth tasted of salt water. Rovek had watched the entire time. I assumed he had done so to save me in case I couldn’t make it. Collapsing to the sand, I laid there and tried to catch my breath while Rovek started up the boat and sailed away.