The visit was nothing like Lissi imagined. An older woman opened the door with a big smile and waved them in. Bright colors decorated the small space, overly large pillows on the furniture and aged rugs in various hues yet blending well with everything else. Paintings of elaborate sunsets covered the wall in a continuous rainbow from one end to the other. Together it all created a place of happiness and screamed welcome please join us.

“Greetings, Nonja.” Rydak cupped the woman’s lined face in his gloved palms and kissed her right temple then her left.

She patted his cheeks. “You are late, Rydakichi.”

Rydak winced. “Non-ja. I go by Rydak now.”

“Eh.” She waved her hand in dismissal and turned to Jaron. This time a pleased grin stretched her face. “Jaronoto.”

Jaron leaned down and kissed her temple in the same manner as Rydak. First the right then the left. “It is good to see you looking well, Madame Jaard. You are as beautiful as ever. When will you stop breaking my heart and become my Chosen?”

She chuckled and patted his cheek with a wrinkled hand. “You always were a good boy. A naughty one but a good boy all the same.”

Lissi tensed when Rydak’s nonja faced her with pale blue eyes. Unseeing eyes. “And who have you brought me, Rydakichi?”

Rydak set his wrapped package on the counter. “She is my Unit Leader’s sister.” He closed the gap between them to pick up his nonja’s hand, leading her toward Lissi. “Nonja, it pleases me to introduce you to Lissi Alonson. Lissi, this is my nonja, Nabella Jaard.”

“Ah.” Another intense stare from Nabella’s blind gaze. Lissi resisted the urge to fidget and waited for a cheek kiss or something similar. Instead Rydak’s nonja faced him. “Help me sit, Daki.”

Lissi had no time to be offended at the abrupt dismissal as Rydak groaned. “Don’t call me Daki.”

He wrapped his arm around her still slim hips and helped her sit on a drab olive colored sofa. Nabella smoothed out her blue skirts revealing trim legs which she tucked under her hips and smacked the cushion once seated. “Bah. Don’t call me Rydakichi though my maman loved the name, don’t call me Daki though I insisted upon it as a babe. Can an old female do anything right in your eyes?”

She barely looked old to Lissi, her countenance one of wisdom and a life well lived.

Rydak went to one knee on the floor beside her, his gray eyes softer than Lissi had ever noticed. “You are far from old.”

“I will be one hundred and seven tomorrow but I like flattery so don’t stop.” Nabella glanced in Lissi’s direction and winked. “What of you? Do you like a gentle male’s kind words?”

Lissi sat in an extra chair, enchanted by Nabella and this side of Rydak. “If you don’t want her Rydak, I’ll take her.”

Nabella’s graying brows shot up and then her tinkling laugh spilled forth. The sound was at once youthful and merry, encouraging one to join in. She ran her hands through Rydak’s blond hair, dislodging the band. “I like her, Rydakichi. You keep her.”

The corner of his full lips tipped up, taking his looks from beyond handsome to unnatural beauty. No man should look as good as Rydak Jaard. “Nonja, she is not mine to keep.”

Holding in an inappropriate snort, Lissi would love if Rydak kept her.

“That is fine for now.” Nabella pressed a kiss to Rydak’s forehead. “She will be later.”

Lissi blushed and ducked her head. How had Rydak’s nonja sensed her interest?

“Now where is my present?” Rydak’s nonja released him and held up her hand in demand.

Rydak rolled his eyes, lips curling up at one side as he rose to his feet but Jaron laughed outright. Rydak retrieved the wrapped gift and came to sit on the side of the couch with his nonja. He placed his gift in her upraised hand.

“Happy natal day, keeper of my heart.” Rydak kissed her brow again.

Nabella shoved his face away with her free hand and giggled. Her fingers tore at the wrapping as she spoke in an aside. “Lissi, do you like presents?”

Lissi studied Rydak’s neutral expression before answering. “Yes. Yes, I do.”

“So do I.” Nabella cleared off the last of the paper, fingers smoothing over the statuette she now held. “Ahhh, Rydakichi. You are good to me.”

The black object didn’t represent anything specific. An abstract block with harsh curving lines but Nabella acted as if it was the best thing ever. She set the gift on her lap. “Give me your hands, Daki.”

Rydak groaned, then did something completely surprising to Lissi. He removed his black leather gloves and extended both of his hands palm out to his nonja. She patted the air until her fingers touched his own. She grasped them tightly.

Nabella’s eyes blazed then dimmed to a muted glow. Lissi leaned away from the eerie sight. Jaron propped his shoulder against the wall watching as if this was a normal occurrence. Rydak jolted, back going straight.

“Do not let your heart be afraid.” Nabella spoke the words in a low whisper. “Love. Chosen. Blood. Forever.”

Unsure of what she witnessed, Lissi shivered. Rydak’s teeth locked and a muscle in his jaw ticked but his gaze never broke away from the older female. Nabella mumbled more phrases Lissi couldn’t pick up, her knuckles turning white from the grip on Rydak’s hands.

“Nonja,” he finally gritted.

Lissi half-rose from her chair, Rydak’s pain touching her in a way she least expected. Jaron waved her back and though Lissi gave him her darkest glare, she returned to her seat. Nabella cried out and slumped back, losing her hold on Rydak.

Chest pounding, Lissi released her breath. Rydak bowed over at the waist, gasping for air. His body shuddered every few seconds.

“Jaronoto,” Nabella called weakly, her thin frame trembling. “What did I say?”

Only then did Jaron straighten his stance. His blue gaze darted from a shaking Rydak to Nabella. “Something about not being afraid. Love and bloodshed.”

Nabella nodded as Rydak pushed himself up, sweat dotting his forehead. He reached for the black gloves which had fallen to the floor with unsteady hands and slid them back on, his face a carefully expressionless mask. Lissi twisted her fingers in her lap to resist going to his side. To soothe? To help? She wasn’t sure.

Torkel had tried to tell her. Lissi never guessed anything like this and Rydak never discussed it with her. All those times she’d touched him had he reacted this way? Why didn’t he say something?

Nabella regained her composure, as she brushed at her gray streaked hair with quivering hands. Tears glistening, she turned with unerring accuracy toward the silent Rydak. “I am sorry for the pain I caused, Rydakichi. Forgive your nonja for demanding your touch. I wish only for your happiness.”

Rydak’s face softened. “It is fine.”

But it hadn’t been. During the few seconds of contact, Rydak’s pain was hard to miss. Now Lissi truly understood his need for wearing the gloves. Apparently not even his family was immune to hurting him. Did he suffer when Lissi kissed him or the day in his room when she’d touched his chest?

“I must go now.” Rydak stood up.

Lissi jumped to her feet. They’d been here for longer than an hour but she hadn’t paid attention to the time.

Nabella held on to her gift with one hand and rose. Rydak’s glove covered hand supported her elbow.

“I thank you for coming to see an old female, Lissi Alonson. Welcome to the family.”

Lissi ignored Rydak’s grimace and Jaron’s chuckle. She hugged Nabella, careful of not making skin-to-skin contact. “Happy natal day.”

Outside, Lissi held her questions for as long as possible. Finally, she blurted, “Why did you touch her when it obviously hurts you?”

Rydak glanced over at her and Lissi bit her lip, fearful he’d find an excuse to shut her out.

“My nonja is blind. Has been since birth. She sees the world with her hands. If I take that from her, I’ve taken away her ability to see me at all. Her touch is worth the pain and a small price to pay to give her what others take for granted.”

“There’s more to it.” The thought popped into Lissi’s head and out of her mouth before she could stop it.

Rydak’s brow arched. “She is a Jaard and has the gift of sight. Many deny her their touch for fear their future or secrets will be revealed.”

Lissi’s heart ached. People took such comfort in physical contact. To not have that was unimaginable. She couldn’t envision Rydak’s nonja sharing anything personal she saw by accident. Lissi appreciated him telling her and hoped to lighten the conversation with her next comment. “Rydakichi?”

Jaron burst into laughter from the back of the hover-car and leaned between the seats to answer. “The descendants of the original families on Enotia still use the names of our ancestors for their children although most of us shorten them.”

Lissi grinned and faced him. “Jaronoto.”

He grimaced. “Do not use it. I will only answer for my family and Rydak’s nonja.”

“Why didn’t she kiss me like she kissed you and Jaron?” Lissi directed her question to Rydak. The subtle snub had bothered her more than she’d expected.

Rydak turned in the seat briefly to meet her gaze. “She wanted to respect your privacy. If she kissed you, the physical contact would have allowed her a glimpse of your future.”

It made sense. But. “She kissed Jaron and touched him.”

This time Jaron snorted and interrupted with a chuckle. “She claims to already know my future and hopes I do not waste my opportunity when it comes. The only hint she’ll give is to say I need to be prepared for dark days then bright days.”

Unsure how to read those words, Lissi laughed and sat back. A strange visit indeed but it pleased her Rydak thought enough to include her in such an obviously personal visit for him. Having her here revealed more of him than he probably expected. Lissi already knew him to be strong with a core of integrity. Now she added this softer, gentler aspect of his personality.

***

Rydak dropped Lissi off at her parents, unable to break his gaze away from her hips and the sway of her ass as she entered and closed the door behind her.

“Are you going to ask her?”

Jaron’s question had Rydak starting the hover car to return them back to base. “Ask her what?”

“To be your Chosen. It’s clear to everyone the two of you like one another more than a little.” Jaron smirked when the hover-car jerked before righting.

“You think I’d ask our Unit Leader’s sister to be my Chosen?”

Jaron looked truly confused. “Why wouldn’t you? Lissi Alonson’s papan was a part of the military. Her family understands the demands we face. And don’t pretend you don’t see the way she looks at you.”

Rydak swallowed and slowed the hover as they reached base. “Looking is all we’d be able to do.”

Realization struck. Jaron glanced at Rydak’s gloves then groaned. “Fuck, Rydak! I didn’t think. Maybe—”

“No, it’s not possible. Even if it were, do you know how many females would line up at Presentation if a Jaard announced he was participating?”

There would be fights and challenges with no guarantee that Lissi would reach him in time to qualify. His family’s legacy came with more than one curse. Every female wished to be connected to one of the original founding lineages. The Jaard’s boasted of looks, talent and a secure financial background. Enotian males were left with little choice in who they actually ended up with and the risk was too great. Even prearranged plans could go astray with couples.

“Do you think Torkel—”

Rydak slammed his fist on the steering guide. “No and I don’t wish to talk about it any more.”

Spending the day with Lissi had been a tactical error. It highlighted all the reasons he couldn’t be with her. His nonja’s touch left him weak and quivering. To think he’d react any less if he touched Lissi skin to skin for an extended period made him foolish.

They’d never be able to sex share without him ending up on the floor in pain. What had happened that day at the base was probably a fluke and he’d placed too much stock and faith in his ability to be nothing more than a friend to Lissi.

Torturing himself with the idea he could be Lissi’s friend and only her friend had to be one of the worst ideas Rydak had ever had. Already the wanting without acting was driving him to madness.

As if in deep thought, Jaron got out of the hover-car slowly and walked toward his side. “What are you going to do?”

He planned to go to his room, suffer the effects of his nonja’s touch and then have a serious talk with Lissi.

Rydak’s fingers twitched. Though pain threatened to strip him bare, he forced himself to speak in a neutral tone. “Nothing.”

Jaron didn’t bother commenting on that. Not that he needed to. Rydak already suffered every time he thought about the day when Lissi entered Presentation.

“There is nothing I can do.”