—
Whoa. A drop like that can kill ya.
Karen reared back from looking over the balcony. She pressed her back against the firm, reassuring wall to allay the vertigo. Despite enduring a kidnapping, a deadly ambush, and a fight with a madman bent on killing her, heights still wigged her out.
She inhaled the crisp evening air and enjoyed the view of the sprawling, lavender-coloured lands of the palace. Even on an alien planet, the orange sunset was picturesque and breathtaking. The sight calmed her, reminded her that this was yet another day she had lived to see.
She touched her stomach.
Yet another day her baby had been awarded to flourish inside her.
Her recovery time after Varrack’s attack had been minimal. Her baby, thank goodness, had not been adversely affected from its mother thrown around like a punching bag by a hateful maniac.
Kess, on the other hand, still recuperated, drifting in and out of consciousness as he healed from injuries old and new. When she visited him last night, Zezvar said he’d achieved stable condition and would be completely lucid soon.
She should pay Kess another visit soon. She bit her lip in embarrassment when she remembered Megan and Jillian’s gentle teasing that she showed as much devotion to Kess as a worried wife.
Without her sisters by her side, waiting for Kess to recover would have proved a more nerve-wracking experience. They were so supportive, doubly so when she’d finally grown a backbone due to her near-death experience and told them the truth. That she would not be returning to medical school.
“You shouldn’t have worried about telling us in the first place,” Megan had said. “Remember when I dumped Peter after he cheated on me? I gave up my paralegal career and got a secretarial job at a straw company in a totally different city. Talk about a career change!”
“Besides, life is so much more rewarding doing something you love rather than something for misguided reasons,” Jillian had added. “It’s good you figured out what you wanted early before it was too late.”
Their easy acceptance and encouraging attitude had made Karen angry with herself. Karen shook her head. Twisting herself in knots had all been in vain.
Turning to head back into her room, her heart leaped at the sight of Kess leaning casually against the balcony door’s frame watching her.
“You’re like some kind of alien ninja,” she breathed out, pressing a hand to her chest as if the action would slow its rapid beating.
“In future, I will remember to stomp my way toward you.” His features softened with a smile which she shared. He looked tired, but it relieved Karen he was visibly healthier.
She drew closer, tentative in her movements. All of a sudden she felt shy in his presence. Which was strange since the last time they were completely alone together—ignoring that nasty interlude with Varrack—she’d bared herself entirely to him. She rushed her next words to overcome the onslaught of passionate memories. “I’m amazed you’re up and walking already. How are you?”
“I am healing,” he said. His gaze fell to her stomach, a frown creasing his forehead. He moved his fingers like if he wanted to touch her, yet he held himself back and met her eyes with his once more. “And you?”
“I’m fine.” Karen pressed her hands to her belly. “We’re fine because of you.”
“And I am alive because of you.” He smiled wryly. “Again.”
“OK, so we’ve saved each others’ lives twice now. We’re tied for two.” She quirked an eyebrow. “Best out of three?”
She grinned when he laughed in earnest, the tension between them fading as he stepped closer and pulled her against him. He held her, not speaking for some time until he broke the silence.
“All I focused on was my work until my brother was killed,” he said, his tone contemplative. “I devoted my days to finding his murderer—Varrack.”
A new wave of hatred for the man coursed through her. Was there no end to the awful things he’d done? But Karen swept that negative emotion away. Varrack was dead now. He could no longer hurt the people she loved. To dwell on him, to dedicate any specific emotion to him was a waste of energy.
“I sought revenge for so long, and I gained no satisfaction when I finally acquired it. Instead, I learnt the unpleasant truth that my brother worked alongside Varrack before he died. Worst of all, my selfishness almost destroyed something worth infinitely more than revenge: you and our baby.” His grip tightened around her, his voice low, his eyes ablaze with an intensity that made her heart pound faster. “I would have never forgiven myself if he’d taken you from me, Karen.”
She basked in his possessive tone, in the meaning behind his words. She was important to him. He needed her as much as she needed him.
“Every choice we make has a consequence. Sometimes, a decision we might consider a mistake can present amazing opportunities.” She smiled at him. “I’m glad you went looking for revenge, Kess, because while you searched for it, you found me. And while I went looking for answers as to what I wanted to be, I found you.”
“If you can’t stay on Omaron then I will live on Earth with you,” he murmured, shocking her he’d give up his life and his home just to be with her.
“Well, that’s a shame,” Karen said.
“Why?”
She rose up on her toes to press her lips to his.
“Because here I was all excited to live under the sea with you.”