“No, just in desperate need of energy.”
He really did look better, no more shaking and his eyes were clear and bright. It would have been easy for him to claim there was nothing wrong, that he was ready to continue their trip to the moon. Instead, he’d admitted his weakness. Maybe there was hope for him after all. “So how do we go about getting you more energy?”
For a long time he just stared at her, searching her face with his strange, red-ringed gaze. “Food would help, but likely time will be enough to restore my abilities.”
He’d eaten more than she had at Stargazer Ranch, and she’d been embarrassed by her appetite. “Do you know what went wrong? Why did…” you lose control? The words didn’t make it past her lips. They sounded much too accusatory.
“Why did I lose control?” One corner of his mouth curled in a self-reproving smile. “Clearly, I was weaker than I realized, but I was also horribly distracted.” He took a leisurely step toward her, and then another.
Awareness pulsed between them, making her restless and slightly uncomfortable. She didn’t need to ask what distracted him. His predatory expression said it all. She’d never considered herself beautiful, but she’d lived on her own long enough to know desire when she saw it. Vox wanted her, or at least wanted to have sex with her. Well, he was headed for disappointment. Her history with men was so disastrous that she’d given up on romance entirely. She sure as hell wasn’t coming out of sexual retirement for an alien. Even if he was more interesting than any human she’d ever met.
“Food’s not hard to find in the mountains, if you know where to look.” She stepped back, recapturing the distance between them. “Do you feel good enough to explore, or shall I bring something back for you?”
“I’m perfectly capable of walking, even climbing if necessary.”
She accepted his claim with a nod and headed off into the trees.
He quickly fell in step beside her as they made their way up the nearest hill. “You mentioned your other team members. Their names sounded male, yet neither shares your canvas dwelling.”
“True.” She knew exactly what he was asking, but decided not to make it too easy on him.
“Are they a couple?”
She laughed. That wasn’t the direction she’d expected him to go, but it was a roundabout way of asking the same thing. “They’re father and son, actually. Larry’s a widower and Stan is currently between relationships.” She glanced at him, amused by his attempt at subtlety. “I’m not romantically involved with either.”
“Are you romantically involved with anyone?”
Better to nip this in the bud. “No, and I’m not interested in becoming involved. My life is orderly and uncomplicated. That’s the way I like it.”
Rather than disagree with her, he just smiled. “Someone should have told Lexie.”
He was right. If half of what Lexie said was true, everyone’s lives were about to get a lot more complicated. She stopped near some pine trees and carefully gathered an armful of the fallen cones. Her wrist still hurt when she moved it, so she tried to keep it in one position while still being able to use her arm. “These won’t keep you full for long, but they’re an excellent source of protein.”
He looked at the pine cones dubiously. “You want me to eat these wooden balls?”
“Not exactly.” She found a nearby rock and knelt beside it. “The cones contain seeds or nuts, but they can be tricky to harvest.” She looked over the cones and found one that had just started to open. “Piñons have the biggest seeds, but they’ll cover you in sap, so we’ll only go there if we don’t find anything else.” Using her uninjured hand, she hit the cone against the rock and pulled the spears apart, encouraging the seeds to fall out. “You can peel the layers off if none of the seeds fall out, but that’s usually because they’re not ripe. Still, almost ripe seeds are better than starving.” A few more whacks against the rock produced a small scattering of nuts so she tossed the empty cone aside and chose another one.
Vox picked up one of the seeds and started to toss it into his mouth.
“Hold on,” She touched his hip with the pine cone, unable to reach his arm in her kneeling position. “They need to be shelled before you eat them.”
He knelt beside her and went to work, freeing the seeds from their shells as she knocked them loose from the cones. “I thought your expertise was wildlife. Why do you know so much about this environment?”
“Research projects have taken me all over the world. Six years ago, I followed a wolf pack in Rocky Mountain National Park. The terrain was very much like this. That’s why I think we’re still in Colorado.”
They quickly worked through the pile she’d gathered and several more besides and still only ended up with a handful of seeds.
“This is taking forever,” she decided. “You can munch on those while we find something better.”
He stood then helped her up, ever mindful of her injured wrist. “We need to get some ice on that. It’s starting to swell.”
She looked around the mountain setting and sighed. “In a week or two that won’t be a problem. Snow and ice will cover everything.”
“We’re not going to be here that long.”
He sounded annoyed, so she smiled. “I didn’t think we were, but I am concerned about staying warm once the sun goes down. The temperature drops fast in the mountains.”
“It doesn’t look like finding dry wood will be a problem.” He motioned around them to the stick-strewn ground and abundant trees. “We’ll build a fire, if my strength hasn’t returned by then.”
“Ordinarily, I’d share your optimism, but there’s no way I can start a fire with one hand tied behind my back.” She lifted her injured arm to make sure he understood her meaning.
His gaze narrowed as his annoyance turned to anger. “I am Crown Pr—Bilarrian. I’ve been able to control fire since I was nine.”
He’d started to say something other than the planet of his birth. Was he famous or something? Crown? Crown what? He carried himself with a certain regality that only came with privilege. Then his claim cut through her distraction and she lost interest in the blunder. “You can control fire?”
Another sigh escaped him before he admitted, “I’m from a region of Bilarri called the Fire Islands. Many among my people can control fire.”
“Teleportation and pyro kinetics, good lord, what else can you do?” She looked at him with new interest as they wended their way through the trees. They were in the narrow valley between two hills and Emily was hoping to find a stream. Water generally brought with it a larger variety of plant life.
“I told you, most everyone on Bilarri has some sort of ability. Rodytes are not the only ones who covet our power.”
She only knew a sliver of Rodyte history, but already she understood it was more than envy that had driven Rodytes to war. “They don’t just want what you have. They feel robbed of something that should have been theirs all along.”
He smiled and clasped his hands behind his back. “All the concepts surrounding the war are debatable. Perspective is shaped by one’s experiences, and events can change according to different perspectives.”
“In other words, the truth is subjective? I’m not sure I believe that.”
“I’ve watched two people view a visual record of the same event and then explain the event in completely different ways. Each honestly believed that their account of the event was accurate, yet each account contradicted the other. How can both be true?”
“I understand what you mean, but an objective third party should be able to analyze the event without bias.”
He smiled and unclasped his hands. They were strolling rather than hiking now, each more interested in the conversation than their search. “Objectivity is harder to achieve than anyone is willing to admit.”
She paused and looked around. Animals frequently created paths that led to water, but the ground was damp and fallen leaves were scattered across the dirt.
&n
bsp; “Are you looking for something specific? I might be able to help.”
“Water.” She looked at him and tensed. He was handsome and intelligent, interesting and obviously interested in her. He’d backed off when she told him she didn’t want a lover, but the attraction was still there, smoldering in his eyes and drawing her toward him. “We need to stay hydrated and it would increase our chances of finding something to eat.”
He shifted his gaze beyond her and his expression turned almost vacant. His chest expanded then he slowly released his breath. “There’s a stream not far in that direction.” He pointed to his right.
She stared at him, waiting for his gaze to refocus. “Care to share how you know that?”
A smile rolled across his lips, revealing a hint of teeth. “Bilarrian secret. I’m not allowed to tell.”
After all the things he’d done already, she wasn’t sure why this surprised her.
“I also let Rachel know we are unharmed, but lost. She’s going to see if anyone from Tandori Tribe can help locate us.”
“Thank you. It might have taken a while for them to realize we didn’t make it to Lunar Nine.”
He swept his arm in the direction he’d indicated and she preceded him. “You can control fire and sense water. Can you do tricks with earth and air?”
Rather than chuckle or disagree with her conclusion, he confirmed the direction of her thoughts. “Actually, I used currents of air to locate the water. The two elements I move in are fire and air.”
Shocked by his nonchalance, her feet stopped moving and she faced him. “You ‘move’ in fire and air. What exactly does that mean?”
“I’m from the Fire Islands, so my strongest element is fire. But my mother is from the San Adrin region, which gives me access to air as well.”
“Are all of the abilities on Bilarri fueled by the elements?”
He nodded. “Magic in general is elemental, but some cultures have learned to blend elements or to access them all simultaneously. On Bilarri each of the four regions honors one of the four elements and our abilities have evolved within those parameters.”
She searched his gaze. He sounded sincere, but his claims were so fantastic that she kept wondering if he was mocking her. She understood his words, yet it was impossible to actually comprehend how any of it was possible. “Two hundred years ago you would have been worshiped as a god.”
He cringed. “Bilarri has strict laws prohibiting such interference in the development of other cultures. Still, I admit it’s happened a time or two.” He motioned her onward.
They hiked for a few minutes in silence as Emily wondered about her companion. What was it like to have that sort of power at one’s command? The temptation to misuse it must be constant, and yet Vox was on Earth helping a bunch of rebels in their fight for independence. It was a glimpse into his character that was hard to ignore.
“Do my abilities make you uncomfortable? You seem very withdrawn all of a sudden.”
She glanced at him and smiled. “I’m not uncomfortable, just distracted. It’s a lot to take in.” They emerged into a shallow valley with a stream flowing through it. She shook her head. “Unbelievable. What else can you sense about our surroundings? Which direction is the nearest building? Can you tell how far we are from the nearest town?”
He shook his head. “Sorry. If the water hadn’t been so close, I wouldn’t have sensed it either. I really am depleted.”
More honesty. She nodded, pleased by his answer even though it didn’t help their current situation. “What about Rachel? Could you sense how far we are from her?”
“Not definitively. I estimate within one hundred human miles.”
She nodded again. His guestimation confirmed what she’d already surmised. They were still in Colorado. “Well, let’s hydrate and then find you something to eat.”
After they’d each enjoyed the crystal-clear mountain water, Emily searched along the stream’s sloping banks. She didn’t find anything particularly appetizing near the water, so she shifted her focus to the surrounding area. It didn’t take long for her determination to be rewarded. A cluster of wild raspberry bushes were growing not far from the stream. She picked a fat red berry and offered it to Vox.
He made a face at the tart-sweet flavor then responded with a smile. “Not bad. Are they easier to harvest than the pine nuts?”
She reached over and plucked another berry from the bush then held it up. “You have to watch out for the thorns, but I’d say much easier.”
Using the hem of Vox’s T-shirt as a makeshift sling, they quickly picked a bunch of berries and washed them off in the stream. Then they sat on the sunny bank and enjoyed their one-course meal.
“So tell me more about Bilarri,” she prompted after a companionable pause. “What little you’ve said sounds fascinating.”
“Do you want to know about the planet or the people?”
She thought for a moment, then said, “The people.”
“Because the entire focus of our culture is mastering magic, many seek out Bilarrians as trainers or mentors. There are other occupations as well, but life on Bilarri is very different than on most other planets. Magic allows us to accomplish much with little effort, which frees up a lot of time for more enjoyable pursuits.”
“Do you still use money or has Bilarri evolved beyond the need to accumulate wealth?”
He chuckled. “You are a Star Trek fan, I take it? I have yet to encounter a culture on any world that has evolved into the moral ideal portrayed in those programs. What various people find valuable changes, but greed is still widespread, and it’s common to want what others have.”
“That’s discouraging.” They sat side by side, but she bent one leg so she could look at him more easily.
“Sorry. Perhaps I should have lied to make the story more interesting.”
“No. It’s refreshing not to have to read between the lines.”
Her comment seemed to confuse him. “Is candor so hard to find in your acquaintances?”
She struggled for a succinct answer. How could she explain without sharing elements of her life that she tried not to remember, much less talk about? “Lexie says I’m a chaos magnet. I’m drawn toward people who make my life miserable. That’s probably why I started taking on projects that require seclusion. I interact better with animals than people.”
“What about Larry and Stan?”
He was guiding her onto dangerous ground. If she opened this door, it was almost impossible not to explain some of the things she avoided like the plague. Yet it felt natural to talk to Vox, as if she’d known him for years not hours. The only other person she’d ever met who put her this at ease was Lexie. “I can relax with them because I know neither will ever be interested in me personally.”
“Personally or romantically? A personal interest in someone doesn’t always lead to a sexual relationship.”
“You’re right. I suck at romantic relationships, so I surround myself with people who would never think of me that way.”
His eyebrows still drew together. “Why is a romantic relationship with these males impossible?”
“Larry lost the love of his live two years ago and he’ll mourn for her until he joins her in the hereafter. It’s so obvious that he’s still in love with her that it makes him safe to be around.”
“And Stan? Did you not say he was Larry’s son, or is Stan the father?”
“No, Larry is Stan’s father, and Stan is only attracted to other men.”
“I see. Are there no heterosexual men in Africa? You must interact with the occupants from time to time.”
She nodded, beginning to fidget as the topic became more personal. “The nearest village is a seven-hour drive, and they’re pretty suspicious of outsiders. We’ve earned their trust well enough for them to tolerate us, but that’s as far as it will ever go.”
After another long pause, Vox asked, “How long has it been since you had a man in your life?”
“Six years.�
� Why was she indulging his curiosity? Her personal life was none of his business.
The red rings in his eyes flickered, then his gaze turned warm yet sad. “I am sorry he hurt you. No one deserves that sort of pain.” His expression said so much more than that simple statement, but he left the rest unspoken. He didn’t know the specifics of her past, but he’d obviously guessed the reason for her self-imposed isolation.
She’d told him she wasn’t interested in a relationship. Apparently he wouldn’t push her unless she changed her mind. She ignored the pang of disappointment, refusing to soften her refusal. “What about you? Is there someone special in your life?” She regretted the question as soon as it passed her lips. If she honestly wasn’t interested in him, she shouldn’t have asked, wouldn’t have cared.
He didn’t seem insulted. Instead his gaze locked with hers and awareness tingled along her spine. “My culture has strict rules about life mates.”
He hesitated over the word “culture” as if he wanted to say something else. The odd inflection reminded her of his previous stumble. He’d said crown then quickly altered it to Bilarrian. “Your culture or your family?” It was probably rude to pry when she was so hesitant to talk about her personal life, but she couldn’t suppress her curious nature. “Crown what? What did you mean to say a while ago? It wasn’t Bilarrian.”
One corner of his mouth quirked, but he successfully fought off the smile. “Crown Parish is the village in which I live. I realized the location wouldn’t mean anything to you, so I switched it to something more familiar.”
She stared at him for a long time, unsure if she believed him, yet having no real reason to doubt his explanation. Instead of challenging his truthfulness, she digressed. “You said your culture has strict rules about life mates. Is every person you date a potential mate?”
“Like any other male, I spend time with some females simply because I enjoy their company. But we were talking about serious relationships. I presumed that is what you meant when you asked me.”
“It was.” The admission sent another wave of awareness through her. She felt restless and had the insane urge to run her fingers through his hair, to lean in and press her lips against his. This was so not like her. She’d given up on romance a long time ago.
Mage Page 5
