Shamara (33 page)

She wondered if the huge drain on one Enhancer would disrupt the grounding and cause the energy to go wild. Her eyes flew open at the thought, the familiar panic flaring. She looked toward the robed figure. "Phylos, could you tell if the energy remained grounded?"

He nodded. "It did, my lady."

"No spillage or stray surges?"

"No. You kept it controlled."

"I could have told you that," Jarek said, concern harshening his voice. "I can feel when your energy fluctuates. You held steady."

So he could clearly sense her energy, as she had long suspected, although that fact no longer bothered her. Now she had a far more pressing concern.

Three Enhancers were necessary to safely operate the sphere. But there weren't three Enhancers available. There was only one—her. She finally understood why she was here.

Karma

She was convinced now that fate had brought Jarek and her together because of her father's horrific crime against the Shielders. She'd been given the opportunity to make amends for her father's actions. She had the ability to operate the sphere, to guide Jarek and his people to shamara.

She knew now what her destiny was, and she intended to fulfill that destiny.

Just as she knew she would die in the process.

From the beginning, he'd been drawn to her when she was asleep. She had a special beauty then, an innocence and purity unmarred by worldly concerns. Jarek sat on the edge of the bed, watching Eirene, wrapped in the spell she wove around him, even in slumber.

But the wonder was tainted by a nagging worry that refused to go away. She was far too pale, and had been since yesterday's episode with the sphere. After her collapse, she'd had difficulty standing, until Phylos placed his oddly glowing hands on her and chanted something in a strange language.

Even after that, she had been unsteady on her feet, requiring Jarek's support more than once during the walk to his quarters. She claimed it was because she wasn't used to working with the sort of energy the sphere generated, but that she would become proficient at it. Phylos had made no comment. The Shen leader's silence worried Jarek as much as anything, although he couldn't say why.

He felt certain something had gone wrong when Eirene activated the sphere. It should not have left her so weak. She'd climbed on his bed and dozed off and on the rest of the cycle. She'd roused to go to the evening meal with the Shens, but had fallen asleep across the bed as soon as they returned to Jarek's quarters.

She hadn't even been aware of him sliding off her leggings and placing her beneath the covers; nor of him getting into bed with her and holding her close through the night. Ranie hadn't been too happy with the arrangement, but had finally settled at the foot of the bed, near his feet.

Now it was well into the new cycle, and Eirene was still asleep. Jarek couldn't decide whether to wake her. She could just be suffering from sheer exhaustion after so little sleep and the emotional trauma she'd been through, but his instincts told him differently.

He suspected the sphere was the culprit, and that it might be dangerous for her to activate it again. Fear tore at him. He didn't want to place her at risk, yet he needed that cursed sphere. She was the only one who could operate it. And, despite his feelings for her, his people must come first.

"Hey." Her soft voice drifted over him like a warm Elysian breeze.

Drawn from his dark thoughts, Jarek stared into her eyes, falling headlong into those blue, beckoning pools. There was no longer accusation or pain there, only a welcoming acceptance. He thanked Spirit for the miracle that had turned Eirene around, garnering her forgiveness and sending her back to him.

"Hey, yourself. It's about time you woke up. How are you feeling?"

"Ummm." She stretched sensuously, her breasts pressing against the thin fabric of her tunic. "Pretty good. What time is it?"

"I'm not sure, because the Shens don't keep time like we do. But they rang the bells for the midday meal about an hour ago."

"Midday?" Her eyes widened. "You let me sleep the cycle away." She scrambled upright, tumbling Ranie, who had been curled against her. The lanrax chattered in protest. Eirene frowned at Jarek, her hair falling over her shoulders and chest in soft tangles. "Why didn't you wake me?"

"Because you needed the rest. You sure you're okay?"

"Of course. Would you move?" She shoved at him playfully, and he slid over to give her room.

She stood and stretched again, pulling her tunic taut against her shapely rear. And her legs…damn, but they were great. Jarek's body came to full alert. He had no control where she was concerned.

"Where are my leggings?" she asked, looking down at her bare legs in bewilderment.

"I thought you'd be more comfortable without them." He'd been tempted to remove the tunic as well, but had decided against it. Too much strain on his libido. "Tell me how the sphere works."

A wary look flashed into her eyes. He didn't miss the sudden tenseness of her body, or her hands clenching. She turned, tossing her hair over her shoulder, and headed toward the lav. "Give me a chance to wake up, okay?"

Jarek let her go, but he had every intention of discussing the sphere and its effects on her, in great detail. She took her time, and he heard the hum of the cleansing stall. He remained on the edge of the bed, waiting. Ranie settled into his lap, vibrating with contentment.

When Eirene returned, she wouldn't make direct eye contact with him. Before he could ask her anything, she launched into rapid conversation. "Do you think the Shens can levitate or create—or whatever it is they do—some food for me? I'm starving." She looked around the room, her ebony brows drawn together. "Where did you put the rest of my clothes? I'll get dressed and we can go—"

"Eirene, I want to talk to you. Now."

She turned toward him, her expression apprehensive. "I'm really hungry."

"I'll find you something to eat after we talk." Jarek patted the bed. "Come here, please."

She came slowly, but she met his gaze this time. He took her hand and pulled her down beside him. "I need to understand about the sphere, to know how it affected you."

She exhaled softly, her eyes unreadable, but he felt the fluctuation in her energy. "What is it you want to know?"

"How does the sphere work?"

"It has an internal energy source, enough to spark it to life when outside power is provided."

"Enhancer energy." He said it as a statement of fact.

She nodded. He wondered if she realized how tightly she was gripping his hand. "So the sphere drains your physical energy?" he asked.

Her eyes flared. "No. I channel outside energy into the sphere."

"What do you mean by outside energy?"

She looked down at their clasped hands, her hair falling like a curtain across her face. "Phylos explained to me that everything is composed of energy, basically the energy of Spirit. That energy can be restructured in various ways, take on many forms."

"So you pull energy from the environment around you and feed it to the sphere, as a sort of fuel?"

She looked up at him, her eyes a startling blue. "Exactly. And the sphere grounds me, so the energy stays between us and doesn't get scattered."

"How does it ground you?"

"It feeds the energy back to me, and I pull in more to feed back to it, and everything moves in a circle between us."

Jarek considered this. "It sounds like the energy cycles, so you're getting it returned, and it's not draining you."

She hesitated, and he felt her life force surge again. Something was upsetting her. "Yes," she said. "That's what happened yesterday."

"Then why the blazing hells did it leave you so exhausted if it's returning the energy to you?"

She gave a little shrug. "I have very little experience, and I'm not used to working with energy. I suspect most of this sort of work is tiring. I'll get used to it."

Jarek wasn't convinced. "Did Phylos tell you that?"

"He said all young Enhancers have trouble at first, that they have to gain experience." She placed her hand against the side of his face. "You worry too much."

"There's too damn much that can go wrong." Curving his arm around her, he drew her closer. "I don't want anything to happen to you."

She suddenly twisted into him, winding her arms around his neck and holding on tightly. Ranie squealed indignantly and leaped from his lap.

"Nothing will happen," Eirene insisted, her breath soft and warm on his neck. "I just need to learn to control the power better."

Then why was she trembling? Jarek rested his face against her hair, inhaling its freshness. He felt her breasts pressed against his chest, their enticing fullness making it hard to think clearly. He needed to bring his attention back to the discussion of the sphere and its possible threat to Eirene, but damn, he was having difficulty concentrating.

She lifted her face to his, and he couldn't resist those lush lips. He bent his head and tasted her, his blood pounding through his veins when she slid her tongue into his mouth.

Heat, as intense as a solar flare, rose swiftly. His body hardened, his skin heating to a feverish pitch. He relinquished any hope of continuing the discussion—for now—but still, he battled for control. He didn't want Eirene to think their joinings were based solely on lust. He wanted to show her how he felt about her, even if he couldn't give her the words or the commitment she deserved.

Pushing her back on the bed, he proceeded to do just that, with long, slow kisses and tender caresses, until the sensations built to a fever pitch, possessing them both.

Her breathless cries, the feel of her writhing beneath him, the fragrance and taste of her, were a heady, potent elixir that sent his senses reeling. He would never get enough of her, could never begin to give her all that she deserved.

Hell, he couldn't give her anything. He had no right to bind her to him, emotionally or physically. Angry denial roared through him, fueling his passions even higher. By the Spirit, he
could
give her this, could create memories for them both.

Memories to sustain him in the lonely times ahead.

*  *  *

They sat in Phylos' chamber, drinking tea. Overhead, the chimes jingled melodically, and exotic floral scents drifted in the air. Peaceful, lulling vibrations flowed through the chamber, yet Eirene sensed the tension emanating from Jarek. She knew the source of his anxiety—concern about how much gold the Shens would demand in exchange for a sphere. He had asked Phylos about the price several times, but each time the Shen leader had evaded the question.

Her own terrible tension hovered inside her, but it had a different basis. And it was fueled by entirely different emotions.
She loved Jarek.

Lying in his arms earlier, exhausted but satiated and content, she'd admitted the planet-shattering truth to herself. She loved Jarek san Ranul, had loved him ever since he'd hidden her from Turlock's men, offering his life for hers.

Now she faced the possible sacrifice of her own life so that the man she loved, and his people, could live. The universe was testing her, demanding steep lessons in this lifetime. Lessons she had no intention of shirking. Spirit had clearly shown her the path she must take. If necessary, her life for Jarek's. Her life to atone for her father's grievous crimes against the Shielders.

While one part of her reached for the resolve to see this through, possibly even reveled in the opportunity to right a horrendous wrong, another part of her was terrified. She didn't want to die, didn't want to leave Jarek. She didn't intend to give up without a fight. She would hold on as long as she could, but she didn't know if she could withstand the drain of the sphere.

Jarek's words jolted her back to the negotiations. "We'd like to purchase at least one of the spheres," he was saying. "More than one, if possible. But we have yet to discuss your price."

"There are many prices in the universe," came Phylos' raspy response. "Not all of them involve gold."

Jarek set down his cup and leaned forward. "There is certainly truth and wisdom in your words, Phylos. But I would appreciate it if you could answer me in terms that I can deal with."

The blue hood turned toward Eirene. "Have you reconciled your misgivings, my lady?"

She didn’t hesitate. "Yes."

"Have you resolved the emotional concerns, those issues of the heart?"

She looked at Jarek, found herself trapped in the depths of his eyes, in the memories of his body joined intimately with hers.
Issues of the heart
… She loved him. It was that simple. She turned to Phylos. "I have resolved the issues that we discussed. I'm willing to acknowledge my birthright, and use my powers for higher spiritual purposes."

"It is your intent to help Captain Ranul in his quest?"

She intended to give her all for Jarek's quest—even her life, if need be. "Yes, to the best of my ability."

The shadowy visage remained fixed upon her. "The spheres are not Shen property, Lady Eirene. They belong to you and your people. Yes, there are other Enhancers in the galaxy, small in number and scattered across the vastness."

He turned to Jarek. "You may have all the spheres, if Lady Eirene so wishes. But I suggest that you only take one when you depart. I do not believe your ship could accommodate more."

"Thank you, Phylos," Jarek said sincerely. "But the price—"

"There is no material price, Captain. However, we hope that the spheres will be used with the highest intentions, those of helping all in need."

Jarek's expression indicated his shock, but Eirene wasn't surprised by Phylos' announcement. She was beginning to understand the principles of cause and effect in the universe, and the resultant karma.

"I thank you from the bottom of my heart," Jarek replied. "I give my word the equipment will be used for a good purpose."

Phylos rose with a graceful swish of his robe. "The sphere is being loaded onto your ship as we speak. Your belongings and the small creature have also been returned to your ship. Your supplies have been restocked, and all is in readiness for departure. There is no further need for you to remain on Aldon. The plight of the Shielders is most critical, and we know you wish to proceed with your plans as quickly as possible."