She sucked in a breath. Holding her shirt up with one hand, she smoothed the other over her abdomen. It was completely free of wounds now. No red, enflamed marks. No scars. Just smooth, pale, unmarred skin.
Had the organs she couldn’t see healed as well? Because they had stopped aching.
Amazing. No wonder Eliana liked being an immortal so much.
Jak’ri made a sound in his sleep. Jumping, she looked over at him.
His breathing deepened as his eyes moved back and forth behind closed lids.
Rising, Ava gathered the empty blood bags and glanced around.
When she didn’t find what she needed, she whispered, “Computer, where is the refuse receptacle?”
A button flashed on the wall near the lav. When Ava pressed it, a compartment opened that resembled the one she’d used on the Lasaran pod.
Ava dropped the empty bags inside and closed it. A hiss sounded as the trash bin turned it to ash that would take up little room.
Feeling better, she returned to the makeshift bed and lay down beside Jak’ri.
Rolling toward her in his sleep, he curled an arm around her.
Smiling, Ava snuggled close, let the world and her worries slip away, and finally welcomed the sweet oblivion of sleep.
Jak’ri stared out over Runaka Sea. The water churned angrily as clouds gathered overhead.
Seated on the grass, his arms looped around bent knees, he tried to pinpoint the source of unrest that filled him and failed. The forest behind him held a dark, ominous feel today. And a sense of danger constantly pricked him.
Why?
Leaves rustled behind him.
Lunging to his feet, Jak’ri swung around to face the trees.
His heart pounded as he clenched his hands into fists.
The foliage parted and Ava emerged. She wore the same blue pants and colorful shirt he’d seen her in before.
She smiled. “Hi, stranger. Fancy meeting you here.”
He relaxed as the pensive feeling that had been plaguing him fell away. “I only understood about half of that.”
Laughing, she closed the distance between them. “It’s something Earthlings say when they run into someone unexpectedly.”
Smiling, he shook his head and drew her into a loose embrace. “This is my meditation spot. You always see me here.”
“I know. I just didn’t want you to get a big head over me following you here so often.”
The foliage behind her rustled again. “Too late,” a male said just before Ziv’ri stepped into view. He smiled and sent Ava a wink. “His head has been overly large since birth.”
She laughed. “As far as I can tell, all of him is large.”
Jak’ri grinned and waggled his eyebrows. “And by that she means all of me.”
Ziv’ri responded with a comical grimace while Ava blushed an appealing pink.
“What are you doing here?” she asked his brother with a smile.
Ziv’ri shrugged. “I saw Jak’ri brooding up here, knew you’d probably join him, and thought I’d come along and provide you with a superior example of the Purveli male to admire in his stead.” So saying, he struck several poses, flexing his muscles, most of which were on display since he only wore his swim shorts.
Jak’ri shook his head in exasperation.
Ava laughed, then assumed a thoughtful expression. “Hmm. I don’t know. Jak’ri here has one hell of a fine Purveli form. I don’t think anyone can beat that.”
Grinning, Jak’ri strutted over to his brother, puffed out his chest, then struck several poses of his own.
Ziv’ri rolled his eyes and gave him a shove.
Ava’s pretty face lit with humor as she watched them seemingly vie for her regard.
“All right,” Ziv’ri said, “let’s just agree that we’re evenly matched in appearance. Now let’s determine which one of us is the better diver.”
Jak’ri glanced at the sea, pleased to find it calm now. Even the clouds overhead had thinned, letting snippets of sunlight peek through. “Since I’m clearly the better diver,” he announced with feigned arrogance, “I’ll take that challenge.”
Smiling, Ava moved to the side. “All right. Let’s see ’em, boys. Give me your best dives.”
Ziv’ri volunteered to go first and backed up to the trees. After pausing for a dramatic moment, he raced toward the cliff. Hitting the edge with both feet, he pushed off, flew forward, performed a series of twists and flips, then hit the water below with barely a splash.
Ava clapped when he surfaced. “Very nice!” she called. Then she turned to Jak’ri, winked up at him, and whispered, “But I think you can do better.”
Grinning, he backed up to the trees. “Srul yes, I can.” Then he raced toward the cliff, hit the edge with both feet, pushed off, performed a series of flips and twists on the way down that was even more complicated than his brother’s, and hit the water with a splash he was sure was much smaller.
Surfacing, he swam over to Ziv’ri.
Atop the cliff, Ava waved and cheered. “That was beautiful!”
Both grinned.
“My turn!” she called and disappeared.
Ziv’ri glanced at him. “Has she dived from this cliff before?”
Jak’ri nodded. “A few times.”
Suddenly, Ava raced into view—clad only in her bra and panties—and sprang from the edge of the cliff.
Their jaws dropped as she sailed overhead, legs straight, toes together, her slender body forming an elegant T as she held her arms out like a bird’s wings, flying far, far, far past the two of them. Then she drew both arms over her head and pierced the water with no splash at all.
Both gaped, eyes wide.
Surfacing, she waved in the distance and grinned big. “That settles it,” she called. “I’m the best diver.”
Jak’ri whooped and swam toward her. He’d never seen her dive like that before. “You were magnificent!” he declared as soon as he reached her.
Grinning, she looped her arms around his neck and gave him an exuberant kiss. “Thank you. That was so much fun! Did you see how far I went this time?”
“I did.”
Ziv’ri swam up. “How the srul did you do that? That was amazing!”
She shrugged with a grin, content to linger in Jak’ri’s arms and let him keep her afloat. “I have no idea. But I want to do it again.”
Jak’ri laughed. “I bet you do.”
Ziv’ri caught his eye and schooled his expression into one of concern. “This isn’t good, brother. She’s clearly a better diver than we are. And I think we can both agree that she’s also more attractive.”
Jak’ri nodded somberly. “Far more attractive.”
Ziv’ri shook his head. “We need to find something we’re better at. We don’t want her to think Purveli males are inferior.”
“We certainly don’t.”
Ava grinned. “Want to race?”
“Srul yes,” they agreed simultaneously.
And the competition began, the formerly dark day filling with light and laughter.
Jak’ri awoke with a smile, humor striking as he recalled Ava besting him and Ziv’ri at every challenge and the hilarity that had ensued.
Then he opened his eyes, stared up at the ceiling in the escape pod, and reality hit with the force of an energy bolt.