Warmth bathed him as he stepped into the light, mirroring precisely that which the sun emitted. Her eyes fell to his arms, watching the light slide down them as he drew her after him, getting closer and closer to her own until it touched her hands. She drew in a breath but kept moving, following him until they left the shadows several paces behind them.
She squeezed her eyes shut, her brow furrowing. And for a moment, fear engulfed him.
Oh, drek. It was hurting her. They’d drekked up! He had to—
Releasing him, she raised a hand to cast a shadow over her face before opening her eyes.
Then he remembered that her eyes were unaccustomed to the brightness because she’d avoided the sun for many years.
He studied her carefully. The skin on her arms, chest, and neck didn’t pinken or blister, nor did that on the hand she’d raised or the one he held.
She stilled. The teeth she’d clenched in anticipation of the pain relaxed. Lowering the hand that shielded her eyes, she stared down at it. Then she released him and brought her other hand up, holding it out beside the other for inspection. “I don’t understand,” she whispered. “What’s happening?”
Every moment her pale skin remained free of burns and blisters, Janwar’s anxiety faded a little more. “Kova tinkered with the lights in the garden. Since those in the rest of the ship don’t harm you, I guessed that ultraviolet light was the culprit and asked him if there was anything he could do about it.” He smiled. “And there was. He installed shields that will dampen the ultraviolet rays and protect you.”
She stared up at him. “He did?”
“Yes. We want you to be able to come here and enjoy the park as often as you want, the way we do.”
Stunned, she looked around. “But… won’t that… I mean, don’t the plants need it?” She motioned to the trees and the plethora of foliage around them. “Won’t all of this die if you block the ultraviolet rays?” Anxiety flooded her features. “You can’t do that, Janwar. And not just because it’s so beautiful here. You need these plants. You depend on them. You can’t just—”
He captured one of her hands once more. “Easy,” he murmured. “The plants won’t die.”
“But—”
“The shields aren’t permanent.” Reaching into a pocket, he withdrew a bracelet and fastened it around her narrow wrist. “We placed sensors at every entrance to the park and made you this. As long as you wear it, you’ll be safe here. Each time you pass the sensors at an entrance, the shields will slide into place and dampen the ultraviolet light. When you leave, they’ll automatically retract so the plants can continue to thrive.”
She stared up at him, her expression unreadable. “Really?” she asked, voice hushed.
He nodded.
Moisture welled in her eyes as they acquired an amber glow. Her throat worked in another hard swallow. “I can’t believe you did this for me. Both of you.”
Though his chest constricted at the sight of her tears, the fact that they were spawned by happiness brought him a joy he hadn’t experienced since Lisa and Taelon’s baby had held her little arms out to him for a hug, then snuggled against his chest. “We take care of our friends,” he said, his voice a little husky. She was rapidly coming to feel like far more than that to him.
Simone smiled as tears spilled over her lashes and down her cheeks. Closing her eyes, she tilted her head back and raised her face to the light, spreading her arms wide as if she wished to bathe in it. A sound that was half-sob, half-laugh escaped her. “It’s warm.” She turned in a slow circle. “I forgot how warm sunlight can be.”
And these lights accurately mimicked both the look and feel of sunlight.
When next her eyes opened, they glowed bright amber. Lunging forward, she slammed into him and locked her arms around him in a crushing hug. “Thank you.”
Pleasure filling him, he hugged her back.
“Thank you so much.” Her hold tightened until she threatened to crack his ribs.
“You’re welcome,” he wheezed.
“Oh!” Hastily releasing him, she leaned back. “Was that too tight? Are you okay?”
He nodded as he caught his breath. “I’m fine.”
She gave him a rueful smile. “Sorry about that. I don’t think you fully grasp how much this means to me.” Turning, she strode farther up the bright path. “Do you know how long it’s been since I walked in sunshine… without frantically searching for shadows to seek refuge in?”
Janwar followed her. “No.”
Halting, she faced him. More tears spilled down her cheeks as she forced another smile. “Almost seven hundred years.”
Shock rippled through him. She’d said she was older than she looked, but…
“Seven hundred years,” she went on, “of having to eschew daylight and only move about in the darkness of night.” She shook her head as she looked around. “When I’m at full strength, I can tolerate brief exposure, but the pain that follows always robs me of any pleasure I might’ve taken in it.” She held out her arms. “Ordinarily, my skin would already be prickling with a sunburn.” As it had the first time he’d brought her here.
His throat tightened as he watched her gaze down at her flawless skin, more tears chasing each other down her cheeks.
Then her gaze met his. “You don’t know what an incredible gift you’ve given me.”
If Janwar had his way, he would give her many more.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Laughter abounded when they all gathered together for last meal. T joined them in android form and trod back and forth from the kitchen, dividing his attention between serving them all their favorite dishes, contributing to the conversation, and monitoring the radar for any bounty hunters who might have followed them when they left Promeii 7.
At Simone’s request, they watched the three-dimensional holorecording T had produced of her battle with the Dotharian.
”I have to send a copy of this to Seth and David,“ she declared.
Janwar had to admit that now that he knew the match’s outcome and wasn’t terrified she’d be killed, watching it from a spectator’s point of view was immensely entertaining.
“Who are Seth and David?” Elchan asked.
“Seth leads the Immortal Guardians on Earth—who are warriors like me—and watches over gifted ones like Lisa. David is his second in command. They’re both like fathers to me. I love them to pieces.”
Krigara’s eyebrows flew up. “Did you say Immortal Guardians?”
“Yes. But we aren’t really immortal. We’re just exceedingly hard to kill.”
Soval snorted. “So we’ve seen.”
Her arm brushed Janwar’s as she turned to face him, sending little tingles of awareness dancing through his body. “Can we do that? Can we send them a copy?”
He nodded. “You mentioned wanting to comm them and let them know what we find on the Gathendien outpost. When we do, I’ll send them a copy they can play on the equipment Taelon gave him.”
“Yes!” She grinned wickedly. “I want to see their faces while they watch it. Seth and David have lived so long that nothing… or almost nothing… surprises them. Rescuing Ami and finding out she’s an alien surprised them. But this…“ She motioned to the holomatch taking place in the center of the table. “This will shock the hell out of them.”