what it was.
The lifestone, or whatever Tieran had called it, was pulling her towards it. She knew now that there were endless lifestone stores thirty floors below her, but Audrey could visualize them clear as day, pulsing like the planet had a heart. She ached to be back there, to hold the cool stones in her hands again.
By that point, Audrey called a healer and had them alert the commander too.
When Tieran arrived, concern written all over his stern features, she had begun to hear the call of the stolen stone too. So far, it was like trying to see the flame of a candle while simultaneously staring into the sun, but she knew it was out there. It was growing stronger with every moment, like the fact that it was moving away from her was somehow strengthening the bond.
Like it didn’t want to be apart from her.
She felt it so distinctly that the stores of the lifestone on the planet seemed distant in return. She had not touched those stones, but she had the one that was missing now, and that was what was calling to her, loud as a siren’s song.
The mountain was blinding her, searing in its intensity.
Verien was a cruel planet, forcing her to wear the light green lenses, but whenever she went outside and the light got to be too much, she could close her eyes and simply not look. Nothing like that helped with this new pain, threatening to make her head burst.
The healers were explaining something very urgently to Tieran by her bedside. Even through the pain – she could hear herself scream – Audrey saw the look in his eyes. He was worried, clearly afraid for her.
She didn't hear the words they were saying, too lost in the call of the lifestone. It was a horrible paradox. Her body ached to go back to the bottom of the mine, but Audrey knew it would kill her one way or another. Yet she couldn't not go either, the call growing louder every minute.
"She needs to get off this planet," Pelar's voice cut through the haze.
Yes. No. I can't. I must.
Audrey no longer knew what was going on with her. She tried to keep a clear head, to focus and figure out how she could fight it, but the lifestone had her. Just like Tieran had said, she was outmatched by the power of the stone.
"Are the scans complete?" she heard him ask.
His deep voice served to ease the pain a little. Like a caress, it swept over her, dulling her to the call of the lifestone for a moment until he stopped speaking.
Audrey could feel him moving around in the med bay, discussing something with the others. Every time he came closer to her, the call became clearer and less painful. When the commander was right beside her, almost touching her, Audrey could practically see the stolen stone moving away from them. She could even pinpoint the direction it was going.
She must have said some of it out loud, because she heard Tieran mention it a few moments later.
Or maybe he can just read my mind, she thought in a daze.
It certainly felt like it.
The worse it got, the more Audrey wondered if she was going to die. Just like that, from desire of a thing she knew nothing about.
It seemed like a shitty way to go.
Then she felt strong arms around her and the world came back to her. Tieran had lifted her into his arms as easily as though she weighed nothing. Audrey could feel Pelar covering her with a new fur coat, but in that moment she hardly cared about the cold.
Shamelessly, she rested her head against Tieran's shoulder, basking in the peace he offered.
She thought she heard a sudden intake of breath from him, but then the commander marched out of the bay with her held tightly against him.
The armor he wore was dark gray, unyielding and cold under her, but Audrey snuggled against him anyway. He smelled good too, strong and masculine and undeniably fierce.
In her drowsy state, she could only hope she wasn't doing anything embarrassing like actually trying to kiss him, although it crossed her mind.
With every step he took towards the landing bay, being in his
The lifestone, or whatever Tieran had called it, was pulling her towards it. She knew now that there were endless lifestone stores thirty floors below her, but Audrey could visualize them clear as day, pulsing like the planet had a heart. She ached to be back there, to hold the cool stones in her hands again.
By that point, Audrey called a healer and had them alert the commander too.
When Tieran arrived, concern written all over his stern features, she had begun to hear the call of the stolen stone too. So far, it was like trying to see the flame of a candle while simultaneously staring into the sun, but she knew it was out there. It was growing stronger with every moment, like the fact that it was moving away from her was somehow strengthening the bond.
Like it didn’t want to be apart from her.
She felt it so distinctly that the stores of the lifestone on the planet seemed distant in return. She had not touched those stones, but she had the one that was missing now, and that was what was calling to her, loud as a siren’s song.
The mountain was blinding her, searing in its intensity.
Verien was a cruel planet, forcing her to wear the light green lenses, but whenever she went outside and the light got to be too much, she could close her eyes and simply not look. Nothing like that helped with this new pain, threatening to make her head burst.
The healers were explaining something very urgently to Tieran by her bedside. Even through the pain – she could hear herself scream – Audrey saw the look in his eyes. He was worried, clearly afraid for her.
She didn't hear the words they were saying, too lost in the call of the lifestone. It was a horrible paradox. Her body ached to go back to the bottom of the mine, but Audrey knew it would kill her one way or another. Yet she couldn't not go either, the call growing louder every minute.
"She needs to get off this planet," Pelar's voice cut through the haze.
Yes. No. I can't. I must.
Audrey no longer knew what was going on with her. She tried to keep a clear head, to focus and figure out how she could fight it, but the lifestone had her. Just like Tieran had said, she was outmatched by the power of the stone.
"Are the scans complete?" she heard him ask.
His deep voice served to ease the pain a little. Like a caress, it swept over her, dulling her to the call of the lifestone for a moment until he stopped speaking.
Audrey could feel him moving around in the med bay, discussing something with the others. Every time he came closer to her, the call became clearer and less painful. When the commander was right beside her, almost touching her, Audrey could practically see the stolen stone moving away from them. She could even pinpoint the direction it was going.
She must have said some of it out loud, because she heard Tieran mention it a few moments later.
Or maybe he can just read my mind, she thought in a daze.
It certainly felt like it.
The worse it got, the more Audrey wondered if she was going to die. Just like that, from desire of a thing she knew nothing about.
It seemed like a shitty way to go.
Then she felt strong arms around her and the world came back to her. Tieran had lifted her into his arms as easily as though she weighed nothing. Audrey could feel Pelar covering her with a new fur coat, but in that moment she hardly cared about the cold.
Shamelessly, she rested her head against Tieran's shoulder, basking in the peace he offered.
She thought she heard a sudden intake of breath from him, but then the commander marched out of the bay with her held tightly against him.
The armor he wore was dark gray, unyielding and cold under her, but Audrey snuggled against him anyway. He smelled good too, strong and masculine and undeniably fierce.
In her drowsy state, she could only hope she wasn't doing anything embarrassing like actually trying to kiss him, although it crossed her mind.
With every step he took towards the landing bay, being in his
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