Read Online Storm of Arranon Fire and Ice by Robynn Sheahan - Free Book Online Page B

glanced
around, her gaze on the multiple DVSL views of the base. A slow
smile turned her full lips. “Did you see Jaer’s face when I kissed
him outside his parent’s home? It was just the surprise I hoped
for.” She chuckled, but there was no mirth in her tone.
    The blonde shook her head. “Oh, he was
surprised. I still think you should have let him know you were
coming, to ease him into this happy reunion with a little more
discretion.”
    “There wasn’t time. Besides, I learned long
ago that it’s best to keep ahead of Jaer, if you can.” A pout
shaped the brunette’s full lips, and she set down the fork, staring
at the blonde. “Not an easy task. Besides, he’s my sworn
half. Why should I have to warn him? I’ve known of his affairs.
They don’t mean anything. I’m the one he committed to. I’ve always
accepted the way he is, and he knows I don’t judge him.” Her large
brown eyes hardened. “He’s mine and I’m his. Forever. Nothing will
change that.”
    With a shaking hand, Erynn pushed her plate
away. The once appetizing aromas now turned her stomach. A stabbing
ache in her chest made it feel as if her heart had stopped
beating.
    Zach dropped his fork and turned in his seat
to glare at the two women behind him.
    Tam spun to Erynn, her eyes wide. “There must
be—”
    Erynn jumped up and hurried out of the dining
hall.
    Tam followed, catching up to her in their
common room. “Erynn, wait.”
    Erynn turned on Tam, glaring at her. “What?
It’s nothing. He never said I should expect him to stay
forever.”
    Kipa. My heart, my life, my soul .
    His words hung in her memory, clouding over
her feelings, making her stomach roll and her head swim. She bit
her lip. Jaer’s words screamed through her mind.
    Jaer called me his Kipa. He lied ?
    Tam threw her arms in the air, her voice an
octave higher. “Jaer loves you. It’s obvious.”
    Erynn snapped back, “He’s committed. He’s
done this sort of thing before. You heard her. Besides, did you see
her? Why would he want me, now that she’s here for him?”
Erynn turned down the hall, went into her room, and locked the
door.
    Erynn wanted to run away, to not face anyone.
She could go to Korin. Rejoin her old unit. She was needed there
and would be useful. General Brayton wanted her back. No one there
would know about Jaer, about their relationship. Her hands fisted
at her sides.
    Would Cale let me go ? More
important, would Arranon let me go ?
    Cale couldn’t stop her if she put her mind to
leaving. There were ways.
    No. I am not weak. I’m not a quitter. I
took this duty here on Arranon. I made a promise to Cale. He’s
counting on me. I will survive. I always have .
    She squeezed her eyes shut, blocking the
tears, and the rip in her heart split open another centimeter.
    Erynn had COM duty that night. If she could
stay away from Jaer until that time, she would deal with him then.
Her shift would be quiet with no one around, at least not as many
as in a day shift.
     
     
    Erynn took over from the evening
personnel.
    “It’s been quiet, Erynn.” The man pushed his
lanky frame out of the chair in front of the console and smiled.
“Should stay that way.”
    I know his name. What is it ? Doesn’t matter .
    Erynn stared at the screens lined up over the
long curved desk and nodded. “Thanks.”
    “You’ll have a crewmember in the hangar doing
reports, and a computer tech in here watching the monitors.” He
frowned. “You okay?”
    She shook off her inattentiveness and gave
him a slight smile. “I’m fine.” She hitched in a ragged breath,
forced her smile to widen, and plopped down in the vacated seat.
“Go. We’re good.”
    The tech watched her from the chair next to
her, sneaking a quick glance.
    He knows. They both know. Everyone
knows .
    There would be little to do, little to keep
her mind off Jaer and… her , the one he’d committed to.
    Not good. Too much time to think. Find a
way to keep busy .
    Erynn didn’t have to sit in