Page 9 of His Temptation

“I can help scan for you later, if you want.”

She lifted her small container of biologics up to her face, blocking out her view of the sky by looking through it. “You tried before. I just don’t think my mind kept many of the memories at all.” In an undertone she added, “It also hurts my head.”

“Your mind is resistant to going there. I don’t want to push too hard. Especially not after what happened on Torga,” Vox said, looking away.

She looked back down, thinking hard. “I remember them, a little. The minders there. I was so young and some of the medical things they did kind of messed with my mind. But I remember they wore long robes. Here, look.”

Ava recalled the picture as Vox shone, breathing heavy. She showed him an image of a looming, tall creature in robes and skin that was sallow yellow. The features were blurry, but therewas an impression of many eyes and a shock of hair at the top. What was distinct in her memory was her fear of both them, and the long batons they carried at their sides.

Vox shook his head. “I do not know what that creature is.”

“I think they were called the Yar? I tried to look them up in the species book I had but didn’t get any hits.”

Her fingers shook as she wiggled out of Vox’s arms.

“Maybe eat first?” Vox questioned, his narrowed eyes on her trembling hand.

Ava shook her head as she stood and walked back over to the beanbag to touch the screen again. She didn’t get very far before her eyes teared up and she couldn’t focus. The room spun as her breathing became shallow, her heart pounded, and she felt lightheaded.

Vox gently tugged her back. “We can go to Cipra, Ava. We should, and see what data we can find on their end. The coordinates are handwritten from Ebel here, even though the facility isn’t on any star chart. The work on the ship to change it to one of our own will start soon, and then we can go once it is done. There’s no need for you to absorb all of this at once.”

“I should . . .”

Vox pushed the monitor firmly away from her and brushed his calloused thumb across her cheek. “Ava. No. You have reached your limit. Take a break. Orla and Erox’s marking ceremony is in two days. Come, we should break some reeds to dry to bring to the ceremony, and then you can visit Orla this afternoon to help her while I do Iryl’s meeting.”

Ava didn’t want to move away from the computer. She sat stonily in place, not sinking into his embrace like she usually did.

Vox tugged on her hand until she looked up at him, feeling the tug almost as an echo. Her fingers twitched in his soft grasp as he pushed her hair behind her ears and lifted her up. “Come on, my sweet. Memories can wait. It is time to live now.”

He’s right.Ava moved to stand before she noticed Vox looking at her arm as he turned it this way and that under the fluorescent lighting with a frown on his face. In the stark brightness, it was easy to see that the top layer of skin was peeling off, revealing a muted bronze color underneath.Looks weird, but it doesn’t hurt.The flakes came off as she rubbed her arm.

Vox brushed at the flaking skin with his hand. “What is this? Should I ask Erox to scan you?”

She ran her hand down her arm and shrugged. “I think it’s from the sun the other day when I was out for a long time and my skin got red and hurt, remember? After we spent the whole day outside? It doesn’t hurt now, but I don’t know why...”

Vox kept his eyes on her arm and grabbed the medicine tube he had used when her arm first turned red. “Let’s put some more on just in case. I don’t know why it looks like your skin is flaking off.”

“At least it doesn’t hurt.”

“Maybe we should limit how long you are out in the middle of the day.”

Ava shook her head rapidly. “No. I like being outside.”

“Yes, I know. Well, as long as it doesn’t hurt.”

He uncapped the tube and began to spread the ointment while Ava looked at the monitor lying innocently on the counter. She tried to get control of her emotions.All my family gone. Every Human I’ve known. It’s just too much.

Her eyes snagged back to the screen and away again, feeling Vox’s gentle motions on her arm.It’s all in the past. I don’t have to absorb it all at once. Or any more now that I know all of the important bits.

Vox finished and cupped his hands over her cheeks before leaning forward to press his forehead against hers. “Come, let’s gather the reeds now, okay? Then you can go meet with Orla?”

Ava forced a smile.He’s right. “Okay.”

“Oh, Ava! Good. We need extra hands.” Orla waved her in with a smile to Erox’s house.

As expected, once Vox had mentally connected and let Orla know she was coming, Sai had joined as well and was standing behind Orla at the threshold with an excited grin. It was a surprise to see that Bria was also there, waving her hand in a shy gesture. Bria was the timidest of all the women they rescued, and Ava’s heart warmed seeing her.I missed her.Ava hadn’t been able to meet with her, Ixxi, or Wyrl much after the rescue, as she had stayed here by Vox’s house, and the others were reorienting themselves to life on Xai as well.

“What do you need extra hands for?” Ava asked, looking around Erox’s home.What are they working on?