Cloud Rebel (R-D #3)(4)

"I still think he's a schmuck."

"As I said, tell him so. I believe he may be more troubled by the events of that day than you realize."

"Right. I'll be sure to look him up for a philosophical discussion. When are we leaving—Val and I?"

"You may leave anytime—Val is more than adept at bending time to arrive on a selected date."

"When does he want to leave, then?"

"Why don't you ask him? I believe he would like time alone with you."

"Nothing's going to interfere with this," I touched the ring on my left hand. I'd had to enlarge it, but it was there.

"He has no desire to interfere with that, unless that one places your life in danger," Nefrigar reassured me. "We have no jealousy. Surely you've discovered this for yourself?"

"I know I don't feel it, but Ilya sure did."

"Perhaps it would be best to stay out of his way, while this obsession plagues him," Nefrigar cautioned.

"Yeah. I get that. If I see him, he won't see me."

"That would be best, although it could prove painful for you."

"I know."

"Allow Valegar to help you through this—he is more than fond of you already."

"You'll have to explain that to me, someday."

"Let him—eventually. When you're ready."

"All right. May I take an hour for myself? This is a lot for me to process," I said.

"Take your hour. I warn you, Valegar will be counting the nanoseconds and will know exactly when that hour is over."

"Right."

*

Falaca, a herd of wool-bearing animals, nibbled grass about me as I sat on a hillside near the equator of the Larentii homeworld. I could see why the animals liked it here—plenty of grass, tasty flowers and no predators.

Occasionally, a woolly head butted against my arm as I sat there; friendly falaca were asking for an ear scratch. I obliged.

"We remove the wool without harming or frightening the animal, and then weave it for our clothing, whenever clothing is required," Valegar sat beside me. His father was right—he'd counted every second until the hour was up.

"So—everybody runs around naked?" I turned to him. So far, everyone I'd seen had been dressed. For the most part. Val smiled.

"I understand that nudity is unnatural to you in your past lives—those that you recall," he said. "To us, it is easier to soak up sunlight if all our skin is exposed."

"I get that, it just feels strange to me—to wander around with all the naughty bits exposed."

"Naughty bits," Valegar laughed. "There is nothing naughty about any of your bits."

"You find that amusing?"

"I am an Earth scholar. I understand a great deal from those cultures."

"Well, you're probably way ahead of me, then. Some of that stuff I may never understand."

"It only seems overwhelming, because to your past selves, it was. Now, you are Larentii. That is likely no longer true."

"Yeah. I'm tall. I'm blue. Woo-hoo, woo-hoo."

I'll admit, I'd never seen a Larentii lose it before. Valegar practically fell over laughing. He'd almost recovered when a falaca bleated in his face. That brought on a new round of chuckling.

Yeah, it made me laugh, too.

I studied him as he reached out to stroke the falaca's head. For a blue man, he was beautifully made. Not an ounce of fat anywhere, and the corners of his eyes crinkled nicely when he smiled or laughed. I almost reached out to touch the curve at the end of his lips before pulling my hand back.

"You may touch me anytime," he said. He'd read my desire—likely in the movement of my hand.

"I'll have to get used to that," I said.

"I know. If you'd been born Larentii, we'd have had energy sex already."

"Okay, you'll have to explain that to me. Not now," I held up a hand when he opened his mouth. Instead, he took my hand and kissed it before setting it back in my lap.

"When do you wish to leave?" he asked. "I will allow you to choose clothing and shoes for me, as we must disguise ourselves to fit in."

"Okay. I have a question."

"Anything, Lara'Kayan."

"Uh—will Ilya only try to kill me if he recognizes me?"

"I believe that's the way the obsession works. Remember, he has seen you in all three incarnations."

"Yeah. I get that. How should I disguise myself, then?"

"I'll take care of that. All will see you as you desire; only your Ilya will see you differently."

"You can do that? That's outstanding."

"I will do anything for you, my love."

"Wow, that was fast," I said.

"It's the way the M'Fiyah works," he shrugged.

*

Vancouver

Ilya

The meeting was set at one that afternoon, after I'd had a phone conversation with the informant during breakfast. I'd gotten an e-mail from Giovanni Carano, too, at an alternate e-mail address. I asked him to check on the villa—I wanted to buy it if the owner were willing to sell.

He asks for a million, U.S., Giovanni informed me.