Charlotte Boyett-Compo- WIND VERSE- Hunger's Harmattan, Unknown [best ebook for manga TXT] 📗

will hang it in a place of honor in our home and think of you.”

Jules grunted again, shrugged and thenturned to go.

“Wait!” Shanee called out and before themisshapen man could flee, she was in front of him, standing on tiptoe with herhands on his upper arms so she could place a soft kiss on his leather tendrilcheek.

Too astonished that this beautiful womanwould deign to touch him much less put her lips to him, Jules just stood therestaring at her. She was smiling at him as though he were a normal man and heput his hand up to the place where her lips had touched him.

“Thank you,” she said. “I will treasureyour gift always.”

With a sound that was more whimper thangrunt, he whipped around and was gone, leaving nothing behind but an eerieblack mist that fell like rain to the jungle floor.

Shanee turned back to her husband and justlooked at him.

“He comes here now and then,” Ailyn said.“Not often. Only I suppose whenever he can’t take the loneliness. It’s beenmonths since I’ve seen him. He lives at the base of the stream.”

“C-can he talk?” she asked.

“Aye, but it is so garbled you have tolisten carefully,” he replied. “I’m used to it.”

She came toward him and he took her hand.The wedding gift from Jules was clasped to her chest. Together they went backinto the cave and when they were in the chamber where they slept, Shanee tookthe portrait and propped it on a stone ledge in a prominent place. She ran thetips of her fingers across the lovely artwork.

“He is so talented,” she said.

“Aye, he is,” Ailyn agreed.

“And so very lonely,” she said.

Ailyn didn’t answer. He had heard her voicebreak and when she turned and threw herself at him, sobbing as though her heartwould break, he enclosed her in his arms and crooned to her.

“I hate that bitch for doing that to him!”she said.

He held her for a long time as she criedfor a man whose plight had touched her very soul.

Chapter Eight

The LRC Midian returned for Shaneefar sooner than she would have liked. Her thirty days of R&R were over andshe had to leave the paradise that was Theristes and the friends she had madeon the lush, tropical world. She would miss Tariq and Bahiya, Jared, Damian andthe others. And though he had not returned to visit again, she would miss thelonely man who lived at the base of the stream.

Dressed once more in her gray RiezellGuardian uniform that she had not worn since her first days on Theristes, herentire bearing seemed to be changing as she stepped on board the LRC. Her facewas rigid, her lips clamped together.

Ailyn—clothed in the immaculate blackuniform of a Reaper—was characteristically quiet as he walked with his lady upthe ramp and onto the ship.

Captain Bartlett met Shanee and Ailyn onthe bridge and put out a hand to the Reaper. “I am pleased to hear you will bereturning home, Lieutenant,” he said, shaking Ailyn’s hand. He nodded at Shaneeand acknowledged her with a quick nod. He knew the Amazeen did not shake handswith men.

“Thank you, Sir, but I think my commissionended when I was believed dead,” Ailyn said.

“Not so,” Bartlett replied. “You are stillon the roster since no body was ever found and you might be interested to knowthat you will be receiving all back pay due you upon your return to Riezell.”

Ailyn nodded. “It’s good to know I won’t bepenniless.”

Shanee snorted and when Ailyn shot her awarning look, she told the captain she would be showing Ailyn to theirquarters.

Bartlett’s face turned hard. “No, Colonel,you will not,” the captain of the Midian stated. “I do not allowunmarried people to cohabit on my ship. I firmly believe…”

“The lieutenant and I were duly marriedbefore gods and man on Theristes, Captain,” Shanee interrupted. “It is ourlegal right to bunk together and we intend to do just that. If you have aproblem, you may take it up with General Strom.”

There was a relieved sigh from the captain.It was obvious he didn’t want to tangle with the Amazeen. “Well, all right. Iam pleased to know something so wonderful came from your trip out here.”

“Will there be anything else?” Shaneesnapped, and when the captain shook his head, she asked when the Midianwould be lifting off.

“We had a slight problem with our mainthrusters so we’ll most likely be here a few hours longer,” was the reply.

“Good,” Shanee said. “There are some thingsI need to do before we leave.” She indicated the elevator at the rear of thebridge. “Let’s get settled in, ehemann.”

“Oh by the way, Lieutenant,” the captaincalled out. “We’ve stored in plenty of tenerse and Sustenance for you and thereis a containment cell if you need it during the trip.”

“He won’t,” Shanee said, and urged him towalk.

Ailyn looked at her but said nothing. Hehad noticed the change in the tone of her voice. It wasn’t soft or feminine ashe was accustomed to hearing it and now held a slight disdain and haughtinessthat caught his full attention. As they took the elevator up to her quarters onLevel Four he even noticed her shoulders and back were now ramrod straight,making her appear untouchable. He was surprised at the size of his wife’squarters as they entered. He looked around him and whistled.

“Not bad, little Amazeen. I was expectingnothing more than a bunk and a table.”

“I am the Primary Riezell Guardian,” shesaid with her chin lifted. “The military caters to me.”

A slow, sensual grin spread over theReaper’s full lips. “Is that so?”

“Aye, it is so,” she stated imperially athis lifted brow. “Don’t give me that look, Harmattan.”

He moved closer to her and slid his armsaround her waist. “I understand the appearance you must present outside thesewalls, ionúin, but inside them, remember who the husband is and who isthe wife.”

She gave him a stiff look. “What are yousaying?”

“I am saying that outside these walls Iwill be a dutiful husband and respect you for the position you hold. I willnever undermine that position nor will I question it. But when we are alone,you