Kicking free of the blanket tangled around his legs, Talon jerked himself from the bed. The sudden movement pulled his shoulder and he hissed in pain. The feeling returning to his fingers was a mixed blessing. He could move his fingers but the constant pinp.r.i.c.ks of sensation weren't pleasant.

The house was still and quiet. He could hear gentle snoring from Shadow's room and almost smiled. If he was in there with her, he'd roll her to her side and snuggle close to her back. Her decision to keep their relationship on a professional level made that scenario impossible. It made sense but he sure didn't have to like it.

Without conscious thought, his pacing brought him to the desk. He ran his fingertips across the embossed, leather cover of the alb.u.m. His mother was constantly adding photographs to it, and to all the others. History in pictures is what she called them. Part of him wanted to open that cover and absorb every minute detail of that time in his life. Another part, the stronger part, knew if he glanced at even a single image, he'd be lost in the guilt and pain. Shadow said he had nothing to feel guilty about but she didn't understand. She couldn't possible know what demons haunted his nightmares.

With shaking hands and tightly closed eyes, he lifted the cover. Cold sweat popped out over his entire body making him shiver in the night air. Keeping his eyes closed, he placed his fingertips against the first page and traced the entire surface. He was safe as long as he didn't look. It wasn't real if he didn't see it. The photograph was in the top right corner. The slick surface gave proof of that. Many nights spent watching his mother preserve her history taught him that there would be several items on the page that related to the picture. His sensitive fingers skimmed the remainder of the page several times. There was a cl.u.s.ter of dried flowers, a feather, several smooth, slightly irregular objects he couldn't identify, and a small square of something that felt like sandpaper.

No. Sand on a piece of double-sided tape. That meant the ones he didn't recognize were sh.e.l.ls. He knew what the photograph contained! He and his mother, sitting on a blanket at the far edge of the inlet, laughing and waving at his father.

Talon slammed the cover back into place, wincing when he heard the tiny sh.e.l.ls shatter. He had to get out of the house. In his haste, he knocked over the chair but he didn't stop. He grabbed the alb.u.m and tossed it into the fire pit before throwing the door open and running down the steps.

Shadow waited until Talon reached the road before rushing to rescue the alb.u.m. Thankfully, the fire was banked for the night so only one corner was slightly scorched. Clasping the book to her chest, she closed the door and retreated to her room. She was a light sleeper and had heard Talon leave his room. She thought his shoulder was keeping him awake and was about to offer to apply more liniment when he walked over to the desk.

He didn't know or didn't care that his harsh breathing and quiet whimpers filled the room with his anguish. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and tell him everything would get better; but she didn't have that right. All she could do was stand in the shadows with her hands covering her mouth so he wouldn't hear her crying for him. What did he remember about this book? She knew he just felt the page. He never looked down because his head was tilted toward the ceiling. When she lifted the cover, the shattered pieces of one of the sh.e.l.ls slid to the floor. It was too damaged to save but the rest remained intact. She saw a happy family outing. Did touching the objects tell Talon who was in the photograph even without seeing it?

Shadow placed the book in the chest with the other pieces of his past. She wanted him to accept his childhood but not like this.

What did you expect? Do you want to destroy him completely? Maybe it was time for her to start listening to that voice.

Be careful what you wish for....

Chapter Twenty-Six.

Enough was enough! Shadow kept quiet and let Talon absorb and digest whatever he felt he needed to about that alb.u.m. That was eight days ago and he still walked around like a stranger. He wanted to ignore his past. Fine, but he was not going to keep ignoring her.

Every day was the same. Eat. Grab the rifle. Walk out the door to who knows where. Return at sunset. Clean the gun. Eat. Retire to his room.

He was currently cleaning the gun from today's shooting practice and answering her questions with as few words as possible. Time to shake up his routine.

"Would you sit with me while I read tonight? I'm having difficulty with translating some of the words used by this next historian?" She didn't look up from the stew simmering over the fire.

"I'm a little tired, maybe another night?"

"Please, Talon?" She wasn't too proud to beg. "I had to stop last night because I just couldn't recognize the words. Being able to read that text is important to me. I feel, I don't know, almost like I'm a part of that history."

He still wouldn't look at her but he did stop what he was doing.

"For how long?"

"An hour?" She struggled to keep her tone level and non-committal. When he shook his head, she thought for sure he would refuse.

"One hour." He finally muttered his agreement.

"Thank you, Talon." Her words were soft but inside she was dancing and shouting. "Whenever you finish with that, I'll serve dinner."

He didn't recognize this quiet woman tiptoeing around him. Why wasn't she raising h.e.l.l and b.i.t.c.hin' about his att.i.tude? His Shadow wouldn't put up with the c.r.a.p he was pulling. He didn't blame her for his 'melt down'. Yeah, well, maybe at first he did. She was the one who left it in plain view. Instead of confronting her like an adult, he'd run away like a frightened kid. Unfortunately, when he touched that book the memories overwhelmed him and he felt like that kid. She didn't deserve his att.i.tude and he didn't like the chill that blanketed the house. He'd give her an hour and see what happened. He missed the peaceful harmony.

He finished the cleaning ritual; set the table for dinner; enjoyed the kava stew; and volunteered for clean-up duty so she could get the book out and ready. His change in att.i.tude was strictly internal at this point. She seemed content with this new routine. Would she rebel if he started steering them back to the way it was before that night? Only one way to find out.

She was sitting on a pillow on the floor when he entered her room. The normally subdued glow of a single lantern was enhanced tonight with the light from two fully charged torches angled to illuminate the ma.s.sive book. He dropped down beside her and immediately caught the fragrance of her soap. That triggered memories of a whole different type.

"You've made quite a dent, Blue. How far have you gotten?"

"They're approaching the first millennium after the super nova. After orbiting this new planet and observing the inhabitants for the past one hundred years, they've decided to approach the universal leaders with their offers."

Talon smiled at her enthusiasm. He knew the basics of his history-who, what, where and when-from his school cla.s.ses. Why they made the decisions about which planets to offer their vast knowledge wasn't covered until Advanced Studies level.

Shadow's voice brought life to the ancient words and she only stopped when she stumbled over a translation or needed to take a sip of water. He wasn't listening to what she was saying. He just liked hearing her voice. The soft cadence of her reading lulled him; brought peace to his heart.

"Oh! My! G.o.ds! Talon! Look! Can you see that ill.u.s.tration?"

He was almost asleep on the floor when she started screaming. Afraid something was wrong, he jerked up, looking around for the threat. Shadow was bent over the book and pulling her pants down past her bottom.

"Did I miss something, Blue?" He drawled when he found nothing threatening in the room.

"Yes! Look at this! Touch it if you can't see it. Maybe you can feel it this time."

Never one to turn down the opportunity to fondle a beautiful woman, Talon stroked her exposed cheek. Her skin was so soft.

"What in the name of h.e.l.l are you doing? Have you lost your mind?" Shadow slapped his hand away from her body.

"You said look and touch." He may have been in a semi-dream state but he knew he heard those words.

"The book, idiot. Not my b.u.t.t. Can you see it or not?"

His erotic dreaming managed to p.i.s.s her off. Fighting confusion-and the growing bulge in his pants-he leaned over her shoulder. "Sorry, Blue, all I see are shades of black, grey, and green."

"Touch the upper right hand corner about two inches down and in. Can you feel it?"

Talon closed his eyes, letting his other senses work. It took several tries before he could detect the faint difference in the ink on the paper. "It feels like...a semicircle, maybe...no. A crescent moon?"

"Exactly! Were you awake enough to hear what I just read?"

He shook his head and earned a scowl.

"He talks about the indigenous people of this new planet, Jaru. Listen to what he says about the women.

Females are blessed with tall, strong bodies, and gentle hearts. Although truly feminine, many choose to train in the art of weaponry. These females are formidable when defending their homes and families. It is interesting to note that every female-without exception-carries a unique birthmark in the shape of a crescent moon on her right b.u.t.tock. We are a.s.sured by the medics we have encountered that this is a constant.

"It's just like mine. I've never heard of Jaru but maybe it's where I was born. What if I have family there? When this contract is finished, I'm going to find out where it is. What if my parents are there? Do people change the name of their planets like they do countries? There's got to be records."

She threw herself into his arms and he pulled her close to his heart. He'd never seen her so animated-or so hopeful. It was breaking his heart but he had to tell her what he knew. "Blue, baby? I need you to listen to me. Can you do that?"

She stiffened in his embrace but he wouldn't let her pull away. After a few seconds of struggling, she stopped.

"The name was changed to Orion XII when they joined the Orion Federation. There isn't much in the history books about the people or their way of life. At least not at my level of study. About fifty years ago their scientists began tracking a ma.s.sive meteor that would pa.s.s close enough to the planet to cause global climate and magnetic changes. The best minds from all fifteen of the Orion Federation planets worked to find a solution. Their only chance of survival was to divert the meteor with a series of explosions detonated at specific locations."

He knew when she realized the outcome when her tears soaked his shirt. He held her close and stroked her hair, offering what comfort he could.

"Instead of altering its course, they split it into a half dozen pieces. The planet was destroyed."

"How many were they able to evacuate before...then?"

The hope in her whispered question ripped into his soul. "The Federation Tribunal didn't want to panic the population so they banned all knowledge of the meteor. While they monitored the progress of the scientists and the meteor, they cancelled all out-going flights. No one escaped, Shadow."

"When? When did this happen? I need to know."

"Give me a minute to figure it out. I was twelve when we studied this in history cla.s.s and I think I remember it being relatively recent-less than ten years, maybe? That was twenty years ago so that would make it about thirty years ago, more or less."

"Oh, Talon," she cried against his shoulder. "I'm twenty-eight."

She pushed out of his lap, closed the book, and slid it back under her bed.

"I don't feel like reading any more tonight. I'm going to bed." She turned off both torches and turned down the lantern.

She would have crawled into bed fully clothed if he hadn't gripped her boots. No sound escaped her lips while he carefully undressed her and helped her into bed. He quickly removed his own boots and slid, fully clothed, beside her. He couldn't leave her to face this alone. When he shifted until his chest snuggled against her back, he pulled the blanket over them.

Tears continued to flow silently into her pillow. It took hours before he felt her muscles loosen. Just before she slipped into sleep, she gripped his hand and whispered.

"Please don't throw away a chance to know your mother."

Chapter Twenty-Seven.

Two weeks! She should just kick his b.u.t.t and get on with her life. Shadow always believed she had a ton of patience but Talon's stubborn refusal to even talk to her had pushed her to her limit.

He had stayed with her for three nights after she discovered where she came from and she was so grateful. It was one thing to wonder if you were all alone in the world; but to find proof that you're all alone in the universe....

He was gone when she woke up on the fourth morning and didn't return until after she went to bed. He always left cleaned, fresh game for the next day's meals in a pot of cold water. That established the pattern of every day since then.

Well, today things were going to change. She stumbled on his hideout yesterday when she cut across the central square on her daily search for treasures. He chose a cl.u.s.ter of trees with low-hanging branches to conceal himself. When she sat in the hollow within the web of exposed roots she discovered his little secret. That knowledge was directly responsible for her current mood. She was p.i.s.sed!

Talon wouldn't join her in the house but he had a clear, direct visual path to the front of the house. He would see her every time she went outside to look for him. He knew she was worried about him and he just ignored her.

The way she had it worked out in her mind was simple. He was musically trained despite not being actively involved for twenty years. She envied him that ability. Her singing could crack eyeb.a.l.l.s at a hundred yards. It takes a total lack of musical ability to be asked not to sing along with drunken soldiers. Shadow chuckled when she remembered their solution to her screeching. A simple piece of metal bent into a long 'v' shape and held between her lips made a so-so tune when the ends were plucked. It didn't sound much better than her singing but it wouldn't cause permanent hearing loss like her voice.

A boar roast baked at the back of the fire pit. It would take all day to fully cook and didn't require much from her other than a little basting every couple of hours. Time to get to work.

Shadow settled on the top step of the porch so she could lean against the railing. She pulled the crude mouth harp from her pocket and fitted it in her mouth. After several minutes of plunking out random sounds, she removed it. Wiping the saliva from her chin, she leaned back and belted out the first song that popped into her head.

"Oohh, kava ain't got no tail a-tol, tail a-tol, tail a-tol. Kava ain't got no tail a-tol, jus' got a powder puff."

She only knew one verse of the silly child's song but she sang it with all the gusto of high opera. After a dozen or so repeats of the verse, she switched back to the mouth harp. When her mouth got dry she'd stop for a drink and check on the boar. She didn't know if Talon was within hearing range and didn't want to strain her voice so she started taking a little extra time and brewed a cup of tea.

By nightfall, the rich aroma of roast boar floated into the yard on the breeze. Talon was there...watching...listening. She was hardily sick of the kava song but her knowledge of other lyrics was severely limited. There was the one about a young man from Nantucket that she learned on her first trip to Earth but it was pretty risque and she didn't think it would have the same effect on her stubborn bounty hunter. That left the other song she had learned on that trip. After thirty minutes of the mouth harp she launched into a new song.

"Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall, ninety-nine bottles of beer. Take one down and pa.s.s it around, ninety-eight bottles of beer on the wall."

She worked the song all the way down to zero before starting with the mouth harp again. After two hours, Shadow called it a night.

"Good night, Talon! You can come in now!" She yelled into the darkness. "I know you're out there under the trees."

Thank all the G.o.ds in the universe! He didn't know if he could listen to another minute of the horrific sounds coming from her mouth. How was it even possible for anyone to be so totally tone deaf? He fully expected to find blood dripping from his ears. With a shake of his head, he gathered the rifle and the bucket of mollusks and headed inside. Whether she actually knew where he was sitting or just making a.s.sumptions didn't matter. Either way, he was caught. The nights were getting colder and his reasons for avoiding Shadow were not worth frostbite.

Frostbite? The trees are barely turning color. Why don't you just admit you're pouting and go home!

If he could find a way to shoot that annoying voice in his head he would. He wasn't pouting. Young children pouted. Teenage girls pouted.

"And that house is not home!" He muttered to the trees around him. It was time to call this training finished and find Draagon. It shouldn't be hard to pick up his trail-just follow the path of death and destruction he leaves in his wake. In a matter of days they would head back to the mainland and he'd see the last of her and her meddling. If that thought sent burning pain through his chest, so be it. He had learned to live with her; he could learn to live without her.

You keep repeating that thought and you might eventually believe it.

The light from the fire pit was enough for him to see the dinner Shadow left warming on the hearth. For all her claims to the contrary, she was right at home in the kitchen. She should have a husband to care for and a house full of little ones running her ragged. How long could she continue popping around the galaxy, jumping from one war to the next before her luck ran out?

She can't have children-remember? And when did she ever say she wanted to settle down? She was stubborn, pig-headed, and opinionated but he'd be proud to have her at his back in any fight. Why did she have to meddle in his past? Everything was great until then.

He made sure the kitchen area was as spotless as Shadow liked it and covered the mollusks with fresh water. Since he already cleaned himself up at the well, there wasn't anything keeping him from his bed. The sliver of light beneath Shadow's door drew him like a magnet. He'd just stick his head in and tell her good night. He tapped softly on her door and waited for her to respond.

"Just wanted to say good night." He stood at the open door, watching her slide the heavy volume back under the bed. She was more than a quarter of the way through the ma.s.sive tome already.

"Did you find your dinner?"

"Yes. It was good, as usual." They acted like polite strangers. He missed the hours they once spent discussing their day or reading. He especially missed sharing her bed. The s.e.x was beyond good but he missed just holding her.

"Well, good night, Blue." He backed away from the door so he could close it.

"Talon?"

Her soft voice stopped him but he remained silent. His rapidly beating heart pushed too much blood below his belt causing an immediate and uncomfortable reaction.

"I just wanted you to know that I put your mother's alb.u.ms back in the vault. In fact, I'll need your help in getting some of the bigger items locked away before we leave."