Storm of Arranon Fire and Ice by Robynn Sheahan Page B

blush, just slightly.
    Erynn glanced away and smiled, putting her
hand over her mouth. “Ouch.”
    “What?” Tam whispered.
    “Hurts my lip when I smile.”
    “I’m sure, but that’s not what I was asking.
What’s funny?”
    “Not funny. Sweet. Tiar and Roni.” Erynn
nodded in their direction.
    Tam grinned. “Yeah, I figured as much.”
    Erynn faced Tam as they talked, her back to
the others that lined this side of the wall. A warm body pressed
against her, and she spun at the intrusion.
    “Sorry,” a man said. His voice was soft,
pleasant against the din around her. “I was trying to read the
plaque behind you. It’s new.”
    Erynn turned toward the wall. On the smooth
dark rock hung a shiny silver engraving with a list of those who
had died in recent battles against the alien invasion. “Oh.” She
moved aside so the man could read.
    “To the brave,” he said when he’d finished
and held up his drink.
    “To the brave,” Erynn and her friends
chorused and took a drink.
    “I’m Nev,” the man said after he
swallowed.
    Erynn introduced them. They nodded as she
said their names. “And I’m Erynn.”
    He smiled, and his gaze darted over them.
“Nice to meet you. But I know who you are. I know who all of you
are. I may not leave the Medical Unit much. They keep me busy, but
word gets around. I hear things.” He stepped forward, squinted, and
studied the cut running below Erynn’s nose to her lip. “Looks like
you should have made an appointment.”
    Erynn brushed at the cut with the back of her
fingers. “It’s nothing.”
    “You work in the Medical Unit?” Tam
asked.
    Nev took another long swallow. “Surgeon,” he
said quietly, glancing away.
    “You know Kira?” Tam grinned and glanced at
Erynn.
    Erynn ducked her head, trying not to smile.
Kira had shown great interest in Jaer during a training session he
and his brother Aven taught in the exercise room.
    “Kira?” Nev turned to Tam.
    “Tall. Blonde. Friendly,” Tam added with a
smirk.
    Nev’s forehead wrinkled, and then his eyes
widened. “Oh, Kira.” He chuckled and dropped his gaze. “Kira works
in Records, entering information into the computers.” His
expression changed, turning serious. He gazed at them, his eyes sad
and far away. “We owe all of you a dept of gratitude, especially
you Erynn. You were very brave to go aboard the enemy ship. I don’t
think any of us would be here if you hadn’t.”
    Erynn turned away, her cheeks warming. His
praise made her uneasy. “I had help,” she mumbled, remembering
Faylen’s ultimate sacrifice.
    Faylen’s help aboard the enemy ship had made
the difference. Without him, Erynn didn’t think she would have
succeeded in preventing the invasion of her worlds. And for all
Faylen had done, his reward was death.
    Erynn shook. The pain of Faylen’s loss was
still raw.
    Nev lowered his voice. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t
my intention to make you uncomfortable.”
    “I think we owe you thanks,” Sean said,
taking the focus off Erynn. He always managed to come to her aid.
“I heard that because of the great work all the medical staff did,
you saved many lives. There are people still walking among us
because of your skill and dedication.”
    “Well, I had help too,” Nev said. “Hey, a
table just opened up.”
    Erynn glanced at Sean and mouthed,
“Thanks.”
    Sean winked at her and smiled.
    They hurried over. Nev made a point of
sitting next to Erynn. In the low lights, she could only make out
that he had light hair, probably sandy brown, and eyes that were
most likely blue. He was trim, not heavily muscled, and above
average in height.
    From the front of the room, colored lights
came on, and loud music started.
    Erynn felt the quick rhythm vibrate through
her boots.
    People moved onto the dance area.
    Nev leaned toward her. “May I ask a
favor?”
    Erynn glanced at him and nodded. “You may ask .” She worked to keep a frown from forming.
    He smiled and stared down at his