was on solid ground, made up of dirt and gravel. He stayed quiet but moved as quickly as he could.
He guessed that if the bax were on their way to the spring, they might already be close. His struggle in the crevasse had cost him precious time. He had to find Selena and get her to leave. If she jumped over the crevasse and rejoined Lars, the bax might decide not to give chase, especially if what they were really after was water.
As sweat broke out on his forehead, he wondered what was taking her so long, and if it would stop her getting away. She might have twisted an ankle. Dangerous beasts needed water too. Anything might have been lurking in wait for her.
He rounded the bend in the gully. Coming to a sudden halt, his mouth dropped open as he stared.
Selena faced a trickle of water that slid down an incline. Two bulging water sacks rested on the stony ground near her feet.
She was naked.
She had her back to him as she splashed water over her torso. Her black hair was wet through and draped between her shoulder blades. Her angular face was in profile, so that he could see a dainty ear and her red lips, and her brow was furrowed in concentration; she hadn’t heard his approach.
For a moment, he couldn’t believe he was gazing at the same girl who had boldly jumped over the crevasse. Her waist was narrow but curved at her hips, which continued down her tapered thighs and legs, where one of her knees was slightly bent. Her skin was smooth and wet with moisture. She looked fragile but she also had a power, something that made him want her more than he had ever wanted anything.
With a start, he remembered his purpose.
He cleared his throat. “Selena.”
She whirled.
Her eyes went wide and her arms went over her body, one covering her chest and the other across her hips. “Taimin!”
He quickly spun so that he was facing away from her. “I’m sorry,” he said. “We have to leave.”
“What are you—?”
“There’s danger,” he insisted. “You didn’t sense it? Some bax are coming.”
“I have to put my clothes on.”
“Do it quickly.”
He heard sounds of movement and the rustle of clothing but he still didn’t turn around, and waited until Selena strode past him with a sloshing water sack in each hand.
“Let me take one,” he said gruffly.
Her hair, face, and neck were wet, and her tunic was dark in places that clung to her body. She almost threw the water sack into his arms, and he soon found himself hurrying to catch up with her as she left the spring behind. Her eyes roved over the area before she spoke over her shoulder. “Where are they?”
“You haven’t sensed them?”
“It doesn’t work all the time.”
“We’ll either see them as soon as we leave, or we’ll know they’ve left the area. If we see them, we’ll have to run.”
Her mouth tightened. “I thought you couldn’t run.”
“I have to try or we’ll be trapped here.” His voice was grim. “If we do end up running, don’t look back.”
But when they climbed cautiously out of the gully, the bax were nowhere to be seen.
“There’s nothing here,” Selena said, turning to scan in all directions. When she looked at Taimin again, her expression was cold.
Taimin made his own careful assessment. “We’re lucky. They must have moved on.” He turned his attention to the crevasse. “Now I just have to figure out how to get to the other side.”
“If you can do it once, you can do it again.” Selena frowned. “Come on. I’ll help you.”
Selena knew she was scowling, but she couldn’t smooth her expression. She wasn’t someone who let anyone take advantage of her, and that meant she had become used to speaking her mind.
The mantorean Lars had been trading with had returned to his group, and the insect-like creatures all sat together, talking in low, clicking voices while they gave the humans the occasional curious glance. Lars was stuffing items into his pack: salt, twine, leather. Taimin absently patted Griff while he hoisted the bulging water sacks onto the wherry’s back.
Selena set her mouth in a thin line. Making a decision, she walked toward Taimin with long, angry strides.
“Taimin,” she said flatly.
“Selena,” he said, smiling as he turned to face her. His smile faded when he saw her face. “What is it?”
“There were no bax.”
His brow furrowed. “I don’t understand.”
“There were no bax,” she repeated. “You made them