Balm Read Free Page B

a Vorwing?”
    Kali sipped at her tea with concentration and a rueful smile. “A giant fairy, usually in the lavender range of skin tone.”
    An image slipped into her mind, a tall, strong male with huge fluttering wings and a cruel expression on his face. “Ah. Thank you.”
    As Quinn watched, Kali shifted colour. Her skin took on the same colour that her eyes had worn and her eyes resumed a more human shade. The voice rumbled in her throat. “They are my greatest disappointment. My only creation.”
    “I understand and am pleased to greet you in person, Orb.” Quinn inclined her head. “I will do as you wish when you send me on a mission. I will remove traces of your power from their bodies, but where do you wish me to keep it?”
    The Orb cocked her head. “Keep it within you until you return and release it once you get here. Home will absorb it.”
    “I see. Do you know when I will be sent on my first assignment?”
    The Orb smiled, “It will happen when it is time and not before. You still need to learn how to move between universes, and Iskanu will show you how to do that.”
    Before Quinn could ask something else, Kali changed colour and resumed her redheaded complexion.
    Kali smiled, “We will be on our way now. There is an intercom that leads to the other apartments of the Sentinels. You can ask any of us anything at any time. We will answer what we can, but Iskanu should be able to help you with the day-to-day.”
    Quinn traced her fingers over her forehead. “How will I learn to use the upgrade?”
    Kali chuckled and patted her on the shoulder. “Like we all do. On the job.”

Chapter Four
    Odin and Kali disappeared in a flash of light, leaving Quinn alone with Iskanu.
    “Well, that was interesting.” Quinn cleared up the tea set that was ubiquitous throughout the Alliance.
    “How are you feeling about this whole thing, Officer Lios?”
    She snickered. “I think you can call me Quinn now, Commander.”
    “Iskanu.”
    Quinn smiled and carried the dishes to the kitchen area. It was quite a charming setup. She had a chiller, a cooking surface and enough food for two people. The cleaner was loaded in under a minute and it hummed happily as it worked to scrub the dishes.
    Quinn turned, and Iskanu was very close. “Um. Hello.”
    “Hello. I believe we have a few things we need to discuss.”
    She licked her lips, and his eyes narrowed as he watched her tongue. “Like what?”
    He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. Her eyes crossed as he got closer, then she closed them.
    The kiss touched only her lips, but her body warmed dramatically, a wave of sensation that started at her lips and ended at her fingers and toes swam through her.
    Quinn sighed and went up on her toes, seeking more contact and bracing herself on the counter behind her. Tears slipped from under her lids, and she began to cry.
    Iskanu threaded his hands through her hair and cupped her head. He broke the initial contact and trailed kisses down her cheeks.
    She shivered but could not stop her tears. Sobs started deep in her chest.
    He stopped kissing her, drawing her close and holding her while she broke down.
    He rubbed her back and arms until she stopped wailing in his grasp.
    She was sure that her skin was a horrible shade and her eyes were bloodshot, but when he slipped his hand under her chin to raise her face to his, she didn’t see anything but a slight smile in his dark galaxy eyes.
    “What was that about?”
    She sniffed. “You were dead. I saw you die. I held your hand and felt your mind slip away, and now, you are here, and I don’t know how to cross the two things in my mind.”
    “You will learn how to do it. Just as I had to hold myself back when I learned I had to watch you die. These are things we have to adjust to as Sentinels.” He stroked her hair away from her face.
    “You knew that I would return in fairly short time. I thought you were gone forever.”
    “Did you miss me?”
    She balled up her fist and