Merry & Seduced Read Free Page B

gouges in the earth and the broken trees?” Camryn demanded. “And the sound of our arrival.”
    A trace of black swirled into Mogens pale skin, giving him streaks of gray on his chin and jaw. “My spell will work with the damage,” he said, his tone offended. “Hopefully, the black clouds on the horizon will get the blame for the noise.”
    “Is it gonna rain?” Jannike climbed to her feet with a tortured groan. “That’s all we need. It rained last time we came to this planet. Ry stunk out the tender with his wet fur.”
    “No,” Mogens said. “The clouds are traveling away from our direction. The sunshine will remain.”
    “Well, that’s something,” Jannike grumbled.
    “Take a seat,” Amme said, but her attention wandered to Camryn before she opened the med-box and selected an absorbent pad. “I’ll doctor your ouchies.” Now that they’d arrived, Camryn couldn’t keep still. She paced the flight deck and did several circuits until Ry grasped her hand and hauled her against his side. Even so, she vibrated with her trepidation. This reunion with her family scared her and it showed.
    “We’re going right now,” Ry said. “We’ll leave Nanu and the others in charge of the ship, and we’ll go and tell your brother we’re here.”
    Camryn looked as if she might throw up. “No, we’ll go tomorrow. I—”
    “Camryn, you need to go now or you’ll make yourself sick with worry,” Amme said.
    “You come with us,” Camryn said and turned a beseeching expression on her. “Please.”
    Amme exchanged a glance with Ry and he nodded.
    “All right. Let me finish treating Jannike, then I’ll adjust my skin color and I’m ready to go,” Amme said and peered at Jannike’s forehead. “The bleeding has almost stopped.” She sprayed it with an anti-stop to halt the last of the bleeding, observed for a sec and nodded in approval. “A medi-pad, and you’ll be done.”
    “What about us?” Kaya asked.
    “I’ll take you to meet my brother and sister-in-law tomorrow. All of you,” Camryn said. “I promise.”
    Amme glanced at Camryn’s skin color and willed her own natural bronze tones to lighten. It took mere seconds. Yes, that was better. She’d blend now.
    “I’ve got my com if you run in to any problems. Don’t hesitate to contact me,” Ry said.
    “Likewise,” Jannike said. “We can be there quickly if you strike trouble.”
    “We’re visiting Camryn’s family on a peaceful planet,” said Ry. “There won’t be any trouble.”

Chapter Two
    A mme thought Camryn might faint as she stood before the front door of a rambling white bungalow. All her natural sparkle had fled to leave extreme pallor, and she looked as if she were having trouble breathing, as if someone had kicked her in the gut and knocked the air from her lungs. Her breaths seesawed in an out, an audible statement of fear.
    Amme exchanged a glance with Ry, saw his concern, the way his jaw firmed and almost felt sorry for the people on the other side of the door.
    “I’ll knock on the door,” Amme said and rapped her knuckles against the wood. “Your family will be pleased to see you.”
    “Someone is coming.” Ry sniffed to ascertain the degree of danger and relaxed. “The scent holds a touch of you. It’s one of your family.”
    Camryn swallowed audibly, her gaze fixed on the doorway. Amme suspected her friend wanted to run, but Ry’s arm around her waist and her unsteady legs rooted her to the spot.
    The door opened to a child. Luke. He was four, Amme remembered from Camryn’s stories. He loved horses and other animals, taking after his father and Camryn in that respect.
    “Luke,” Camryn croaked.
    The boy looked at her and burst into a wide grin. “Auntie Cam. Auntie Cam. Auntie Cam!”
    “He remembers me,” Camryn croaked again.
    “Of course he does,” Amme said.
    “Auntie Cam!” Luke shrieked.
    A woman appeared in the passage behind them, her belly swollen with child in the Earth way. This must be