Starwalker (Starborn 1) (Sci-Fi Fantasy Romance) by P. Jameson Page B

himself that it was all okay because she felt nothing for him and they didn’t belong to each other anyhow.
    But she did have feelings for him.
    “You are aware that she cares for you, yes?”
    He wouldn’t answer her. He didn’t have to.
    Canna’s stare was like fuel upon fire. Accusing, judging, knowing.
    “I only just found out,” he blurted in defense.
    Frigid blue eyes narrowed at him. “You knew before.”
    Good hell, this was the maiden the Fates intended for Breckken? She was more likely to eat him alive than ever to mate with him. She was as prickly as the day was long.
    But then, his best friend had become quite the soldier over the years, and patient too. Waiting for Canna’s heart to beat had turned him into a new and different man. If anyone could handle her, it would be Breckken.
    “I… I always wondered. But… no matter, okay? You owe me an answer. What’s happened with Ula?”
    She eyed him. “I don’t know exactly. Call it a hunch. She seemed strange when I told her of the attack. I thought it would be safer for now if she didn’t know the Helix is involved.”
    “Safer for who?”
    “Emma. Everybody.”
    Gill agreed.
    “That’s all?”
    Cannalise nodded.
    Awkward silence fell between them. He wanted to leave, get back to Emma.
    “Care for some advice?” Canna asked, and then she went ahead without waiting for him to answer. “Don’t ignore your heart because you are afraid of where it will lead you.” And then she turned and hurried away from him, leaving him standing open-mouthed in the cold.
    Gill grunted. The maiden could stand to heed her own damn advice.
    ***
    Emmalyn watched as Gilleth left with Canna. She wasn’t surprised. Not really. She’d expected him to leave without even a word. That was the kindest thing to happen when romantic advances were unwanted. Exit the situation with grace.
    Logical, actually. Though it didn’t make it hurt any less.
    But she and Gilleth were always meant to end up like this, their separate paths going parallel in the same direction. Destination: Not Together.
    She absently rubbed at the pain in her chest as she set about steeping her tea. When she had a steamy mug full, she curled into the chair closest to the ket and farthest away from the door. With her back to the kitchen, she soaked up the warmth of the fire, willing the heat to seep into her bones and dry up the well of tears that had saturated her whole being.
    For countless moments, she let her mind get lost in the dancing flames of the fire. They were beautiful with their yellow and purple tint converging to make another, unnamed color. Just stunning. And the ket, which was fashioned to produce heat according to need, was marvelous as well. Not in its looks but in its function. Together they performed a very necessary utility, but apart they were something different altogether.
    This was why she and Gilleth would never have a chance. They were nothing together. Only apart were they who they were meant to be.
    And the worst part was she knew her heart was lost to him. It didn’t beat but that didn’t seem to matter to the poor fool of an organ. And as for Gill, his heart belonged to some other maiden. Someone, who when one plus one came together, it would equal two, not zero. 
    The door to the kitchen eased open. Must be Ula. Emma didn’t move from the fire. She was only now starting to feel the warmth. But she did wipe the stray tears from her face. Ula hated tears, had no tolerance for them. And crying over a wren was the ultimate mistake in her eyes.
    Emmalyn pulled the fur throw tighter around her shoulders and tried not to shiver as a gust of arctic wind blasted through the small space. She sipped her tea, listening to the door click shut.
    “Hope you didn’t turn away customers to close early,” Emma called out.
    Heavy boots thudded across the hard floor and she stiffened. Those weren’t Ula’s.
    Gilleth.
    She didn’t want to face him again.
    “You can go.” She kept