Fallen (Chosen Series Book 5) by Stacy Jones

Author:Stacy Jones [Jones, Stacy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stacy Jones
Published: 2022-10-09T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

VERONIKA

Nika exchanged a look with Xerik when Lily and Tor disappeared out of the tree before glancing around again. It wasn’t until then she realized they were the center of attention. Some of the natives were casting them sideways looks, some were staring blatantly, but they were all on alert.

The males, in particular, seemed to be eyeing her rather intently.

Hoping they were garnering attention simply because she looked so different to Lily and because Xerik was… well, spectacular and infinitely stare-worthy, it nevertheless, made her suddenly nervous.

Feeling awkward and out of place, she sidled closer to Xerik, who looked even more uncomfortable and on edge than she felt.

Slipping her hand into his, she tipped her head toward the forest. “Let’s go back outside.”

He blinked down at her hand in his, then back up at her. An expression she couldn’t quite decipher passed over his face. It wasn’t a bad look, but she wouldn’t say it was necessarily a good one, either. More confused and hesitantly pleased.

Waiting until they were outside on the platform, in case any other natives understood English, she asked, “You okay?”

He stared down at her silently for a long moment and appeared to be debating with himself.

“Hey,” she whispered, stepping closer and pressing her palm to his chest. “Whatever it is, you can tell me.”

She felt him suck in a breath at the touch, and the debate on his features settled into determination.

“I want Veronika—”

“Oh my god, I’d know that hair anywhere! Hey, girl!”

Jolting at the faraway hail, Nika spun around and spotted a blurry line of what she assumed were people approaching the meeting tree from the forest floor, though from this distance they could’ve been ants for all she could tell.

Squinting and leaning forward, prompting Xerik to grab the back of her shirt with a grumble, she tried to bring them into focus. It didn’t work. They remained fuzzy little ants. Still, not wanting to be rude, she raised her arm in a wave.

It wasn’t until they’d scaled most of the stair platforms affixed to the trunk and were almost to them that she saw they were, indeed, human women, she assumed from the ship.

Most were being lifted from one platform to the next by native men, but others were climbing under their own power. Even out of focus, she could see they were struggling, but also sensed the stiff wariness in their bodies and wondered at it.

One of those being carried had her arm lifted high and was waving it frantically.

As soon as she was on the main scaffold, the woman trotted forward and wrapped Nika in an enthusiastic hug.

“Oh em gee, hi! We were all sure you and the other lady were done for when y’all vanished from the cage! I’m so happy you’re not dead!” She pulled back and immediately lifted a lock of Nika’s hair. “I can’t believe your hair still looks so good after all these months! What’ve you been using, and can I have some? I’m Deja, as in deja vu.

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