Raven's Return: A SciFi Alien Romance (Icehome Book 12) by Ruby Dixon

Author:Ruby Dixon [Dixon, Ruby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-08-26T23:00:00+00:00

18

RAVEN

The raft is a terrible, horrible idea.

I mean, it'd probably be good in the right hands. But in U'dron's hands and mine? It's a total disaster. The big guy is great at building a raft, but not so great when it comes to steering one. He digs the paddle in like he's attacking the water, and we end up going in circles for a while. To make matters worse, he's so big that the raft constantly feels like it's tipping in his direction and it doesn't take much to overbalance us.

After a few rough starts, we manage to get going, but I have to cling to my end of the small raft or I slide all the way back into U'dron's lap. Which is fine…except then it tips the whole thing and we have to start all over again.

"I am not very skilled with this," he admits after we dump into the icy water for the third time that day. He hauls me to shore, rubbing his hands on my wet arms to warm them. "I swam here instead of building a raft."

"Why don't we do that?" I ask, shivering.

"I worry it will be hard on you. That the creatures that live in the great water will look at you as a tasty treat."

He makes an excellent point. I don't want to be eaten, either. "Raft it is, then. But I want a paddle, too."

The fifth round seems to be the charm, and by the time we get going, the twin suns are up and their tepid light doesn't make the temperature seem so bad. U'dron figures out the paddle, and then we surge along in the water, just far enough out from the shore that we don't get pulled into the waves. I paddle along with him, though a lot of mine is just steering, and when he takes a break, I push a little harder to keep us moving. I'm so focused on keeping us going and not falling off the tilted, flimsy raft that I don't even notice that the day is getting late. Sure enough, though, when I look up, the skies are getting dark.

My arms are tired as hell, and all of me aches. I dig my paddle into the water and glance back at U'dron over my shoulder. He looks the same as ever, as sturdy and strong, and like he could keep going on for hours. Years, even. "Should we get to the shore and make a fire?" I ask, trying to keep the fatigue out of my voice. I don't want him to think I'm a wimp. "Or a shelter?"

"We will keep going," he says, and I want to cry like the pathetic dork I am. He reaches over and touches my shoulder, as if sensing just how done I am. "I recognize this stretch of beach. We are not far. Rest. I will take us the rest of the way."

I settle my paddle over my crossed legs. "I'll rest, but just for a little while.

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