Free Guardian by Heather Burch Page B

still want to make sure your subject matter makes for an interesting design.”
    “Hmm.” She pressed her lips together, and the motion created a dimple on the left side of her cheek. He fought the urge to kiss it. Instead, he said, “I would think a camera could be really helpful. You know, in a capturing-the-moment kind of way.”
    “Definitely.” She bit her cheek again. “What else did your recon teach you?”
    “Zoom. I picked another camera first, but after talking to an artist—”
    “What artist?”
    Okay, he’d had about enough of the third degree. “Do you want this camera or not?”
    “Yes! Of course, yes. I’m just blown away that you went to all this trouble.” Nikki grabbed the box and tore it open.
    “Like I said, I know how much you miss drawing. I don’t want you to feel like everything has been stripped away from you.”
    This brought her head up. Nikki tucked hair behind her ear and practically whispered, “A lot has been taken.” Her fingers toyed with the ripped edge of the box. “But a lot has been given as well.”
    She leveled him again. Mace lifted his hand and stroked her cheek. “It’s amazing that you can see it that way.”
    “I have to or …”
    “Or what?”
    “Or the darkness will take me.”
    Mace’s arm closed around her protectively. He understood what she meant; whether human or Halfling, darkness was a reality for all of them, seeking to devour every soul. And sometimes you just wanted to let it. The problem was Nikki had a destiny. Mace recognized the markings of a leader upon her. If any of them thought that one day she’d return to her old life and pick up where she left off, that was a joke. She’d been drawn into the battle of battles, and he feared neither side was willing to let her go. There was so much she needed to learn in order to survive in this world. And he was a pretty good teacher.
    When the moment’s intensity grew to be too much, Mace helped her finish opening the box.
    “This is just amazing. I mean, how long have you had this? You must have bought it in South Carolina.” She rolled her eyes. “No wonder you were so ticked when I got back to the boat the day I went to the mall. You were out buying me a present and I’d gone shopping with the girls. I’m sorry, Mace. I had no idea.”
    “Oh, uh …” Prickly heat crawled up his neck. He tugged at his collar. “I didn’t exactly buy it that night.”
    She stopped. “You already had it before that?”
    “Um, not really.”
    Nikki set the box on the table, camera half exposed. “When did you buy this?”
    “Last night.”
    Her eyes widened. “What? We’re in the middle of the ocean! Did you swim down to the Super Center in Atlantis or something?”
    “No.” He really hadn’t wanted to explain all the details. “I flew back to South Carolina last night while everyone was asleep.”
    There was that barrage of emotions again, flitting across her face. Nikki opened her mouth but no words came out. Instead her head shook from side to side, and then she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him so hard it almost hurt. Girls are insane. They laugh when they’re embarrassed, they cry when they’re happy, and they try to choke you to death when you do something nice for them.
    No wonder guys don’t understand them. Nikki loosened her grip and settled in, resting her head against his chest.
    Now that he understood.

    Over the next four days Nikki photographed practically everything on the boat. Vegan and Dash had become a two-person spotting team of any and all things interesting and picture worthy. They’d even dragged her out of bed one morning to capture a particularly beautiful sunrise. Apparently Vegan and Dash both had an interest in photography. And with Zero’s interest in all things Vegan, his mood had sunk from grumbler to full-on grouch.
    When Nikki wasn’t snapping pictures, she worked on developing her level of faith, though she still couldn’t touch the faith