Free 03 Solar Flare - Spark Series by Autumn Dawn Page B

wasn’t so sure. “I’m quite talked out
for the day, thanks.”
    “Sit,” Azor said quietly. “Please.”
    Well, she was a grown up, wasn’t she? Glumly,
Brandy took a seat on the couch. She picked up her drink just to
give herself something to do. She was no longer interested in it,
though. A glass of ice water would probably go farther in curing
her nervous flush. Tension was wearing a hole in her stomach. It
was hard to focus on Gem’s concerns when Azor was sitting right
there. Their aborted kiss was still on her mind.
    Blue walked over with Gem’s cup of tea and
set it on the coffee table in front of her, then sat on the couch,
which was nearest to her chair. “Better?”
    “Some.” Gem took a sip of her tea and studied
her sister. “I haven’t told you something important, sis.” She
paused, then let out a shaky sigh. “I’m having problems with this
pregnancy. Bleeding here and there.”
    Brandy was instantly alert. “Why didn’t you
tell me?”
    Gem smiled ironically. “I didn’t want to
worry you. The thing is, you need to know now, because worrying
about you is stressing me out. That’s dangerous right now.”
    “I understand,” Brandy said gravely. “I’m
sorry.” The idea of Gem’s babies being in danger was sobering. She
did not want to be responsible for hurting them, even
indirectly.
    For all she complained about her family, they
were the dearest thing in her world. She’d give the inn and all she
owned up if that’s what it took to save them. Changing her behavior
was the least she would do to help.
    “Yes.” Gem sighed. “You know how I get. I’m
super calm during a crisis, but get twitchy when it passes. I’m
losing my hair. I know it doesn’t look like it, but it’s falling
out in the shower by the handful. My stomach’s all knotted and I
can’t eat. I’m depressed. I want to be strong for you, but I need
to be strong for my children. I can’t seem to do both. I’ve tried.
I’m sorry.”
    Disturbed, Brandy went to her sister and
knelt. She squeezed her arm. It wasn’t often she was called upon to
soothe Gem. “You don’t carry this weight for me, sis. That’s for me
to do.”
    “It’s what love is for me,” Gem whispered.
“It’s who I am.”
    It was true. Brandy knew her sister couldn’t
change. She was a strong woman, but she had a soft heart. It made
what had to happen easier to do. “I’ll buy a ticket, then. I’ll
go.”
    Gem gave a little laugh, but it wasn’t happy.
“To Xera, please. I know you’ll take care of each other, and I’ll
worry less with both of you in the same place.”
    “You think?” Brandy asked sardonically, but
she didn’t mean it. In the face of Gem’s distress, all her worries
seemed meaningless. She’d travel across the star system if that’s
what it took to make things right. “I’ll go see her. I’ll make sure
she’s all right.”
    Gem made a face. “I know; she’s an
ambassador, married to a wealthy lord, a guy she claims invented
romance, and I worry. That’s how it is.”
    “We all need hobbies,” Brandy assured her,
though thinking of Ryven sent a surge of acid to her gut. Even
without the vision, she now felt hostile toward him. The
hallucinations were training her to see him as the enemy.
    Feeling lost, for the enormity of her promise
had set in, she stood. “I think I’d better go make some
arrangements.”
    “It’s done,” Gem said with a hint of her old
assurance. She managed a half smile at the face Brandy made. “I was
determined I’d find a way to talk you into it.”
    Brandy blew out a breath. She knew when she
was defeated. “Well, I know you didn’t pack my travel case for me.
My socks were still in my drawer as of this morning.”
    Gem raised a shoulder. The smile was more
definite now. “I had to leave something for you to do.”
    Brandy rolled her eyes as she made for her
bedroom.
    As soon as she’d closed the door, Gem looked
at Azor. “You’re going with her,