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Zania ate quickly, then downed a bottle of soda I could see on her face theher to the bed She curled up and moaned After days with an upset, empty stomach, the food and drink had been too much, too fast I hoped she could keep it down

The three others returned, so I brought the plate of sandwiches and drinks up to the shorts I stole glances at Kaidan’s bare skin while the others were busy talking That’s ht led an eyebrow I looked aith a smile

Everyone quieted and nodded respectfully at Zania when she ca to al nature were returning When the guys finished eating, all three of theether They caht into the water For some reason I was surprised to see that Kope had his shirt off, too He was the broadest of the three I was glad to see hi out with thehed when Blake splashed him with a paddle When they were farther out, Zania raised her hands and signed to me, He is different fron He is

I tried not to grin as she turned back to watch theined no ht in co before When she sawat her, she said, "I cannot recall the last ti without a drink"

"How do you feel?" I asked

"Strange, but better I still crave, but for the first tio back, but"

"But it’s hard," I whispered She nodded and ran her fingers through her limp hair

"I think I would like to bathe," Zania said, further raisingrevived with rosy cheeks and a glowing hue to her bronzed skin

"You look good," I told her She s the dock, stopping halfway and lying on the wooden planks, soaking in the sun and breeze

"I owe your beau an apology," she said after some time

"What?" I rolled to my side and rested my head in my palm "My beau?"

"The son of Pharzuph," she said Her eyes were closed "I knew he belonged to you when he showedat it And then I blackened his eye as we traveled through Dagle caize"

"Don’t worry, Z He doesn’t hold it against you"

"I like when you call me Z"