A counter and cabinets made of dark wood took up most of the wall on the opposite side of the room. The sound of trickling water drew me to a miniature waterfall in one corner. Flat, dark gray rocks were stacked in an imperfect circle. Each stone placed specifically so that the water made the prettiest tinkling sound as it traveled down them. Moss stuck out between the rocks, and around the edges was a fine mist. In the center was a little pool. Squatting down I stuck my fingers in the clear water. A cooling sensation spread up my arm, moving through my body.

I drew my hand out of the water, and the sensation slowly receded.

Did the mist have some sort of medicine in it? Was it making me feel calm?

I tested it again, and the feeling came back. The cooling balm ran up my arm and spread out across my chest. The longer I held it in there, the farther it spread.

“Amihanna.”

I jerked my hand out of the fountain and fell back on my butt. “Yes?” I winced at my utter lack of grace as I wiped my hand on my tattered leggings. When I first saw him, I thought he was handsome, but I’d been too tired and in too much pain to really notice how attractive he was. My skin started glowing just looking at him and the desire I felt terrified me.

Those eyes. Every time I looked at them, my chest tightened with need. It ached in a totally unfamiliar way, and I didn’t trust it. I had to look away, trying to distract myself.

“You like the water?”

“What’s not to like?”

“But you seem confused.”

I dared to look back at him. “It’s beautiful.” And so was he.

I looked away again. That sounded painfully familiar. Did I really say that to Lorne when I was out of it?

“And?” He was waiting, patiently watching and observing, but I couldn’t get a read from him. I wasn’t sure what he thought of me or if he even thought anything. Maybe he was only here to take me home as a favor to my father. It was silly to assume he felt anything for me at all.

This was stupid. I was attracted to the guy, but that didn’t have to mean anything. And I didn’t have to become a moron because of it. I should be able to have a rational conversation with him. “Isn’t a fountain a waste of space?”

“For a human maybe, but we have a different idea on what’s wasteful and what’s not.”

Focusing on his words was helping me get myself together. “So this is a luxury ship, not one for battle or war?”