Power Rangers In Space - Heather Ray (crime books to read .txt) 📗

this new threat alone?"

She hadn't meant her question to sound accusatory, but Zhane looked away, as if struggling with that question himself. "Andros knows what he's doing, so I'm not worried about him. And…" He swallowed. "..my fight is finally over, Karone. I won't pick up my morpher again."

Ghosts of loss and pain hovered in those emerald green depths. Zhane rarely even hinted at all he had endured in his life, but Karone knew the highlights of his story. She knew of the family he lost, of the injuries he sustained... of the two years he'd spent in dreamless recovery.

Her heart ached for him as he silently revisited that pain. Moved by an emotion that startled her with its strength, she leaned closer to him, draping her arms over his shoulders in a gentle hug.


Chapter Three

You're my survival,

You're my living proof

My love is alive and not dead

It was the way Zhane himself had taught her to give and receive comfort. Leaning against each other to help anchor them in the whirling winds of life and loss.

Karone was speechless as her hand traced the muscle of his shoulder through his thin shirt. How often did Zhane's losses weigh him down? He tried so valiantly to serve as her rock... how hard had he tried to block out his own pain and frustrations?

Seeing even this small glimpse of Zhane's anguish sent a quiver through her that was uniquely different from the turmoil her brother's announcement had created.

Puzzled, she sought a name for this unfamiliar feeling. This isn't guilt... I didn't cause Zhane's pain, so I don't regret my part in it. Could this be empathy? I'm reacting to his pain, and I wish I could put an end to it. Not for my sake, but for his... because I hate seeing him like this, no matter the reason.

The hug she offered seemed hopelessly inadequate, considering what had darkened Zhane's disposition. And yet, against all logic, the simple hugs she received from him had truly eased her own darker moods.

It struck her at that moment how alike they were. True, she could never hope to match his sterling optimism, and he could never fathom how it had been to grow up in Dark Specter's court. In turn, she couldn't relate to his life as a hero, loved and respected by the whole of KO 35. Still, they both had "died" to one life: she had been freed from the consuming darkness of Evil, and he had willingly taken a deathblow meant for Andros. They both awoke to a new world, in which they no longer fit.

We understand each other. It's like we're on the same wavelength.

They both yearned for healing. For a restoration of a simple, normal

life, without the threat of dark magic or evil creatures looming over the horizon. They both yearned to turn their backs on the hardship of their lives, and find peace, and security.

Had it really been over a year ago, when they'd first met? When he saved her life from the wolf creature she'd created, and cared for her injuries despite the fact that she was his enemy? That single act of kindness triggered something deep within her... a curiosity that made her embark on a path of self-discovery that ultimately led her to choose her brother over Dark Specter.

There in the Dark Fortress, she'd spent many a night wondering why he'd bothered to rescue her. Wondering why he was so kind to her. Wondering how he'd been able to affect the atrophied heart that beat in the breast of Astronema.

And at that moment, leaning so near the man who dealt the Princess of Evil's most poignant defeat in that secluded park in Angel Grove, Karone finally understood what he had done to her... both in their first meeting, and in the myriad of casual moments that he was there

for her.

Chapter Four

I've been dropped out, burned up,

Fought my way back from the dead

Tuned in, turned on,

Remembered the things that you said

It's love.

Her lungs inflated as she gasped in surprise. This

is what love is. Right here, in this moment... in all the moments we've shared, just like this. I thought love was complicated and inexplicable… but it's not. It's not

!

It seemed that a light was switched on in her heart. The emotion that had perplexed her so much during the past year was suddenly crystal clear.

Love was forgiving and selfless. Love was hopeful, even against terrible odds. Love was enduring, and was a salve for all wounds. Love was a lens through which the entire world seemed brighter. And love was in all the smiles and hugs from all the Space Rangers. Love was in the gentle grins of her brother.

Love was in Zhane's luminous eyes. Love was in his inviting embrace. Love was in his sunny smile. And that love caused something to shine deep within her.

Love was what made his eyes so entrancing. Love was what made his arms so inviting. Love was what made his smile so captivating. Love was what gave him the power to shine like a beacon whenever she hid within the shadows of her mind.

Her heart pounding with the enormity of her revelation, her lips trembled as she breathed three words, so quietly Zhane couldn't even hear her. Yet, he felt the sudden wave of feeling that had shaken her to the depths of her soul. His eyes wide with new concern, he gave her his full attention. "Karone?"

"I… love you," she murmured.

He stared at her blankly, not daring to believe what he thought

he'd heard. "What?"

"I love you," she spoke again, with such conviction that she startled even herself. And she leaned closer to him, and acted on an impulse that had stirred her imagination many times before.

She kissed him.

Only this was not the fleeting touch of their first kiss, set against the endless stars of outer space. This time, there was a desperate need… a need to convey more than words ever could, a need to be open and honest with all the feelings that coursed through her.

He leaned into the kiss with equal fervor, his mind whirling as if intoxicated by the feel of her lips and the warmth of her body so near.

The moment stretched into eternity for them both, as if they actually felt the world around them slip away. Finally, the need for oxygen forced them to part, though they did not separate completely. The need for skin to skin contact was overwhelming, so their foreheads touched, each one quietly gasping in breath.

Finally, Karone found her voice. "What... does this mean?" she murmured. In many ways, her voice sounded like the lost child Zhane often saw in her eyes.

He grinned indulgently, hazy warmth dulling his senses. Without hesitation, he brushed his fingers through her fine hair. "It means I love you too."

Her smile gleamed like the brightest of stars. Of course, she knew what he felt for her... but even that knowledge couldn't prepare her for the elation that lifted her heart at hearing the words.

"And, what happens now?"

He leaned back from her, meeting her eyes evenly. "To be perfectly honest... I don't really know."

She blinked in surprise.

His response was a sheepish grin. "I've never been in love before. This is new territory for the both of us."

She should have been scared... or at least intimidated by the thought of traversing new territory without a guide. Yet for some reason, the concept excited her. Now, she and Zhane could share something uniquely their own, and learn from each other. For the first time, they were on even ground.

Karone took a slow breath, letting her mind wander over the jarring upheaval she'd experienced in one day. She was losing her brother, who was leaving her in the pursuit of evil. Yet she wouldn't be alone. Now, she felt closer to Zhane than ever before. And in that warm green gaze, she found promises she'd never expected to find. Promises of something special that would only grow with time.

And faintly, she wondered why it took her so long to realize just how much Zhane meant to her.

I'll be your crying shoulder

I'll be love suicide

I'll be better when I'm older

I'll be the greatest fan of your life

The greatest fan of your life...

Character Thesaurus

Space Rangers

The