The Naked Truth by Lily Cain Page B

turned from him as a shudder rippled down her back. “That sounds pretty good to me. I don’t want those memories ever again. They’re like a nightmare you know will haunt you forever. Frankly, if I could lose them I would be glad.”
    “Look at me, Susan.”
    She turned back to him. His green eyes nearly glowed. Her mouth watered. His lips pursed as he prepared to tell her something important, but all she could think of was how she would like to kiss them, kiss him.
    “By altering your memories and, in effect, removing them, we might get more detail as they will be unclouded by your pain, and we can discuss what we see. But this will mean that these memories will be unavailable as proof in your investigation and possible trial. It could hurt your chances of being found innocent of treason.”
    “Can’t you testify on my behalf?”
    “I am an Examiner, and Advocate for your people, and I have been one for my own as well. If I open my memories for review, those I have of previous cases might also be revealed, risking other people’s careers and lives. Anyone examining my memories would be able to review them unchecked. I would have to resign my position. I can give my word about what I have reviewed within your mind, but not present the actual memory.”
    Sue thought it through, biting on her lip in anxiety. “We need the truth to try and stop the attacks, or at least to keep the Treaty progressing. If we can’t use the memories as testimony and I am found guilty, I’ll be locked up, but at least I would know I had saved my world from being sucked dry.”
    “You’re very brave, Susan.” Asler’s warm hands encompassed her own, chasing the chill creeping across her away. “Come with me. We’ll relax and initiate m’ittar at a different level.” Sue hesitated, so he continued. “It won’t hurt. I will never hurt you.”
    Her heart kicked. She believed him. Together they would discover any evidence her memories held. But first, for a little while, she would allow her desire to lead the way, allow herself to believe it was only the two of them, that their combined worlds were not waiting on their discoveries.
    He led her to the second door off his sitting room. As she had suspected, it led to his sleeping quarters, although they weren’t quite what she expected. After the spartan design of the sitting room and bath, she expected the same here. Instead she was greeted with lush red color on nearly every surface, from the dark red walls to the thick rug underneath her feet. The bed encompassed nearly half the room, its covers strangely shiny in their speckled red-and-black tones.
    She took a step forward, but Asler held her arm and bent to speak softly into her ear.
    “Inar tel sahan yowlenaii.”
    She looked up at him. “What does that mean?”
    “It means…welcome, and also that I hope you will stay a very long time.”

Chapter Seven
     
    Asler’s L’inar crested down the length of his back, the sensation honing his anticipation. Susan’s beauty paled beside her bravery, her pureness of character. There was no way he could believe she would do anything to jeopardize the safety of her world. What they found now would be hard for her to bear—watching herself crumble under torture—but would surely validate her innocence. The trick would be in proving that to Starforce and the Confederacy.
    His initial thought to gain Susan’s confidence, possibly through sex, for the purpose of revealing the truth wasn’t necessary. She had the courage to face what had happened without him, now that she knew the situation. But now he found that he wanted to earn her trust, wanted to support her through the difficult times ahead, and not just while they were in m’ittar. He would be there for her while she battled through the trial for her career, whatever the outcome.
    Susan stared up at him, a look of wonder on her delicate face. His L’inar stiffened around his scalp and neck. Was she beginning to recognize