Page 92 of Hope Forged
“Ziamee?” he whispered. “Faerar, am I seeing things?”
Mudya joined him to peer at her. By the dark metallic walls, it was clear they were in the facility. Brac crossed the background, his focus elsewhere.
“We’re on our way home,” Ziamee said, not bothering to explain this technology when she didn’t understand herself. “I thought I’d warn you before you receive Illan’s latest news.”
“Is it bad?” Padya asked.
“It’s revealing,” she said.
“I’m glad you’re well. Just finding you only to lose you to a long trip… Well, I worried,” Mudya said. “You seem…happy.”
“I am. Illan made me his dhutya.” Ziamee smiled as her chest swelled.Love you.She glanced at him.
Mudya squealed and bounced on the spot, only to sniff and wipe away tears. “My fael is all grown up.”
Padya remained silent, his expression solemn. “I didn’t approve at first,” he said, “but he has been a male of his word, and that…matters to me. If he continues to make you happy, little one, then you have my blessing.”
A lump formed in her throat, and tears pressed the backs of her eyes. “Thanks, Padya. I need your guidance, too. Illan says I’m a nizena. How do I share all of my mind with him?”
Padya stiffened. “You, too?” His cheeks shuddered as he glanced down. “Once you do, it is hard to hide that part of yourself again. Do this only if you’re certain—”
“Please,” she said.
Her father released a long exhale. “Imagine a flower, its long petals curling, blooming until its core is exposed.”
She closed her eyes and created an exquisite purple bud she’d never seen in her life. As each petal unfurled, a part of her mind warmed as if sunlight kissed the flower’s exposed flesh.
She peeked at Illan, arching a brow.Now?
Joy spread across his features until pure love gazed at her.Yes. He grabbed her hand, lacing their fingers and pressing his palm to hers. Nothing passed that bond; it didn’t need to when they shared their entire beings.
“Your mind’s natural state is to shield itself,” Padya said, not knowing how he’d opened a whole new world to her. “You’ll need to do this often until it learns this is the new normal.”
“My thanks,” she managed, squeezing Illan’s fingers. “On Issneen, Illan met with a Maloidian ambassador who was most forthcoming. Read through the information, and we can discuss it when we get there.”
“All right,” Padya said. “Oh, Etterians have arrived, and…things have changed.”
“I know,” she said. “They bear us no ill will, so don’t fight them. Hugs to Seba,” she called. “End comm.”
The kiss Illan bestowed upon her couldn’t compare to the joy he’d caused to blossom inside her. And yet, an intense ache in her groin, not her own, made her pull away.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“My need for you.”You will experience what you make me feel. And I you.
She laughed, the implausibility of it too much not to test. Show me.
Dayslater,whenUltaported Ziamee down to her beloved lake, the white building near the spot where she’d set her traps had her gasping. Males came and went, carrying things, taking away tools, all under Brac’s supervision.
He smiled at her and bowed his head at Illan. “Welcome home.”
“Thanks,” she said, glancing at the familiar shore, lake, mountain, and sky, and released a deep breath. Everything was…perfect.
“We are almost complete. I have installed Oz into your housing unit as per your requirements, Illan. Ziamee, should you want something changed, let me know.”
“Whatever you’ve done, I’m sure it’s wonderful, Brac.” She peered around him, eager to spot a white blur. “Where’s Seba?”
“He is around here somewhere,” Brac said. “He has his own bed near the front entrance. On other news, Oz discovered this morning that Maloid targeted other planets near Durn, testing out the cannon and failing. They had intended to do more damage. Not sure why. But we do know that all missions halted when their chief scientist died, leaving them without leadership and direction.”
