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Vahn misinterpreted her silence.

“You need not worry about Earth. I will honor the peace deal I have offered to your mother regardless. You can leave Vraxos whenever you like. I can arrange for a transport to…”

“Shut up.”

He jerked, surprised by her ferocity.

“Kara, I…”

“Just shut up.” She turned to him, eyes blazing. “Stop alien-splaining emotions to me. I understand why you didn’t tell me who you were, okay? I get it now.”

“But you still look angry,” he ventured uncertainly.

“Oh, I am. I’m fucking livid. With both of us. You, because you didn’t trust me enough to tell me who you were. But me as well, because I’m a total hypocrite.”

She kicked on her anti-grav boots and rose off the ground. Vahn watched, bemused, as her face came level with his.

“How…?”

“I said, shut up. I’m trying to apologize and I’m not used to it.” She took a breath. “I’ve spent my whole life hiding who I am, who my mother is, and when you did the same to me I should have empathized instead of freaking out. And I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“Kara, it’s...”

“I haven’t finished, snake-boy. Because what you said just now really pissed me off. After everything we’ve been through, do you honestly expect me to just walk away?”

“I…”

“Howdareyou think I’d abandon you? Do you really think I’d quit so easily? I mean, I was pissed that you locked me up but do you honestly believe I’d…”

He gave up. Cupping the back of her head he silenced her with his mouth, crushing his lips to hers until her mind was spinning and her thoughts were scattered.

When he finally let her go she glared at him accusingly.

“You didn’t let me finish.”

“Apologies. Go ahead.”

“You’re mykalehshun.I’m never leaving you. Do you understand?”

He nodded gravely.

“I understand, my furious little human.”

“Well, okay then. So we’re good?”

“We are good.” He glanced down at her feet and raised a brow. “May I ask how you’re doing that?”

She wrapped her arms about his neck.

“Magic.”

Twenty One

He molded her to his body as she hovered there, wrapping his serpetri around their hips until she was pressed tight against him. She darted little kisses over his jaw, his cheeks, his eyes, mapping him with her lips until he caught her face between his hands.

Then he kissed her with a slow, sweet urgency that stole her breath.

She threaded her fingers through his hair, feeling his heart beating against hers. Pure joy rushed through her body, suffusing her with a lightness that made her skin hum. She kissed him under the four moons and knew she was right where she needed to be.