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He thrusts deep one last time, setting off my climax as well as his own.Like he promised, he pulls out.Every line on his face draws taut with pleasure.He lets my face go to grab the root of his cock, painting my breasts and stomach with hot ribbons of cum.

I breathe hard in the aftermath, unwilling to let him go, already feeling empty without him inside me.He breaks away first.With a last peck on my lips, he lowers me to my feet.

Rubbing a thumb over the stubble burn on my chin, he asks, “All right?”

I only manage a nod.

The water is already running lukewarm.He makes quick work of washing us both with a bar of soap that smells like cinnamon milk and leaves silky bubbles on my skin.Once he’s rinsed us, he pulls the cord again.The holes in the ceiling close up, some kind of panel moving over them.

Instead of using the bath sheets left on a bench, he uses his evaporation trick to dry us.We dress in the clothes Evolet supplied, and exit the quarters.Thankfully, my aunt isn’t there.She must’ve gotten tired of waiting.Instead, a young boy of about ten is sitting cross-legged on the floor.

He jumps up when we enter the hallway.“I’m here to take you to the celebration.”

I look at Aruan.“Celebration?”

“I’m sure your aunt would like to celebrate your return.”

I’m nervous again as we follow the boy through a maze of tunnels.On the way, I notice ventilation holes that let fresh air in from outside.We stop in a huge hall painted with the same type of murals as in our quarters.The walls between them are lined with black polished stones that serve as mirrors.Our images are reflected back to us from around the room, creating the same effect as a hall of mirrors.

The wall on the far end dissolves.The boy waves us inside.

I pause at the threshold.Another hall, twice the size of the mirrored one, is filled to the brim with people.They’re all wearing white, staring at us with welcoming smiles and friendly expressions.

Something gives in my chest.I breathe a little easier.At the same time, nostalgia overwhelms me, the feeling sweetly painful.I always felt a bit like an alien in Cleveland, as if I were different, but I always thought it was just because I was constantly dying.That definitely differentiates you from the living.Yet here, it’s as if a puzzle piece that’s been lost for ages has finally been found again, and this is the moment when that piece slides into place.

For the first time since I ended up on Zerra, I feel like I’m home.

Chapter18

Aruan

Bringing Elsie to Marikanea has an added value, a benefit I didn’t bargain on.

For me, it’s just a way of keeping her from danger while my father, brothers, and cousins search for the enemy plotting against Elsie.

For her, it’s a homecoming, the final realization she needs to admit she belongs here.I should’ve thought about this simple yet clever strategy earlier.Visiting Marikanea so that an inborn part of her could recognize the place where her roots are ingrained would’ve helped in motivating her to stay on Zerra, and in essence, with me.

The only reason she’s excited about leaving Marikanea is the prospect of seeing her adoptive parents.Otherwise, I’m not sure she would’ve left willingly.I probably would’ve had to throw her over my shoulder and carry her away.And if I know her, it would’ve been with kicking and screaming.

Unknowingly, Evolet fuels Elsie’s eagerness to return to Lona by reminding her of her Earth parents when she tells us how Elsie disappeared as a baby.She explains how her late sister came into her daughter’s room to feed her baby, only to find the crib empty.They’d searched high and low and finally offered rewards for information about the infant’s whereabouts, but no one knew what had happened to the baby.

Some Alit said a Slitheax or a dragon stole her through the open window.Others argued the eastern wind had barreled through the window and carried her away.They speculated that she might’ve been dropped in the sea or crushed on the cliffs when the wind eventually stilled.

But none of them could’ve guessed the culprit was the queen of Lona, the mother of Elsie’s own mate.Now that I know the truth, it makes perfect sense.My mother could’ve easily portaled herself here, sent Elsie through another portal to Earth, and been back in Lona before anyone was the wiser.

After promising Evolet and Kal that we’ll be back for another visit soon, Elsie takes leave of her newfound family, which includes an abundance of cousins, second cousins, and distant relatives.I can’t remember half of their names.

I portal us straight back to my room.Betty flies past the window, welcoming Elsie.The pixie dragon, whom she baptized Pip, seems to have taken up permanent residence in my quarters.Since Elsie is overjoyed to see the sly little creature, I don’t protest.Every extra incentive that makes her happy to stay here—with me—helps.

While a squadron of my most trusted guards escorts Elsie on a visit to the Earthlings, I go in search of Kian.I don’t like not having Elsie close to me, but there’s a good reason I don’t want her to be present for our conversation.

Kian is leaving my father’s quarters, where he’s been in council with the king and Suno, when I run into him in the hallway.

“Here,” he says, pulling me into an empty room before sealing the archway.

“What have you found?”I ask, searching the bond to assure myself that Elsie is safe.

For the moment, she’s happy, or as happy as she can be under the circumstances, so I trust my guards to protect her with their lives while I interrogate my brother.