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"Another thing I am deeply grateful for." He took hold of her waist and brought her down to sit on his lap. Lana curled into him, placing a hand behind his neck to grasp at his spikes.

"And for that, you need no other surprises," she said. "I think we've had enough for the both of us these last few weeks."

"To that, I can agree." Xerus nuzzled her neck. "I am ready to return to our haven."

Lana took a deep breath, filling her nose with his coffee-like scent, then exhaled slowly. "And to stay."

Epilogue

Xerus

The world was a brilliant blue sphere. It glowed like the gems found in the tikari caves. So different from his home yet still a treasure to see. From the window, he watched as the world grew closer. Their ship slowed as it readied its descent into the planet's atmosphere.

His mate had said it looked near to her old home world—Earth. He hadn't had the chance a year and a half ago to truly appreciate it when they'd left to return back to Tryth, but he took that chance now to study every landmass and cloud along its shape. It could never compare to his home—nothing ever could—but he felt a sort of fondness for this place, even if the memories of it were not so happy.

A hand rested on his arm, and he didn't need to look around to know whose it was.

"It gives me chills," Lana said beside him. "It will be a real sight to see the glow of a huge city down there someday. Or maybe even several. And we know how it all got started."

"Will it be like Earth?" Xerus asked.

"By its structures, maybe." Lana squeezed his arm. "But the people? Not a chance."

"It will be better."

"Let's hope so," she said.

Xerus turned to his mate, who looked back at him, her mouth curling upward. He could see the excitement in her eyes. He felt it too in a way.

"We are prepared to land," said a crewman at the terminal.

As the ship made its descent, they watched as a pattern of white and silver buildings appeared past a set of clouds.

"It looks like they've done a lot in just a year," Lana said. The walls were gone and what had once been a caged-in community was now spreading across the forest-side and down near into the valley below. As the city grew closer, they could see the people looking up toward them. When the ship settled onto an open space where a shipbed had been erected, he and Lana started toward the door. The light spilled out from the exit, making him blink several times as he adjusted to the brightness outside. They stepped off the ship and were quickly greeted by familiar faces. Among the human researchers and the gyda, he saw Xilya and their old team. The human official, Bo, ran to Lana first and hugged her before giving him a short bow.

"I'm so glad you could be here," she said with a wide smile.

Xilya approached behind her, along with the young warrior Krel, then the sisters and Aryus. They each bowed and welcomed their return.

"You look well," Xilya said to both of them. She glanced toward Xerus. "You were able to recover, I take it?"

"Yes. Some of my memories, I found, had been scattered, but it was a small price."

"A small price indeed. I'm glad you are better," she said. "We've greatly anticipated your arrival."

"And you're just in time. The ships are on their way now," Bo mentioned from beside them. "Those from Xolis are nearly here."

The team led them across the shipbed toward the city, and Xerus paused as he saw a familiar ship parked close by.

"What is it, Xerus?" Lana asked, stopping.

He gestured to the ship, and Lana followed his hand. Her eyes widened.

"When did they get here?" Lana asked Bo.

"Only a few weeks ago. Come see!"

They followed her and the others into the city, to its core, where the park he and Lana had once laid in had grown and was larger and more open than before, with a new set of trees surrounding its edge.