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“He’s supposed to check in with us tomorrow as well, assuming he hasn’t had his shell handed to him by then,” Thorac muttered in frustration.

“Thunder says greetings,” Faktil interjected before they ended the transmission.

He could picture the mute Toufik eagerly signaling to let him know he was present and equally concerned about his well-being.

“Greetings, my furry brother. Elena and I can’t wait to see you all. We have many tales to share but I better sign off to reserve energy. Until tomorrow.” Payim nodded even though they couldn’t see him.

“Tomorrow,” Thorac agreed.

“May the goddess keep you,” Faktil said before they cut the transmission.

“So, this is really happening,” Elena said when he turned to her.

“It is.” He nodded, beyond happy with their success.

The smile on his face dropped when he noticed Elena’s anxious expression before she turned away and quietly headed to the hole in the side of the ship.

“The sunset is gorgeous,” she commented softly as she took a seat.

The sun appeared oddly green as it dipped below the horizon. The sky was a vibrant red, painted with streaks of yellow and orange.

“It is.” He sat down beside her.

“I don’t think I’ve ever noticed just how amazing it is. I’ve spent so much time struggling to get by, yet even on my good days, I’m not sure I noticed. It’s sort of sad,” she sighed.

Respectfully, he stayed quiet. Elena had been here for so long, the fact that she would soon be leaving was a lot to take in. As much as he wanted to cheer her up, she needed time to process this moment.

“I’ve heard myths that the first people feared the sun setting, worried it may never rise again. I get that. It marks the passing of the day. Tomorrow, things will be different. Your friends will come. We’ll finally be off this planet and everything will be different.”

She glanced at him, uncertainty swimming in her big brown eyes, and it dawned on him that she was worried things would be different between them when they were rescued.

Fool. She’s not just overwhelmed that we’re going to be rescued. She’s worried things between us are coming to an end.

They’d talked about mating customs, but skirted around their relationship. It was no wonder she was feeling insecure. He could sympathize. The subject made him equally nervous.

Gently he pulled Elena into his lap. Eagerly she snuggled against him with a sigh and he nuzzled her hair.

“I am sorry that I haven’t said this before now. I’m not good at sharing my thoughts. Too much time alone, I guess,” he began.

“I know about too much time alone,” Elena snorted wistfully.

“I want to watch a thousand more sunsets with you and sunrises, too, as many as we’re granted.” He wrapped his arms around her.

“Oh, Payim.” Elena turned in his arms to face him. “I’d like that, too.”

He smiled as his heart leapt, then grew serious again.

“I’m not suitable. I come from nothing. Where the markings of my clan should be, I have only tales of war.” He pointed to the blank flesh on either side of his chest where his lineage should’ve been. “And I fear hurting you. You are so small and I am so big.” He frowned as he voiced the logistics of bonding with Elena. He didn’t want to scare her, but he had to be honest.

“But you are…”

He put a finger to her lips, cutting her off. He needed to get this out before he let another moment go by.

“I think, no, I know you are my mate. Everything in my being screams that it’s true. And even if we can’t bond, I will brand your name in the middle of my chest, because I love you, Elena.”

Elena pulled in a deep breath and the moisture in her eyes slipped down her cheeks, while her hands fluttered over his chest and shoulders. His gut twisted seeing her tears, unsure of what they meant.

“You are an amazing female, kind, caring, strong, resourceful, intelligent…” he anxiously blurted when Elena said nothing.