Page 29 of Across the Stars (Cosmic Threads of Fate #1)

How could a kiss elicit such powerful emotions from her?

She could tell from his parted lips, scrunched brow, and look of surprise in his eyes that Watai was as taken aback by the unexpected kiss as she was.

“I-I’m sorry,” Mae stammered, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She slid away from him.

“Mae?” Watai sounded puzzled, but he didn’t stop her from climbing off of him, dropping his hands from her waist and untangling his tail from her leg.

They both found their footing in the shallow violet water when Mae became aware of the other dragon riders’ and community members’ eyes on her. She felt embarrassed and self-conscious.

She hurried to the shore, desperate to get out of the water and away from others’ scrutiny.

She had no idea why she had acted that way.

How was she supposed to sort through her feelings and explain everything to him with their language barrier?

She only knew she needed to get away from the situation and process her thoughts and emotions.

Watai trailed behind her, calling her name, but she didn’t stop.

She felt compelled to put some distance between them and accelerated her pace, each step becoming easier as the water became shallower.

She needed time to reflect and process her emotions.

Things between her and Watai would never be the same again, and she wasn’t sure if it was for the better or for the worse.

Mae couldn’t bring herself to look at Watai as he caught up to her. She felt she had made a huge mistake and had no idea how to fix it.

“ Mae, tska, ” Watai urged, his voice full of concern. “ Nya sohask. Qupi emwim? ”

Mae shook her head, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized, her voice shaking. “I just...I think I made a mistake.”

Watai stroked her shoulder, attempting to console her. Even though she knew he didn’t understand a word she’d said, the fact that he was beside her, allowing her to express herself in this perplexing moment, touched her.

Mae took a deep breath to center herself. “I’m just so confused, Watai,” she admitted, wiping her tears away. “I’m not sure what I’m feeling or what’s going on.”

Watai nodded, as if he understood her confusion.

Mae looked at Watai, grateful to him for allowing her to sort out her feelings without judgment.

He stepped forward and wrapped a comforting hug around Mae as she struggled to make sense of her emotions.

He held her tightly, providing her with security and reassurance.

Mae’s body began to relax, her tension dissipating as she leaned into his embrace.

Once she was feeling more composed, Watai let go of her. Iskzo joined them as if he could sense their distress. Watai smiled and patted his dragon’s head, and then climbed into the saddle, reaching for Mae’s hand.

Mae nodded and accepted his help. She climbed into the saddle in front of Watai, quickly buckled her straps, and they took off into the sky.

As the stars twinkled above them, they flew over the lake, soaring through the air. The wind rushed past them, blowing Mae’s hair back as she gazed at the world below.

For a brief moment, Mae forgot about her confusion and worries, allowing them to be blown away by the wind.

“Whatever happened between you two, my rider feels responsible for making you upset, ” Iskzo said, his voice lacking the familiar playfulness. “He assumed you enjoyed it as much as he did and is perplexed as to why you fled from him.”

“He did nothing wrong,” she reassured the dragon, leaning against his neck and wrapping her arms as far as she could reach around it.

Something about pressing her cheek against his soft yet strong scales helped anchor her confusing feelings as they flew through the air.

“I enjoyed the kiss, but I am afraid that I liked it too much. It’s all so sudden, and I don’t know how I feel about our relationship or my future.

Everything’s moving so quickly, and I just needed to put a stop to it before my life spirals out of control. ”

“You are threadmates.” Iskzo’s tone was serious. “Watai’s touch is meant to be both calming and arousing. A threadmate exists to balance your desires and provide for you. There is no shame in enjoying or finding comfort in a passionate moment. What else do you need?”

Watai’s arms tightened around Mae as they flew higher and higher, spiraling and flying between the branches, past other dragons and huts. She could feel his breath on her hair and the warmth of his body behind hers, both of which reminded her of the kiss they had shared just moments before.

As they approached their hut, Iskzo landed on a branch next to the balcony. She didn’t want the flight to end—she wanted to stay in the air forever—but her body and soul were ready for sleep. She hoped that when she awoke, her mind would be clearer.

The leaves rustled in the breeze, the stars twinkled in the sky, and the sound of the river filtered in from a distance.

Watai helped her down from the saddle, and they walked to their hut in silence.

Once inside, Watai turned to her and held her close again. She could feel his heartbeat against her chest and knew he was feeling the same sadness and longing she was. They stood there for a moment, not saying anything and holding each other tightly.

Finally, Mae pulled away, looking up at Watai. “Thank you,” she said softly. “For everything.”

Watai smiled down at her, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “ Muwauk Mae. Nya kylu ayn. ”

Mae felt her heart flutter as she looked into his eyes. She knew she was falling for him, but she didn’t know what the future held for her. For the time being, she was content just to be with him, even if it was just for this moment.

Watai let go of her and pulled her comb from a pouch on his belt, handing it to her with a soft smile.

Mae exclaimed as she ran her fingers over the smooth bone of her comb. She had almost forgotten about it, but seeing it reminded her of the little boy who had given it to her, Xaynu. She smiled, grateful for the alien boy and his family’s kindness.

Mae started to brush her wet hair. Watai gestured to her that he needed to take the saddle off of Iskzo and that he would be back soon.

Mae nodded, understanding how important it was to look after Iskzo. She watched Watai leave the hut, feeling a pang of sadness as he did. Her developing feelings for him were a strange and perplexing weight in her chest.

Mae had never considered dating an alien, despite meeting quite a few on her missions, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t found some attractive.

But what she saw in Watai was more than just a handsome face and a stunning body; his caring and protective personality had reawakened something within her that she’d given up wanting over the years.

What was the point of falling in love with a human when she didn’t know if she’d ever return to Earth? She couldn’t justify leaving a heartbroken partner behind forever, so she had stopped dating altogether.

But Watai made her want to abandon all caution in an asteroid field. She had to decide whether she was willing to fly in head—and heart—first.

Mae continued to brush her hair as she reflected on her experiences since arriving on this moon.

Watai and his people had taken her in and treated her with kindness and acceptance.

She’d learned so much about their culture and way of life, and she couldn’t help but be thankful for the chance to be a part of it all.

Mae was excited about the time they had spent together, but also a little scared of what the future held—for both her and his people. They came from very different worlds, and she didn’t know if they could ever truly understand each other.