Page 136 of Alien Soldier's Heir

That I get this.

I walk toward them slowly, the sun setting at our backs, drenching everything in gold.

Kaz sets Dar down, and Dar immediately picks up a handful of grass and launches it at us like a grenade. “Ew! If you kiss again, I’m moving to Verzius’s house!”

“Again?” Kaz says, grinning.

“Ever!”

I lean in and kiss him anyway.

Slow and certain.

Not desperate.

Not rushed.

Justhome.

Kaz hums into it. I feel him smile. And for a second, we’re the only two people left in the whole wide sky.

Dar groans, exaggerated and long-suffering. “Adults are so gross.”

Kaz pulls away just enough to whisper, “Don’t worry. He’ll understand someday.”

I shake my head. “He already does. He just doesn’t want to admit it.”

The sun kisses the edge of the horizon, and shadows stretch long across the grass. Dar runs ahead again, chasing something invisible. We let him.

Kaz slips his hand into mine.

We walk forward, toward the hangar, toward tomorrow, toward whatever wild thing waits next.

I don’t look back.