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Chapter Fifteen

C allie

“As a reward for completing Phase Two successfully, you are granted an evening excursion,” the Committee member announces. “The Sanctoran auroras are particularly vibrant tonight.”

My gaze meets Aries’ across our small dinner table. After the emotional intensity of today’s memory session, the thought of escaping our tiny cottage feels like a gift.

“The usual contact restrictions apply,” they continue, “but you may explore the meadow behind your dwelling until a standard hour after the first moon rises.”

After they shimmer out of sight, Spark zooms excited circles around us, trailing sparkles of anticipation.

“I think someone’s ready for an adventure,” I laugh, watching our shimmerling dart between us.

“Can’t blame them. We’ve all been cooped up…” Aries breaks off as we step outside and get our first look at the sky.

Ribbons of light dance overhead—not the greens and blues of Earth’s northern lights, but impossible swirls of purple and gold that paint the entire sky. As we watch, the colors shift and quake like they’re performing some cosmic dance.

“It’s beautiful,” I breathe, forgetting for a moment all the complex emotions between us.

“Look.” Aries points to where the light show reflects off a nearby pond, doubling the display. “The water acts like a mirror.”

Without discussing it, we make our way to the pond’s edge. The grass is soft beneath my feet, dotted with tiny flowers that glow in response to our movement. Each step leaves trails of bioluminescence.

“It’s like walking through starlight,” I marvel.

“Mmm.” Aries stops, lifts his chin, and talks a breath so deep his chest visibly expands. He’s beautiful in the moonlight, standing there like a statue, the undulating lights performing a little light show on the whorls of his horns.

I tamp down a moment of loss, thinking that I missed sharing the last five years with a man who I vilified. I’m learning day by day that he didn’t earn my disdain.

Spark must not catch my momentary melancholy because it seems beside itself with joy, zooming through the aurora’s reflection in the pond and emerging trailing ribbons of light that match the sky. Its enthusiasm is contagious.

“I didn’t know it could do that,” Aries says, watching our companion create its own miniature light show.

“I don’t think it knew either.”

The shimmerling ’s happiness is palpable as it discovers this new ability. “Look at him go!”

Spark continues its aerial dance, occasionally swooping close enough to shower us with harmless sparks that tingle pleasantly against my skin.

The aurora’s light reflects on Aries’ bronze skin, making him seem to glow from within.

When he smiles at our pet’s antics, something warm glows in my chest.

“Oh!” A cluster of peculiar creatures emerges from the grass—something between butterflies and hummingbirds, their wings trailing phosphorescent patterns in the air. They seem drawn to Spark’s display, joining in with their own aerial ballet.

“Star dancers,” Aries explains softly. “I’ve read about them. They only come out during auroras.”

Our attention is captured as one of the creatures hovers near his horns, apparently fascinated by their curves. Another investigates my hair, its tiny wings wafting breezes that carry the scent of night-blooming flowers.

“They’re not afraid of us at all,” I marvel as more emerge to join the dance.

“Why should they be?” His voice holds quiet wonder. “Look at them—they’re pure joy given form.”

Pure joy given form. Did he always have such a gift for words? What else have I yet to discover about this male who is now my mate?

Spark seems delighted with these new playmates, leading them in ever more elaborate patterns through the air. The combined spectacle of the aurora, star dancers, and our enthusiastic shimmerling creates something magical.

A cool breeze carries the scent of rain. Without thinking, I step closer to Aries for warmth. He tenses slightly, and I remember the rules—no contact outside of prescribed activities.

“Sorry,” I murmur, starting to move away.

“Don’t be.” His voice is rough. “I wish…”

The words hang unfinished between us, heavy with possibility as our gazes lock. So many words remain unsaid for long moments, then we break the connection and look to the sky.

Spark seems to sense the moment’s weight. It creates a twirling spiral in the air between us, then pretends to be very interested in its reflection in the water when we both look its way.

“Subtle as always,” Aries says dryly, but there’s humor in his voice.

“It means well.” Watching our shimmerling play with its new friends, I can’t help smiling. “All of them, really. The Committee, Spark, even these little dancers. They’re trying to show us something.”

“What’s that?”

“That beauty can exist alongside pain. That joy is still possible, even after…” I gesture vaguely, encompassing everything we’ve faced and still must face.

His expression softens as he watches Spark lead another aerial parade. “Maybe you’re right.”

We stay for a while after the first moon rises, watching nature’s light show while our small companion plays with his new friends. The star dancers seem reluctant to let Spark leave, but our shimmerling seems to use an elaborate light pattern to promise its return.

Walking back to the cottage, our arms occasionally brush—accidental contact that sends awareness skittering across my skin. The rules feel especially difficult tonight, with aurora-light painting everything in magic and possibility.

“Thank you,” Aries says quietly as we reach our door.

“For what? ”

“For sharing this.” He gestures at the sky, still dancing with color. “For helping me remember there’s more to life than… than what we have to face in Phase Three.”

Spark creates a red heart between us before zooming inside, trailing aurora-touched sparkles.

“You’re far from sneaky, my friend,” Aries says, and we share a laugh.

The moment feels precious somehow—this shared joy, this reminder that not everything between us is weighted with trauma. That maybe we’re building something new alongside healing something broken.

Soon we’ll face more memories, more pain. But tonight, we saw magic, and that feels like its own kind of healing.