Page 22 of Grounded (Convergence #1)

“I left the pit that day after being chastised by my corporal.

I didn't explain myself to him, not then.

There was too much anger in me. I was embarrassed and that made me even angrier.

I couldn't speak to him rationally. So, I let him berate me and then left. I went back to the barracks with my unit—losing my amulet along the way.” Thax reached up to brush his pendant, taking her hand along with his.

“Thank you again for returning this. It was a gift from my mother.

She gave it to me the day I left for the surface.

It's supposed to be converged to protect the wearer.”

Liria grinned. “I told you security is a type of convergence. And I can sense it, by the way. I don't know how or how much it protects you, but it does.”

“Well, that's nice to know.” Thax chewed at his lower lip, trying to put his thoughts in order before he shared them.

“I didn't know it was gone. Not even after I returned to my room. I was too angry to notice. I showered, got dressed, and went to eat.” He nuzzled her cheek and kissed her there before whispering in her ear.

“Then I saw you. I saw you look at me. You were a flash of light in the darkness.

But then I left the dining hall and on the way back to the barracks, I was stopped by woman after woman—all Medeans, all wanting sex.

Nothing beyond that. Just sex with the brutal beast who beheaded two Nethren.

A wild ride on a savage cock. That's all I was to them, and it became more and more evident that I meant nothing here—not to the people or the surface.”

“That's not true.”

“I know that now. But it felt like it.”

“In defense of those women who approached you, they think that's what Aethari prefer. No commitment.”

“Why would they think that?”

“Because most of you want to go home after you finish your term. And no Aethari has ever offered to take one of us with them.”

He snorted a laugh. “Of course not.”

Liria went still.

“Liri, I'm so sorry!” Thax bent his forehead to hers.

Fuck! Why had he said that? “I didn't mean it like that.” He eased back so he could meet her stare.

“It's just that Medeans aren't allowed into our cities.

Not even if they're with an Aethari. And no Aethari has ever married a Medean. It's against our law.”

“Against your law?”

“Yes, we have a lot of laws that could use a refresh.” He grimaced.

“Well, I don't think any Medean here knows about that law, but we do know that no Aethari-Medean relationship has lasted longer than the Aethari's service.

I've seen it myself. The Aethari leaves the Medean behind every time, no matter how in love they seem.

Now I know why, but it doesn't really matter, does it?

The result is the same. We know that we're a temporary thing for all of you.

The only interaction available to us is sex and war.

So, that's what we offer—alliance on the battlefield and pleasure in our beds. Your people have taught us how to behave with you. In short, you did this to yourselves.”

Thaxvarien's heart clenched. He wanted to tell her what he was risking to be with her, especially knowing the way he already felt.

He wanted her to know that he didn't care about the law anymore.

If they became something as wondrous as he suspected they would, he would fight to have that law changed.

It wouldn't be the first time he went up against the Aethari Council.

For her, he would argue with them until he won.

Those declarations swirled in Thax's mind and tried to work their way out of his mouth, but all he said was, “Liri.”

“No.” Liria sat up. “No, I'm glad we're having this talk. I was beginning to think there could be something lasting between us. But you're just like the rest of them—looking for someone to fuck around with until you can go home.”

“That's not true, Liri.”

Liria looked over her shoulder at him. Thaxvarien was still propped on his elbow, but he lifted his face to look at her.

“Just because something has never been done before, it doesn't make it impossible.” He cupped her cheek. “We can be the first.”

“The first what, Thax?”

“The first lasting interracial couple. We can show everyone that love between our people isn't a bad thing. That just because we can't procreate, it doesn't mean we can't be together.”

“That's only if we fall in love.”

He lifted a brow at her, hoping his bravado was founded.

“Don't,” Liria said.

“I'm only being honest. Why don't you return the courtesy to me and yourself?”

“What does that mean?”

Thax sat up to face her. “Come on, Liri. Does it have to be a battle between us as well? I came down to the surface thinking that Medeans were a type of enemy. I faced our true enemies and then endured the sexual aggression of your fellow soldiers. That all seemed to prove my beliefs. But then this beautiful Medean woman walked up to me and changed everything.” He kissed her, just a press of his lips on hers, and then eased back again.

“One look at you, and my fury surged out of control.”

“Excuse me?”

“My first sight of you was epic. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.

I told you—when I saw you in the dining hall, you brightened the darkness of that day.

But my second impression was tainted by all those other women.

I saw you coming up to me in that corridor, and all I could think was that Source was being cruel to me.

The one Medean woman I desired—the one I actually wanted to be with—had come to me like all the rest. Without respect.

As if I were a tool to be used and discarded.

But what really infuriated me was that I didn't care.

You made me want to be used by you. And that made me disgusted with myself and you.

I think I hated you at that moment. Still, I couldn't stop myself from touching you. I was so fucking angry with you and so enthralled all at once.”

Liria made a huffing sound—part laugh and part amazement. “Yeah, I was pretty angry with you too.”

“Oh, I know.” Thaxvarien grinned. “You fucking spun my head, woman.

You made me think. See things from a different perspective.

You shocked the fury right out of me. And then you returned my amulet.

I was wrong. You weren't one of those women. I had completely misjudged you, and I felt like an utter asshole.”

“I know why you assumed what you did about me. I didn't blame you. At least not after I had some time to think about it. In fact, I sort of respected your anger. But thank you for telling me the rest of it.”

“I haven't finished.”

“All right. Go on then.”

“After you left, I did some research. It was shockingly easy to find the truth. It was all there—in Paradefense public records. I found the vids on the negotiations between our people. They backed up everything you said.” He looked away.

“I felt betrayed by my own kind.” He looked back at her.

“And really foolish. I went to find you to apologize.

But then, I don't know what happened. I got caught up in you again.

Couldn't even think straight enough to make a proper apology.”

“You seemed pretty confident.”

“That was all instinct, baby.” Thax shrugged and smirked.

Liria snorted, but then she went serious. “I . . . shit, Thax. I like you. A lot.”

“Why is that a problem?”

“I don't want to be the first Aethari-Medean couple. Do you understand what we'll be facing?”

“Nothing, Liri. At least not for five years. No one will think anything of us being together here.”

“No, not here. But if we do . . . oh. You're saying that once you're done with your five years, we'll be over.”

“No!” Thaxvarien let out a huff. “Aren't you listening to me?

Look, I don't know what will happen between us.

I can't see the future. So, no, I can't guarantee we'll get married and be the couple who changes Aethari law.

Maybe we'll last a week, maybe a year, but maybe, Liri, we will last a lifetime.

That's the risk every couple faces. But I'm willing to take that chance with you.”

“Then why did you say that? That thing about no one noticing us here?”

“Because I was trying to say that we won't be facing anything difficult unless we end up falling so deeply in love that difficulties won't matter.

So we don't have to worry about that now.

We can just relax into this and see where it goes.

After five years, if we're still together, we'll be so in love that we won't care about laws or the opinions of others. All that will matter will be us—our future.”

“And you're willing to take the chance that we might have a future?”

“Why wouldn't I?”

“It would be easier to walk away now. And then we definitely won't have to face any difficulties.”

“Easier? Liri, don't you think I've already tried to walk away? I walked away five times today alone, on my way here. I kept turning around, but I couldn't take a single step away from you. And that tells me one very important thing.”

“What?”

“I'm exactly where I belong.”

To Thaxvarien's delight and amazement, Liri launched herself into his arms and kissed him. She pulled him down onto the bed with her and kissed him until they were both trembling. And then she nuzzled in against him and they just held each other.

At last, with Liri tucked within his arms and wings, Thaxvarien Rennux felt at home on the surface of Para.