Page 25

Islae

Islae’s jaw dropped as she stepped off Kackjin’s ship and onto Nirum’s surface.

The twin suns painted the sky in shades of amber and rose, their light catching on the crystalline towering spires that seemed to grow straight from the ground.

The air tasted sweet and clean in a way Jorvla’s polluted atmosphere never had been.

“This is…” She trailed off, unable to find words adequate enough to describe the majestic landscape before her.

Nirrn curled possessively around her, his scaled chest pressing against her back as he leaned down to murmur in her ear. “Welcome home, Islae.”

The word “home” struck a chord in her mind.

Beautiful as it was, the alien landscape before her felt worlds away from everything she had ever known.

Crystal temples rose like frozen waterfalls, their surfaces refracting light in rainbow patterns across the ground.

The architecture defied physics, the structures seeming to float without support.

Nirrn guided her through the winding crystal paths toward a structure that took her breath away. His home stood three stories tall, its walls appearing to be hewn from a single massive crystal. Sunlight poured through tall windows, creating prisms that danced across pristine marble floors.

“You lived here before Jorvla?” Islae ran her fingers along a wall, marveling at its smooth, cool surface.

“This has always been my sanctuary.” His eyes fixed intently on her face, watching her astonished reaction. “Though it never felt quite right until now.”

The interior opened into a vast living space, the ceiling stretching high above them. Unlike the cramped, dark spaces of Jorvla, every room breathed with light and space. Gardens grew in indoor courtyards, exotic plants she had never seen before reaching toward the twin suns.

“It’s so beautiful,” she whispered, though the word “beautiful” felt inadequate.

Nirrn’s chest rumbled with satisfaction. His tail unwound from her ankle only to slide up her leg, pulling her closer. “You’re so beautiful in this light. Like you belong here.”

She turned in his arms, pressing her palms against the smooth scales of his chest. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to this. It’s so different from…”

“From the filth and corruption of Jorvla?” His voice hardened. “You deserve better than hiding in the shadows and healing others in secret.” His hand brushed against her cheek. “Here, you can heal openly. Work in a proper clinic. Be who you were always meant to be.”

The possibility of it all overwhelmed her. No more fear. No more running. No more watching over her shoulder. Just this—light and peace and Nirrn.

Later that afternoon, the Nirum Medical Plaza rose before them like a cathedral of healing, its crystal walls gleaming in the light from both suns.

Islae gasped as she took in the towering spires and intricate archways.

Unlike the stark, utilitarian buildings of Jorvla, this place radiated warmth and welcome.

Nirrn slid his arm gently around her waist as they approached the entrance. His orange scales shimmered in the sunlight, and Islae couldn’t help but notice how his presence seemed to fill the space around them.

The doors swept open, and a group of Niri healers emerged. Their eyes widened at the sight of Nirrn, and Islae felt the wave of respect that rolled through them.

“Master Nirrn…” One of them stepped forward, bowing deeply. “We had heard rumors of your return. And this must be your mate?”

Nirrn nodded, his lips curving upward. “This is Islae. She is a skilled healer in her own right.”

Another Niri, her scales a deep blue, approached with reverence. “Your work with difficult births has become legendary here, Master Nirrn. The techniques you developed have saved countless mothers and children.”

Islae glanced up at Nirrn, seeing him in a new light. She had known he was skilled, but this level of admiration from his peers spoke volumes.

“Come,” the first healer gestured. “Let us show you how we’ve implemented your methods.”

As they moved through the facility, Islae marveled at the advanced equipment, the pristine conditions, and the sense of purpose that permeated every room. This was what healing should be—not hidden away in dark corners but celebrated and refined.

Nirrn kept her close, his powerful form coiled protectively around her as they toured the facility.

His hand rested possessively on the small of her back, a constant reminder of their connection.

When another Niri approached, his tail would tighten slightly around her waist, a subtle claim that made her heart race.

“Your mate bond sure is strong,” one of the elder healers observed, nodding approvingly. “We can sense it.”

Nirrn’s eyes met Islae’s. “She is everything I searched and hoped for.”

The respect these healers showed Nirrn stirred something deep in Islae’s chest. Pride, yes, but also a growing understanding of just who she had chosen for her mate.

He wasn’t just any healer here on Nirum—he was a pioneer and a master of his craft.

And somehow, impossibly, the universe had chosen her for his mate.

The elder healer turned to Islae, her silver scales catching the light. “We would be honored if you would consider taking a teaching position in our healing program. There’s a small clinic within the university that would be perfect for your practical demonstrations.”

Her breath caught in her chest. The offer hung in the air like crystal chimes, beautiful but fragile. Her fingers twisted in the fabric of her tunic as memories of dark alleys and whispered warnings flooded back. How could she teach others when she’d spent so long hiding her skills?

“I…” She glanced around the pristine facility, so different from her makeshift clinic in Jorvla’s slums. “I’ve never taught before.”

“Which is precisely why we need you,” the elder continued.

“Your experience with emergency field medicine, your adaptability—these are invaluable skills our students must learn.” She turned to Nirrn, her expression warm.

“And we’d like you to join her as senior partner, Master Nirrn.

Your expertise would complement hers perfectly. ”

Nirrn’s tail coiled around Islae, pulling her closer to his chest. The familiar press of his scales against her back steadied her racing thoughts. His chest rumbled as he spoke, “Teaching together would be…ideal.”

The word “together” sent a shiver through her body. She turned to look up at him, finding his golden eyes already fixed on her. Pride radiated from him, along with something deeper—a fierce possessiveness that made her heart race.

“What do you think, mate?” he murmured, his voice pitched low for her ears alone. The way he said “mate”—like a claim and a caress all at once—made her knees weak.

Islae studied his face, seeing not just pride but absolute certainty. He believed in her and trusted her abilities completely. And working alongside him every day, building something together instead of fighting alone in the shadows…

“Yes,” she said, surprising herself with the steadiness of her voice. “Yes, I’ll do it.”

The elder healer beamed, but Islae barely noticed.

She was too caught up in the way Nirrn’s eyes darkened with pleasure, the way his tail tightened possessively around her waist. This was more than she had ever dreamed possible—not just survival, but a chance to truly live and heal and teach.

And to do it all with Nirrn by her side.

Later that day, Islae’s eyes widened as they entered the Floating Gardens of Veridia.

The setting suns painted the crystalline structures in deep orange and pink, creating an ethereal glow that seemed to pulse with its own life.

Her fingers tightened on Nirrn’s muscled arm as she took in the impossible sight before her—entire islands of earth and vegetation suspended in mid-air, drifting like clouds in a gentle breeze.

“How is this even possible?” She peered over the edge of their platform, her heart skipping at the dizzying drop below. The districts of Nirum sprawled out beneath them, their spires catching the last rays of sunlight.

“Ancient magic.” Nirrn coiled around her, drawing her back against his chest. His scales were warm against her skin, and she breathed in his familiar scent mixed with the garden’s exotic blooms. “The founders of Nirum discovered how to harness the air currents.”

A nearby flower unfurled its petals, releasing a shower of iridescent pollen that danced in the fading light. Islae watched, mesmerized, as the tiny particles caught the light and transformed into miniature rainbows.

“I’ve never seen such vibrant colors.” She reached out to touch a flower whose petals shifted from deep crimson to molten gold before her eyes.

Nirrn guided her across a bridge that seemed woven from pure light, his tail never loosening its protective grip. “These gardens are one of Nirum’s greatest treasures.” His golden eyes met her brown ones, intense and possessive. “But its beauty is nothing compared to yours.”

Heat bloomed in her cheeks at his words. Just a few weeks ago, she had been hiding in Jorvla’s shadows, and now here she stood in this floating paradise with her mate. The thought still stunned her.

“I feel like I’m in a dream,” she whispered, watching a pair of crystal-winged birds soar past, their songs echoing like wind chimes. “Yesterday I was on Jorvla, and now…” She gestured at the floating paradise around them. “How can this be my life?”

“Because you were destined to be here.” His voice rumbled through her body. “With me.”

Islae leaned into his embrace, feeling truly safe for the first time in years. “Thank you for bringing me to Nirum.” She pressed closer, savoring his strength. “For giving me a real home and future.”

The suns continued their descent, painting everything in deep golds and purples. Islae felt Nirrn’s chest rise and fall against her back, his presence both protective and possessive. Here, surrounded by floating gardens, impossible beauty, and Nirrn, she finally felt truly happy.