Page 44

Epilogue

Planet of Qaldreth

Meorri tribe

E nduring the many tests, the honoring ceremony, and the formal dinners had taken a few weeks. Vic had drawn the strength from Drafe and Aehort. At last, they approached the Qaldreth planet. It had the look of Earth—blue, white, green, and brown.

“If Meorri is without water, but Awayar has it in abundance, why not trade?”

Drafe grinned. “Why do you ask questions you know the answers to?”

She chuckled. “We need another resource we can barter with besides salt.”

The Ivoyan shuttle touched down. She scanned the empty compartment where Aehort should have been.

The male had stayed behind on Ivoy, his life having changed after he was honored for his service.

Depending on his choice, he was to be trained as a zi—a traveler, or a lo—a teacher.

In addition, Ivoy agreed to improve their testing process.

All Ivoyan children categorized as uz could earn a higher rank.

Still, she missed him.

The door slid open to sweltering air, bathing her. She sighed. The scent of hot sand greeted her, just like on her sol-farm. Drafe captured her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. As one, they strolled down the ramp, the wind whipping her hair.

Whispers began in the recesses of her mind and built until the cacophony slammed into her.

Emotions surged, zigzagging as she endured thousands of memories, of joys and sorrows, victories and deaths.

Every nerve sparked and tingled. She froze, allowing the sensations to flood her.

Tears slipped free, the welcome too overwhelming for her to bear.

Then there was peace, the gentle blanket that was Drafe, protecting her.

“Thank you,” she gasped.

“It is good to see you, Drafe Arrak.” An elderly Qaldreth stood before them, leaning on his walking stick. “You bring a gift to Meorri.” He reached out with a shaking hand to touch Vic’s arm. “Welcome, daughter. The sands whispered of your arrival.”

“Elder Bavu, may the sands be at your back and the suns on your face.” She bowed.

Bavu beamed. “You have chosen well, Drafe.”

Thank the symbiotes. I didn’t expect a welcoming committee.

Neither did I. Drafe grinned.

She raised her gaze to the people gathered to greet her. Some did not have the hair and eyes of the Meorri. I thought tribes did not intermingle.

Drafe scanned the crowd and jerked back. “This is an unexpected welcoming, Elder Bavu.”

He snorted and gestured with his walking stick. “They have come to meet your vatia sahaar .”

“What?” she squeaked. “How did they know—?”

“Any returning Qaldreth shares his experiences from off-world.” Drafe crushed her against him. And if you do not close your mouth, I will take it as an invitation.

She wiggled her eyebrows. For what?

To kiss you.

She laughed. You don’t need an invitation ever. Help yourself.

He grinned and kissed her, plundering the depths of her mouth until breathing didn’t matter anymore.

“Enough. Mate later.” Bavu whacked Drafe’s thigh with his stick. “I have had these people on our doorstep for days. Oh, for a little peace.” He waddled past Larya and her mate, Kael.

Shyness struck Vic. She frowned. Never had she been nervous or self-conscious about meeting people, but Larya wasn’t just anyone. Her fingers twitched where they gripped Kael’s forearm.

Vic drew in a deep breath and stepped out of Drafe’s embrace. “Hello, sister.”

Larya’s smile was beautiful, bright, and her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She sniffed, not letting them fall—to do so was wasteful. “Greetings, sister.” She lunged, engulfing Vic in a hug. Drafe laughed and hugged them both. Kael followed, embracing them all.

“Our family has grown, brother.” Larya smiled when the hug unraveled. She rubbed her belly in a sign as old as time.

Drafe gasped, then roared, whipping his sister into his arms.

“Careful now.” Kael threw out his hands, his brow knitting.

As soon as Drafe set Larya’s feet on the sand, Kael snatched her into his arms, his gaze vigilant should Drafe feel the need to hoist his pregnant mate into the air again.

Vic laughed, reading Kael’s expressions and listening to the symbiotes when they whispered of past celebrations.

“We have prepared your home…” Larya giggled. “This night will be yours alone. After the suns rise in the morning, expect many visitors.”

Impatient, the crowds grew rowdy, calling out Vic and Drafe’s names.

I don’t see why the excitement. Vic pasted on a smile and grabbed Drafe’s hand.

You are not Qaldreth nor Ivoy. He stole a kiss. You are mine.

Fine. One more thing I need to endure. Releasing Drafe’s hand, she strode forward and paused a meter away from the crowd. “Greetings, Qaldreth.”

Silence fell as they waited for her to continue.

She sighed. “I am a human of Earth. My name was Victoria Barnes Harper.” They blinked at her. “But you may call me Meorri aac Victoria.”

They cheered and stamped their feet, casting up clouds of fine sand.

The suns baked down on her, and she raised her gaze to the two glowing orbs traversing the blue sky so like Earth’s. “Thank you for your kind welcome.” Farg, she hoped that was the end of it.

Voices bombarded questions at her. Her head snapped from one side to the other as she tried to find the sources.

“Are all humans as pale as you?”

“How many tribes are on Earth?”

“Why don’t your eyes match your hair? Are you a half-breed?”

“It is forbidden,” leaped across those gathered.

Vic waved her hands, shushing them. “We have many colors, and sometimes the hair matches the eyes. No, we don’t have tribes, and on Earth, you may mate with whomever you choose. It is not forbidden.”

“Truly?” someone called out.

“Yes. Giniiri aac Nenn Maed has mated a woman named Tiny. She has purple hair.” Vic smothered a wince. She didn’t know what Tiny’s eye color was other than the white she once had.

Gasps followed, along with whispers about lightning.

A child broke from the crowd, carrying a wrapped bundle. Vic kneeled and smiled at the boy. “Hello.”

He skidded to a halt. “Hello?”

“It means greetings.”

“Oh. My mama says to give you this.” He shoved the bundle at her and prepared to dart away.

Vic caught him. “Wait, I don’t know your name. And wow, your muscles are amazing. Are you training to become a fine warrior?” She squeezed his upper arm as if it was the largest set of muscles she’d ever encountered.

He grinned, wide enough to twitch his ears poking through his head of blue hair. “I am.”

“I’m sure you will bring honor to the Zuphayr tribe.” She gestured to the bundle. “Want to help me open this?”

He nodded, and within seconds, the aroma of salted meat teased her nose.” What are they? she asked Drafe.

Dried kurrula.

So not helpful, she said, wishing she could roll her eyes .

Drafe chuckled. The flesh of birds.

Like chicken? She could get behind that. “Mm, this smells so good.” Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply. “Please, choose one for me and you.”

“Me?” His eyes widened and burned a bright blue.

“Of course. It’s rude to eat alone, isn’t it?”

He nodded, his hungry gaze on the dark strips of meat.

With eager fingers, he chose the biggest piece for her.

Right then, her heart melted. She accepted it, took a massive bite, and hummed her appreciation.

Once he had chosen his, she clamped her lips on the strip, wiped her hands on her pants, and ruffled his hair.

“Tell your mom these are the best kurrula I have ever tasted.”

The boy weaved through the crowd hollering his mother’s name.

You did not have to do that, but it is appreciated. Drafe rubbed her lower back as he joined her. Yet another reason why I love you.

She offered him a strip while chewing on her own. Children are precious. Every word said to them has impact.

One by one, folks stepped forward, blessing her with gifts from their tribes.

At one point, Kael rushed off to fetch his wagon.

He and Drafe loaded the rugs, woven blankets, homemade garments, weapons, foods, and as wonderful as their generosity was, none of it mattered as much as the simple leather necklace with an amber pendant.

As she stared at it draped over her palm, tears pressed behind her eyes. A young man stood before her, his spine straight, his chin high, his orange hair blowing in the hot breeze.

She sniffed, and he dipped his chin, his shoulders drooping. “I apologize. I meant no offense.”

“No.” She squeezed her eyes shut and willed the tears to abate. “I apologize. This is incredible. It’s the exact shade of my vatia sahaar’s eyes. I will cherish this always.” She looped it over her head and stroked the pendant where it rested below her collarbone.

The crowd cheered and slapped the young man on his back as he returned to their midst.

Drafe raised his hands. “Thank you for your warm welcome. Please, take care as you return home and send Osnir’s blessings to your tribes.”

In an orderly fashion, the crowd dispersed.

Vic gaped. Why couldn’t you have started with that?

They would not have left until they met you and judged for themselves the validity of the rumors.

She huffed. Under their vigilant gazes, she dared not wipe the sweat from her brow or sweep aside the tendrils sticking to her neck. Drafe escorted her into the caverns, the temperature cooling the deeper they strolled. Kael pulled the cart with Larya nestled in the middle of it, protected.

Curious faces peeked out of their caves, nodded, waved, or came out to watch them pass. By the time they reached the farthest doorway, exhaustion pounded at Vic. She entered Drafe’s home and sighed, spreading her arms wide to better relish the shade.