Page 53 of Star Crossed Delta

MAK

T he flight back to The Sombra the following day was silent.

Mak sat by Saba’s side, their fingers intertwined.

The void outside their port window blurred as they rested in the comfort of each other’s presence, sharing intimate glances and small smiles despite the throbbing of his injured arm.

Kaal, who was also with them, was focused on his comm tab and making quiet calls, ever vigilant in his role as Sauvage’s leading strongman.

‘We have Tewa in custody,’ he soon informed them. ‘He’ll be taken for a lengthy interrogation with my men before we repatriate him and his wife to The Sombra’s lock-up.’

The news left bitter ash in Mak’s mouth.

Turning to Saba, he caught her gaze fixed on the plane window, her lips pressed together.

Her family’s reality was getting to her heart, which broke his.

Leaning forward, he slid a finger under her chin and turned her to him.

‘Too much, love?’

She gave him a sad smile. She had done the same with Shiloh when they said goodbye to their new and unexpected Asivan family on The Selburnia .

‘He wasn’t all evil. The fact that he raised us and took the responsibility of three girls after our parents died is commendable.’

‘Do you always see the best in others?’ he asked, with a gentle turn of his lips.

‘I try to, for we all have our sins, yet we all have grace.’

He fixed his eyes on her, taking in how pretty she looked that morning.

Saba’s hair fell in tousled waves around her face, glimmering in the filtered light. Her cheeks were flushed, giving her a natural rosy hue.

Her eyes were framed by long, dark lashes, bright, sparkling green, even in her sadness.

A wave of emotion washed over him.

Fokk , he adored her.

His heart lurched as he imagined her lips, sweet and soft like honey.

The thought lingered, tempting him to lean in and sip.

He bent to kiss her, a gentle searching touch, in reverence for the beauty and purity of her spirit.

She returned it with a yearning that twisted his gut.

He was beginning to care for her, to need her like he needed air to breathe.

With an inhale, he tore himself from her and bit his lip to control the raging desire he had for her.

Only to find Kaal’s eyes on him from across the aisle, a smirk on his mouth.

He gave him a subtle finger and raised a hand to the steward in charge, needing a bitter kahawa to take him through the rest of the flight.

Before he knew it, they landed in The Sombra’s private spaceport with little fanfare, where his flyer was on standby to whisk them back home.

Preparing to part ways, Kaal hugged him. ‘Seems like your unintended is your fokkin ’ forever now,’ he grunted into his ear as he embraced him. ‘Stop looking so salty; I’m only happy for you, brother. You’re besotted.’

Mak raised a brow, wanting to give a glib answer. ‘Say it to my face, now won’t you?’

He thumped his back. ‘If you have what others have been waiting years to experience, cherish it, mofo.’

‘Hey,’ Mak said, changing the subject. ‘This Solanite shitshow?’

‘I’m putting the Sauvage strongmen on it. I understand this is just the beginning, that we’re about to unravel a cluster fokk .’

Mak frowned.

‘Brother,’ Kaal rasped, cutting through his worry. ‘Take some time to kick back and heal with your woman. I’ll take care of it.’

Mak exhaled, for once conceding to his younger sibling.

He had the seer gift, the energy, smarts, and drive to get shit done, so he clasped his shoulder with his free hand. ‘I trust you. Give them hell.’

‘I’ll send them to the underworld.’

The hardness in Kaal’s eyes made Mak shiver, for the man was a ruthless warrior.

‘Now fokk off,’ Kaal growled with a smirk as he loped away to Mak’s curses.

Mak turned to Saba, clasping her elbow.

He locked onto her dancing eyes and chuckled before they proceeded to the flyer.

They were soon home, landing in a flurry of leaves and wind on the rooftop of the lodge.

Ever their rock, Koda was waiting for them with a solemn expression. ‘All is well,’ he reported.

However, when his eyes fell on Mak’s sling, his face furrowed. ‘But ?ar , are you OK?’

Mak gave him a chin jerk. ‘Just a scuffle, nothing significant.’

‘Dr. Merandi is here, in the living room,’ he announced.

‘Send him to my chambers.’

They met The Sombra’s head medic at the door to their primary room to have his wound redressed.

‘Good morning.’

Mak nodded in greeting. ‘Please come through, doctor.’

The physician’s midnight black hair was slicked back, and his dark eyes were observant as he took in Mak’s appearance.

His eyes flicked to his bandage and sling as Saba led him into their suite.

He followed and set his bag down on a side table as Mak settled into a couch with a wince.

‘How are you?’ he asked as he began unpacking his tools.

‘I’m doing alright,’ Mak replied. ‘Just a little sore.’

‘I can imagine,’ the doctor muttered with sympathy. ‘May I take a look at your wounds?’

‘Of course,’ Mak agreed, scooting closer so that he’d assess his injuries.

Saba exchanged a smile with the doctor and perched herself on a chair to watch.

Dr. Merandi examined Mak’s injury with care, redressing it with fresh bandages. He worked in silence, his movements precise and gentle.

When he finished and stepped back, his expression was satisfied with his work.

‘There,’ he said with a bow. ‘All done. Your brother did a good job.’

‘He wasn’t too bad,’ Mak returned with a slight grin. ‘ Sante for your time.’

‘It’s my pleasure,’ Dr. Merandi grunted, packing his things. ‘Remember to take it easy for the next few days and let your body heal.’

‘I will,’ Mak promised.

The good doctor nodded again, bowing to Saba as he bid them goodbye and left the room.

As always, he was discreet and didn’t ask questions about what had happened or how Mak had gotten hurt.

It’s what we pay him for, Mak mused.

He turned at the touch of arms going around him from behind.

‘Baby,’ he whispered to the woman who now made his heart fly. ‘Let’s get to sleep.’

He wasn’t able to make love to her, but he could love on her.

Nothing gave him more pleasure.

He sighed as he settled back into bed next to her.

All that mattered was being here with Saba and allowing his body to heal.

Saba’s hand brushed a stray strand of hair from his face, her hand soft and warm against his own.

He ran his fingers over her flowing locks that held him captive in their tresses.

He stroked her skin, lost in wonder at how much better her affection was than wine and the fragrance of her oils than any spice.

He treasured the moment, watching her chest rise and fall as she breathed beside him.

It was all he needed.

For she was everything.

Mak had won in life.

Plain and simple.

It had been a battle over fourteen years, one waged on his heart, soul, and mental health.

But finally, he had the woman of his dreams by his side.

Over the next few weeks, he found that he was able to breathe more. Now that the invisible barrier between them had been shattered.

His spirit lifted each morning, knowing that his true love, his equal partner, the woman he had waited for all this time, was beside him, joined with him in purpose.

It had taken him a while to admit he had never quite hated Saba. What her uncle had done to her, her sisters, and him was not her fault.

The first time he saw her, he fought their wild attraction.

His walls had been up, and he’d refused to let himself feel any deeper due to all the betrayals and lies from her family.

Marrying her out of necessity, he’d resigned to never loving again, spooked and hesitant to trust any woman.

It wasn’t until the veil was lifted on her true heart that he discerned her for who she was.

Her warmth, laughter, and light started to break down those barriers.

Their journey towards love had been tumultuous, but her unwavering care for him solidified their relationship.

Now, waking up with Saba was a dream come true.

She was everything he ever wanted and more: kind, intelligent, understanding, and freakin’ beautiful.

Every evening when he returned home from work, she greeted him with open arms and whispered sweet nothings in his ear.

It didn’t matter how stressful or exhausting his day was; being met with her affection made it all fade away.

Even when he was recovering from his injury and wasn’t the easiest person to be around, Saba never hesitated to take care of him.

She would bring him food, massage his sore muscles, and hug away any of his pain.

Her selflessness showed him what true devotion was all about, and in turn, he became more considerate of her needs and emotions.

He learned to choose his words with caution, knowing she was an empath who needed gentleness in their relationship.

Their evenings consisted of dinner, and afterward, they cuddled on the couch as they shared stories about their day.

Apart from his brothers, Saba was the only person he confided in without fear of judgment, even when it came to the stress of running the Order.

No matter how down his spirit was, having her in his arms always brought him happiness.

As they went to bed, she drifted off to sleep on his chest as he played with her hair and kissed her.

Before dozing off, she would whisper how lucky she was to have him.

Fokk, he was the blessed one here.

Each day, he fell more in love with her, and the growing need for his adoration overwhelmed him.

So it was no surprise when he murmured his feelings for her one morning, out of the overflow of his heart.

They were having breakfast out on the terrace adjacent to the pool.

Enjoying the warm summer haze at the start of the day.

He was lying back on the outdoor lounge, feet up.

His woman was curled at his side, cradled by his free and mobile arm.

The remains of kahawa , muesli, yogurt, and toast sat on the long table before them.

Her head rested on his chest, her fingers tracing absent-minded patterns on his skin.

The sun cast a golden glow on her hair, turning the highlights in her dark hair into a halo of spun gold.

He studied her for a moment, taking in the delicate curve of her neck and the sweep of her eyelashes against her cheek as she blinked.

He cleared his throat, bracing.

‘Saba,’ he began, his voice rough with unvoiced sentiment.

She raised her head to look at him, her eyes searching his.

‘What is it, honey?’ she murmured.

‘The second I met you, my bride, despite my anger, you captivated my heart. I adore you,’ he muttered, his utterance raw with a myriad unspoken emotions.

Her eyes met his with tenderness.

He caught the reflection of their shared journey in those depths, the highs and lows etched into her gaze.

‘More than that,’ he rasped, clearing his throat, self-conscious all of a sudden. ‘I love you.’

His adoration flowed from a place deep within him that he thought was long closed off.

Her lips parted, a soft gasp escaping them as she processed his words.

For a moment, time stood still as they held eye contact, the chirping of birds and the distant hum of the garden fading into the background.

‘I love you, Saba,’ he repeated, this time with more conviction, with a depth of emotion from the core of his being.

Her smile widened, and a tear glistened as she reached to cup his face.

He stumbled onward. ‘Your presence has shown me countless blessings since you entered my life. There hasn’t been a single moment of sorrow or melancholy in my days.

I hope you understand that I will go wherever you lead me.

The intensity of how much I adore you astounds me, and if you ask me, I will accompany you to the ends of this universe and beyond.

You’ve transformed my world for the better.

With you, it’s been goodbye sorrows, hello tranquility - every day is incandescent thanks to you.

It is an incredible sensation to be loved by you. ’

He fell silent, overcome with a depth of emotion, and vulnerable, the raw honesty of his heart laid bare.

He caught the warmth in her eyes, which reflected his feelings.

They were a stark contrast to the loathing he’d mired himself in, believing her to be a calculating, manipulative woman.

Nothing was further from the truth than now.

‘I love you too, Maklan ‘Mak’ Essen, my ?ar and King. My passion for you will never die,’ she whispered back, her voice filled with a resonance that reverberated within him.

He gazed into her eyes, seeing only integrity and vulnerability.

At that moment, he was grateful that their journey had led them to a place of genuine connection and understanding.

The barriers that had once stood between them had long crumbled, and a foundation of devotion and trust had emerged in their stead.

He slid to one knee and reached into his back pocket with his free arm.

With some effort, given his bandaged shoulder, he managed to retrieve an object.

He caught her hand, glancing into her incredulous face as he slid his prize onto her finger.

She jolted in shock, staring at the sparkling band with her original sythyra diamond. ‘You got it fixed?’

‘I did,’ he growled. ‘Still with the locator, but not the tightening mechanism. No more torturing you, my love; your love quenches that thirst in me. ‘Sides, I suspect you’re never leaving me, so will you marry me?’ he added with a smirk.

A slow smile spread across her face, lighting up her eyes. ‘ Naam , yes, yes, yes.’

They laughed as he reached out to take her hand, intertwining their fingers in a silent vow of unity.

He rose and took her mouth in a long, endearing kiss that had their souls flying.

Later, he sprawled back on the divan, relaxed and content.

Sunlight flickered through the canopy above them as he reclined beside his woman.

Water splashing from the pool’s fountain nearby filled the air, a soothing backdrop to this intimate moment between them.

The sun climbed higher in the sky, casting a warm glow over them as they sat in silent communion.

No longer lost and mired in doubt or hesitation, only in the certainty of their love weaving through the spaces between them.

Mak placed Saba’s hand over his heart, the warmth of her touch grounding him in the reality of their growing intimacy.

With every beat, he was reminded that love is not just a word spoken in fleeting moments but a commitment to stand by each other through all trials and tribulations.

A sacred devotion for life.

Saba leaned in and pressed a soft, lingering kiss on his lips, sealing their unspoken vows with a tenderness that spoke volumes.

She had become his unexpected wife, soulmate, best friend, and partner in this sanctified yet savage life journey. He was thankful for the war he’d fought within and without her.

For it had delivered to him the sacred bride of his dreams.