Page 54 of Star Crossed Delta

SABA

S aba stood at the vast window of their bedroom, gazing out at the unusual lakeside view, lost in thought.

She wondered how the day might end.

A sound roused her, and she turned, her eyes falling on Mak, still in bed, shifting in his sleep.

It was just after five a.m.

An hour ago, she’d risen early, disentangling herself from her husband’s limbs, slipping out of bed, and getting dressed because she and Shiloh had a mission to accomplish.

Eager to get going, she moved to Mak’s side, where he lay, breathing deeply in slumber.

She stood over him with a small smile, then bent and kissed his beautiful lips.

He woke at once, snaking a sinewy arm to pull her in for a long, languorous kiss.

‘I don’t do pecks, baby,’ he growled. ‘I bite.’

He proceeded to demonstrate, nipping her lobe and sending shards of ecstasy through her.

She wriggled from him, laughing, for if she lingered, he’d overwhelm her with his lycan-spectral rapture. ‘I have to leave, ?arrum .’

‘Is it time already?’ he groused.

‘ Naam . The car’s waiting for me downstairs.’

He shot her a pensive look. ‘I hope you find the answers you’re after. If not, I’ll try to fill in the details when you return.’

‘I love you,’ she told him.

‘Love you more,’ he murmured back before gliding his mouth over hers in another panty-melting kiss. ‘ Fokk Saba, I need this cast off so I can worship you how I want to.’

He was healing, but not fast enough as he’d like.

So far, she’d been driving him wild with her lips and hands, swinging her hips over him and making him come inside her without his embrace on her.

Despite the heated sex, the inability to move with freedom was driving him up the wall.

Ever impatient, he couldn’t wait to tear the sling off in a week.

‘Soon, my King,’ she whispered against his searching mouth.

He let her go with a throaty growl, settling back into the pillows with a frown.

She slipped downstairs with one final look and a tiny wave in his direction.

Her sister was waiting in the marble-floor foyer.

‘Slept well, hon?’ she asked.

Shiloh nodded. ‘Like a baby. Where the everlovin’ hell do you get your mattresses? Mine was like a cloud last night.’

‘I can have one sent to you.’

‘Please do. I’ll pay you back.’

‘No need,’ she smiled. ‘I got you.’

Shiloh was five months along but had already mastered the pregnancy waddle.

Saba teased her about it as they armed themselves with a thermos of fragrant ginger tea, two cups, and a bag of cookies from a batch Saba had baked the night before.

They tracked out onto the terrace, where a flyer was waiting.

When they slid into the backseat, Koda nodded at them through the rearview mirror, and the flyer pulled off into the dawn.

‘How do you think you’ll react when you see her?’ Shiloh asked as they headed toward The Sombra’s rear deck.

Saba shook her head. ‘No clue. It’s been over seven years.’

‘How time flies. What will you ask her?’

Saba turned to her sister. ‘I want to find out why she left us, and why she broke my man’s heart.’

‘Straight to the jugular,’ her twin whispered, taking a long breath.

‘You’d better believe it.’

They arrived at Mak’s Corvette and disembarked from the flyer.

Moving swiftly, they got onboard the sleek craft and strapped in.

The ship’s systems hummed to life under Koda’s handling, and it dusted off from The Sombra , heading toward a destination within the flotilla.

‘Relax, honey,’ Shiloh told Saba, grabbing her hand. ‘Please don’t fret until we arrive.’

Shooting her a quick smile, Saba took her advice and sat back, letting go of her worry and anxiety.

As the Corvette powered through the void, Saba and Shiloh chatted about Shiloh’s nesting plans, her dream nursery, and her love for Zolan.

It turned out that under his scars, the man was quite sweet.

‘He takes care of me and my every need. His mother, too, is a darling,’ Shiloh said with a soft smile.

Saba nodded. ‘I believe it. How she cooked, cared for, and spoiled us on The Selburnia blew my mind.’

None of them had enjoyed close mothering since their mama died, and they exchanged glances, thinking the same thing.

‘Enjoy her and adore him, for the gift you have is a blessing,’ Saba added.

‘It is; I mean, Zolan flew with me to The Sombra for this visit. Granted, it gives him and Mak a chance to nut out their deal and lock it down.’

‘We’re double blessed having you both stay with us,’ Saba murmured.

Their conversation shifted to a catch-up and good-natured gossip about their mutual friends and family.

They wound their way through the void.

Saba sipped her tea, the rich, spicy flavor warming her from the inside out, the subtle sweetness of a pastry lingering on her tongue.

Soon, they came upon a ship, an ark unlike any other.

Koda called out from the helmsman’s seat. ‘ ?arim , we’re about to land on The Holy See Basilica .’

A ship was dedicated to carrying priests, luminaries, monks, and nuns fleeing Earth and seeking a new home in Pegasi, built with the Holy See’s vast fortune and blessed by the Pope himself.

Its massive hull gleamed under the starlight, crafted from dark, polished metal with intricate, golden etchings.

The ship’s regal design stretched across the void, with sleek lines rising from the water like the prow of an ancient vessel.

At the bow stood a towering sculpture of an angel, carved from pale marble. Its wings spread wide, frozen in mid-flight, while its serene face and raised hands offered blessings.

The angel’s massive form seemed to shimmer with ethereal light, casting a divine glow over the waters beneath.

It was a symbol of protection, embodying the hope and faith of those who had fled Earth, seeking refuge in the stars.

The ship was more than just a vessel. It was a sanctuary, a beacon of salvation, guiding the exiled to their new home.

They got clearance and landed in the vast rear hold where they set down.

They exited the Corvette and headed toward the directions provided, in a smaller flyer that Koda also piloted.

They passed solemn rows of holy men and women in flowing cloaks, their faces serene and focused in quiet contemplation.

The interior of the ship was a reverent sanctuary, bathed in soft, golden light that filtered through tall stained-glass windows depicting scenes of celestial grace.

The air was thick with the scent of incense and beeswax, a constant reminder of the ship’s spiritual purpose.

Rich tapestries hung along the walls, telling stories of faith, while polished stone floors reflected the faint glow of oil lamps lining the corridors.

Everywhere, the atmosphere was hushed, filled with the sound of whispered prayers and the occasional soft rustling of robes.

It was a place of profound peace, a sanctuary on the move, carrying the last remnants of Earth’s faithful to their new home among the stars.

They soon reached their final destination.

‘We shouldn’t take too long,’ Saba told Koda as he slowed to a stop to allow them to exit.

Hand in hand, Saba and Shiloh approached a set of high wooden doors that featured carved, recessed colonnaded balconies.

The sign above the door was simple and spelled out ‘ The Contemplative Shimageles of Light .’

They rang the bell and waited.

From what Saba had read while planning this trip, the cloister beyond the doors was where the strictest form of enclosure was practiced.

One in which a luminary was not allowed to leave the hermitage’s boundaries except for significant personal reasons.

The monastery’s interior and exterior spaces were reserved for the cloistered nuns, also called shimageles. Strangers were only admitted following an application.

The only reason they were able to visit was that Mak had contacted the head Shima , who granted them access.

They waited for a minute or two.

Shiloh shifted on her feet and rubbed her tummy. ‘How much longer?’ she whispered.

Just as she spoke, the door swung open, revealing a tall, imposing figure clad in a simple brown cloth habit.

‘ ?arim Essen?’ she asked with a bow.

Saba nodded. ‘I am she.’

‘I’m Shima Kemisa, the head nun,’ she greeted them in a hushed murmur. ‘You’re right on time.’

‘ Sante for seeing us.’

Dark eyes, shining out from her full cowl veil, scanned them before she stepped aside and allowed them to enter.

The inside of the monastery was a world of its own, peaceful and serene.

It was a space of meditation and recollection.

Soft light filtered through stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the cold stone floors.

The air was heavy with the scent of beeswax and old wood, and the distant sound of nuns chanting permeated the atmosphere.

They were led down a long corridor, the shimagele’s footsteps echoing in the stillness.

She was a lean, spare creature.

Her back was ramrod straight, and her posture told of her disapproval at their presence.

She’d since lifted the shroud that had veiled her face, and Saba peeked at the harsh lines, thin lips, and sunken cheeks.

Cold and icy, her eyes sliced at Saba, discouraging any unnecessary prattle from her and Shiloh.

Saba glanced away at the unfolding view, including glimpses of cloaked luminaries gliding through the inner terrace, visible through a series of arched doors.

‘Does she know we’re coming?’ Shiloh ventured.

‘ Nada ,’ Shima Kemisa replied. ‘We kept your visit undisclosed for her well-being.’

‘I see,’ Saba murmured, not quite understanding her meaning.

She shared a glance with her sister, followed by a shrug.

‘We’ll soon find out more,’ Shiloh whispered in her ear.

‘Take care on the step,’ the Shima instructed, leading them into the courtyard. Stone garden walls created natural terraces with grassy areas and cultivated gardens. Winding paths and steps led to focal points of urns, a grotto, and a gazebo.

Lush plants filled the spaces, a mix of exotic and native species.

A fountain spouted water that sparkled like diamonds in the sun, filling the air with tinkling notes that resembled birdsong.