Page 38 of Stealing the Star Stone

Chapter Twenty-Six

The moon, Lethara

From the beach to Vael’Tir.

Time to head home? But first, there’d better be tea.

Nova had dozed, resting her temple against Eli’s arm as they waited for Zal.

The braying of the yuxmets stirred her, but Eli threw his arm around her and gathered her into the curve of his body.

Leaving the warmth and comfort took a Herculean effort.

She held his gaze as she straightened, then before she could second guess the instinct, leaned in for a kiss.

He met her halfway, humming when she drew back.

Zal halted the beasts amid a cloud of black dust. The burgundy sky had begun to tint orange as the sun rose.

“Is all well?” he asked, dismounting with far too much agility for a man of his age.

“It is.” She beamed at him then clambered to her feet. “Just two more things to accomplish and you need never see us again.”

He frowned, his focus switching between her and Eli as they approached him. “I will always welcome you into my home, qidhari.”

She squeezed his bicep. “I meant no offense, Zal. We have loved ones who worry about us. It’s time we returned to them.” She dug her hand into the pocket and pulled out the egg. Without hesitation, she flipped it over to show him how it stuck to her palm. “What’s happening here?”

He blinked at the egg defying gravity and grinned. “I am not surprised it chose you. Such is the way of things on Lethara. We do not question the shols.” He looped the reins around his hand when the yuxmets shifted, seeking vegetation among the cobbles.

“Zal,” she said, trying to ensure she had his attention. “Choosing me means what to a shol?”

“After all we’ve been through, I think it means it stays with you.” Eli adjusted the bag across his shoulder then moved to the side to stroke a yuxmet’s matted brow.

She gaped at him, then turned it on Zal. “Is he right?”

“Yes, it is so.”

Eli chuckled. “You might as well name it.”

Panic rose, squeezing her chest tighter until breathing became a struggle. “I can’t…keep it. What does it eat? How long does it live?”

“Some shols like darkness; others thrive on light. You will need to discover this for yourself.” Zal tutted and swiveled on a heel, gesturing to her to hop onto her ride.

Hop . She was mid-scoff when she was airborne, hoisted by Eli with a firm grip on her waist. Settling on the bareback took the wind out of her sails, and she harumphed as if her dignity had been insulted. All she could do was shove the egg into a pocket and snatch at the reins.

The yuxmets lumbered back without too much complaint.

“Aren’t they tired?” she asked, holding her hands high to avoid touching its hair. The rolling gait gyrated her hips until a pain began to build at the base of her spine.

“Yuxmets can travel for days on a mouthful of water.” Zal patted his ride on the neck. “They do enjoy a good meal, though.”

They fell into a comfortable silence, the world around them coming to life in a kaleidoscope of colors. Flowers thrust out their petals, some plants with long leaves swayed in a non-existent breeze. And in this natural chaos, her stomach gurgled.

“Bacon, eggs, waffles, Tarnis syrup, and a pot of tea,” she said, rubbing her stomach. The stone buzzed when she bumped it, so she stroked it until it calmed.

“Sounds amazing. Lost opportunity on my part,” Eli said. “As you, I should’ve eaten as much cheese as I could stomach.”

She laughed. “Sure, from the fine selections we were offered.”

Zal handed them each a strip of pink leather. He gestured with pinched fingers to his mouth.

Too starving to care what it was, she bit off a piece, fighting to tear it off, then moaned when it melted on her tongue amid a variety of sweet and salty flavors. “So good,” she mumbled around her second bite.

“Thank you,” Eli said, almost done with his. “What is it if I may ask?”

“Salted Yuxmet skin they shed every three weeks.”

Her tongue dried, a piece lodged in her throat, and she cupped her mouth to hide a gag.

Zal guffawed. “They do not feel the loss, and we do clean and spice the strips.”

She nodded, a finger to her lips while she chewed, debating whether she could spit it out or endure the pain of swallowing.

Eli held out his palm, and she hastily handed over her last piece. Right then, she’d never loved him more.

“Long ago, when the Lethaars walked this world, their adventures were entertaining, but now that their influence reaches the stars, things have worsened for my people.” Zal’s serious tone snagged her attention.

She hurried to swallow without choking herself.

“They created the stones to toy with each other’s favorites, turning enemies to lovers, matching souls for the joy of it.

Eventually they would restore balance, which is why there was a set number of moons to limit the time the victims suffered.

Anything longer would have been cruel. In other instances where chiefs fought amongst themselves, the shols taught the value of perspective—seeing the problem through the other’s eyes.

When the gods…abandoned us, they left their creations, as well.

” Zal raised his gaze to the sky, his smile rueful.

“It was wrong of Amenkar to give you another shol. Thankfully, Senmut could guide you to its mate. Perhaps my chief’s deceit was written in the stars.

” Zal grinned at them. “For here you are, once again whole?” He arched a brow.

“I have learned much,” Eli said, his gaze meeting hers. “For me, it’s been more than worth it.”

She nodded, not trusting her voice. Her heart thumped as if it wanted to squeeze past her ribs and return to him. She almost rolled her eyes. Waxing poetic? Really.

They’d return to their normal lives: her as a pilot. Him as a famous actor. Worlds apart even when they’d swapped souls and formed a soul tie.

“Amenkar is fighting a changing world. Many visitors are finding our paradise. This is inevitable and cannot be thwarted.”

“True, but you’re without the power to stop them.” Eli tapped his chest. “I am not. This…adventure will be shared. I’ll beg my government to help protect your untouched world.”

Zal’s smile was slow to form. “I do not understand your words, but I do read your heart, my friend. And perhaps, your gov-in-mint will see the good in you, too.”

What Eli could achieve was possible with his wealth and influence.

If they could get off the moon. Priority number two, okay, three.

Bath, meal, tea. Make that fourth on her to-do list. Senmut had offered some explanations, but Nova wanted everything confirmed.

She had so many questions like why had Amenkar switched stones and lied about soul ties?

Senmut had said it was because of revenge for the former, and an erroneous belief for the latter. Could Nova be happy with that?

And what had happened to Orien and Frederik? She’d find out soon enough if Zal led them back to Vael’Tir.

Also, what the hell was she supposed to do with her own stone? Raise it? Did it even grow? Having touched bigger stones, she had to assume they did.

She and Seth had wanted children, but when every month had passed without falling pregnant, they had to accept it wasn’t possible for them. Now she was a mother to a shol.

She smothered a chuckle. The teenage years would be a bitch. And if this thing grew, would she have to resort to carrying it on her back? No, no, she’d have to find what it ate, then maybe choose a suitable spot for it. Maybe on a shelf with other souvenirs?

Why couldn’t it have chosen Eli?

She glanced at him, then stilled. In the far distance was Vael’Tir. The weak sunlight warmed the crown of her head and her shoulders. But as pretty as the sight of the city was, what made her breath catch were the many hovering shuttles.

“What the hell?” she whispered.

“Mm, the circus has arrived,” Eli grumbled and tightened his hold on the reins. “Time to wear the mask, Nova-honey.”

Resignation flittered across his handsome features, proving she’d only ever seen his fake facade and never bothered to look deeper. She did now. Zal had said seeing different perspectives, and she had to agree, the soul-swapping had been effective, if stressful.

The yuxmets carried them behind a copse of asparagus trees, hiding them from view.

They approached the city’s entrance from the south, drawing no one’s attention.

She tried not to stare, unable to truly see past a wall of black-clad warriors, their lances beside them, piercing the sky like porcupine quills.

Beyond them stood Frederik, a giant wall unto himself.

Zal steered them toward the shed, letting her dismount using the bales. Eli had leaped off, patting his ride’s flanks while thanking it.

‘You measure a man by his kindness to critters, November,’ Mama used to say. Seth hadn’t harmed animals, but he hadn’t sought them out either, choosing to treat them like one would a hovercycle. Understandable when owning pets was for the extravagantly rich.

“Thank you for fetching us, Zal.” She grabbed his hands for a squeeze.

“I will forever serve my qidhari,” he said, squaring his shoulders.

Not sure what to say to something that sounded formal, she nodded and let Eli lead her off. “Any idea what qidhari means?”

“Must be ancient if their current language no longer carries the word.”

She blinked at him, finding his intelligence impressive.

“Frederik,” he called from behind the warriors.

The man turned and grinned. “It’s about time you arrived. Seems like the universe has learned of your…vacation.”

Eli grimaced. “It was unavoidable. Any chance I can get Artivar’s governor on a call?”

“I have spoken to him, promising to reveal all on Orien’s dealings. Your name will carry weight, of course.” Frederik strode toward them.

In a blur, drones blocked out the sunlight even as they bathed her and Eli in blinding light.