"We have the feast of Voknarithor, my namesake," Voknar said as he picked up a small ornament that was a hand-painted white peacock butterfly. "She lived during the warfare era of my species, and she ended a century-long war by walking weaponless and alone into the enemy's stronghold. Because she posed no threat and offered no violence with her demeanor, she was able to breach their lines and reach directly to the opposition leader, daring him to do the same. The tales of their courtship bound the two sides together through her bravery and devotion to peace through non-violent instigation."
"Is that more of a Valentine's celebration?" I asked. "Since it is about a courtship story?"
"It is a peace story," Voknar said. "The feast lasts the equivalent of two human weeks, and every night different members of the immediate family are celebrated for aspects unrelated to physical prowess. Art, music, dance, kindness, cooking, child rearing, all of those are things that are celebrated."
"I would love to celebrate the Feast of Voknarithor," I said. "Either here on Earth or back on your home planet."
"You would travel with me to my home to celebrate it?" Voknar asked.
I turned my back to him, hanging another ornament in its perfect spot on the tree. "I would travel with my mate anywhere. However, I would prefer to bring Lamia with me as well. She's my family."
I looked at the large screen I had displaying the chat, taking the moment to let the chat distract me from the intimacy of the moment. Writing out a contract was easy. Discussing how important Lamia was to me made me feel vulnerable in a way that was downright frightening.
"VelvetChannelUnderground wants to know if you..." I hesitated and reframed the question. "Plan to work remotely while you're on Earth."
Voknar stepped closer to me to read the question over my shoulder, the warmth of his body radiating against my back from the small distance between us. My skin prickled in awareness at his closeness, and more than anything, I wanted to shut the stream off right that second.
"The exchange rate to Earth currencies is favorable, so even if I were unable to continue to work, which I am," he clarified. "I would be able to comfortably support my family with ease."
Then he held out his hand, dangling an ornament in between my face and the camera. It was the one I had picked up from the hot spring resort in Iceland, I had taken Lamia to for her last birthday.
"Tell me the story of this one," he said.
The evening continued with stories and laughter. I joked along with the chat, hung ornaments with Voknar, and let him answer questions from my viewers as the time passed. He was articulate and clever in his responses, coming across warm and pleasant even through his natural aloofness. It was easy, smooth, without any friction except for the underlying thought of what would happen when the camera turned off.
Eventually, I couldn't wait any longer, and I brought that moment about, saying my goodbye to the chat and turning off the stream.
"Thank you for doing that," I told him. "I know I sprung that on you, but you handled it really well."
"We didn't finish hanging the ornaments," Voknar said as he reached for the last box.
"I'm saving that box to hang with Lamia," I said.
Voknar looked at it, and then at me, his gaze penetrating as he stared deep into me.
"In my culture, only unmated females live alone," he said. "After making mate-locks, bonded pairs form larger family units together to raise children. I had always envisioned forming such a unit with my brother."
I walked over to the tree, fiddling with the ornaments as I thought about the weapons I had tucked into the branches. Every moment with Voknar reaffirmed that he was right for me, for what I wanted from my life. He was intelligent, attractive, and wanted the same things as I did. He was right there, showing his interest through the methods of his own culture and through mine.
All I had to do was take the next step.
Stabbing him with the dagger at the party had taken a lot of focus on my part. I had to envision it, psych myself up for it, and even when the moment arrived, I still wasn't sure I could do it. When I actually did it, I surprised myself. I was a fighter with words, not with weapons, and as much as I talked the talk, the actual act of attempting to harm another being was scary. It was easier to imagine him overpowering me than it was to think about me actually fighting him.
Still, if I wanted this, I had to do it.
If I could stab him in the middle of a party, I could take the next step.
I reached out and grabbed the handle of the axe and the other thing I had stashed there. As I pulled them from the tree, I turned my body to keep them hidden, angling it until I was holding them behind my back.
"Voknar," I said.
He tilted his head to the side, his eyes raking up and down me as he studied my body position.
A smile curled in the corner of his lips as he looked down at me, exposing the slight point of his fangs, his eyes glinting in the holiday lights.
I didn't say anything else.
My entire body trembling with the adrenaline of the moment, I lunged for him, lashing out with the axe.
