“Lusheenn?” Yahiro peered at him, uncertain all of the sudden that a god might walk in on them. An angry god. After dealing with William her whole life, she was done with any man orbeingof the sort. It didn’t stop her from fearing them.
“His forming never finished. What had come through destabilized and dissipated, lost in the first rays of sunlight that dawn.”
“Good.”
Galan’s countenance tensed. He looked down at his body where it was poised for attack. Yahiro shifted away from him warily.
“Why?” he asked.
“I wouldn’t risk Quist’s life.”
“You don’t know if it was in danger.”
“He would’ve stopped at nothing to kill him. Would your Creator have tolerated eons of built-up hatred against him? Death is always easier. I’m beyond the guilt that comes after a murder.” She twisted her fingers together. “I don’t think I care anymore. I care about a few things now and that’s it, no more. If I have to kill for those things, then so be it.”
“He was trapped in the stone,” Galan pressed but trailed off.
Yahiro pressed her fingers against the hard lump in her stomach. “And it only brightened in the darkness, where you never roam unless forced...”
“Lost and where we would never have found it... Why?” he finished.
She curled her legs under her, relishing in having a mediocre amount of strength again. “Are all the Creator’s gone?” she asked instead.
“Most and those that still exist keep to themselves and know nothing of the others.”
“Maybe,” Yahiro wondered. “Maybe they lost their power.” And she thought back to what Quist told her. “Or maybe the Psion’s did it. You two felt him vanish and you felt him return, do you feel him now?”
“I only feel you,” Galan answered.
Yahiro turned to face him. “I’m glad but even if you still felt him, I met Quist first. He’s my first regardless if he’s third. I wouldn’t hurt him and allowing Lusheenn to reemerge could’ve hurt him.” A movement flitted in the corner of her vision and Sundamar stepped forward. “I wouldn’t risk any of you.”
Sundamar opened his mouth to say something but quickly closed it. Galan squeezed his shoulder and she leaned up to pull Sundamar down to press her lips to his. His were soft and welcoming and moved over hers before she could lead. The silence told her that the valos were speaking to each other in their heads.
When the kiss broke, she was flushed and exhausted and the sheets on the bed were bunched up in his fists.
“We wouldn’t risk you either, pale one.” Galan smoothed her hair back and she curled on her side, making room for Sundamar to spoon her.
“I’m sorry,” Yahiro whispered and closed her eyes. And with two of her light valos pressed up on either side of her, she fell back asleep. The dreams from before never came back.
***
YAHIRO PULLED HERSELFout of the pillowed aviary where she had remained for the last several dozen dawns. It was slow moving finding the use of her feet and her balance again but like everything in her life, in her past training, her muscle memory remembered. And its memory was strong.
The first thing she had noticed when her eyes opened was that Galan and she were alone. Blissfully alone. A hysterical giggle left her dry lips before she faced the bright rays of sun and made her progress down the steps to the pools.
It came with a little surprise that she had made it so far without interference of any kind. Her eyes roved over every corner, nook and cranny, and the sky above to see where her valos were lurking.
It wasn’t until she rounded the circular staircase that Quist came into view where he stood stoically, and as devilishly handsome as ever, at the bottom, waiting for her. She felt the ever-constant patter of her heart skip a beat but continued slowly to her destination and toward him.
When she reached the bottom step, his beaded arms rounded her middle and pulled her against his chest.
“I’m sorry!” she wheezed. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” His hold on her tightened. He lifted her off her feet and flew her into the air, over the side of the molo and down toward the ground. She didn’t even care realizing how much she had missed him and how much she would do for him.He’ll always be safe in my sight.
She begged for him to know how much she cared for him, that she hadn’t swallowed the sunstone out of spite, and as they landed softly upon the mossy ground, he cupped her cheeks and rubbed his forehead over hers.
So much sadness filled his eyes. One of his wiry hands fell to her stomach and cupped where the stone would sit until she passed away and decayed. Where he could never reach it without killing her and whatever small piece of Lusheenn that was left would always remain in the dark.
“Yahero,” he said as he swiped a wayward tear from her cheek.
