“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Smirking at him, I don’t say anything and go back to packing my pretties.
AERCEK
Consolidating Keelie’s entire life into a myriad of containers took the better part of the night. Most of our time was spent laughing, joking, and enjoying each other’s company, until she went to a large piece of furniture in the common room of her house.
Her silence was heavy when she pulled out several large tomes. When Ahstahl asked her what it was she held, her voice quivered as she replied that they werephoto albumsof her and Wayne over the course of their mating.
She was somewhat hesitant and defensive when she told us, and I’m not sure if she expected us to be cross with her or not. Tothe contrary, I wish I had images of Rahyk and Luulae, but the concept of takingphotosisn’t something my people are familiar with. We live in the moment and live life to its fullest, but there is nothing wrong with remembering the dead via images. Ahstahl assured her she was more than welcome to bring her image books with her, and I nodded in agreement. Her body drooped in relief, and the easy atmosphere amongst us returned.
Ketil, Ofeig, and Eyjolf helped load Keelie’s belongings on the ship, and now all we’re waiting on is our mate to say one final goodbye. I know the other males are ready to go home, but they understand the magnitude of what Keelie is doing, and they’re content to wait for her. I’ve told them they have my eternal gratitude for their patience and support.
Watching Keelie, Ahstahl and me linger under hercarportin the shadows lest someone see us and call the authorities, waiting while she makes one final trip through the place she’s called home since becoming an adult. Slipping into Vrkari, I mutter. “We’re going to have to tell her.”
Pinning his ears to his head, Ahstahl replies heavily. “I know.”
A soft click sounds in the silence of the night as Keelie pulls her back door closed behind her for the last time. She pauses on the step and takes a deep breath before smiling in the direction we’re standing, her inferior eyesight preventing her from seeing us.
For now.
“Aercek… Ahstahl. I’m… I’m ready to go.”
Stepping out of the shadows, we approach her together and each extends a hand to her. Without hesitation, she takes them, grasping on tightly as we lead her back to our ship.
Chapter 22
Keelie
Wiping my eyes, I take a deep, shuddering breath as I watch Earth disappear from view. I know that if I told the guys I’ve changed my mind, they would turn this ship back around in an instant… but… even though I’m sad over leaving, there’s nothing left for me there. Turning around to go find my mates, I startle a little when I see Ahstahl leaning against the wall inside the small room where I retreated to watch our departure.
“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to see you.”
Opening his arms, he catches me when I fall against his chest, soaking up the comfort he so freely offers. “One would think by now you’d be used to one or both of us loitering about.”
Stuttering out a half-hearted laugh at his quip, I rub my face against the soft scales of his upper body. “It’s been a long night. Can we go to bed now?”
Ahsthal bends slightly and picks me up, carrying me bridal style all the way back to our room. Entering our quarters, Ahstahl doesn’t stop until he’s in front of the mostly backless couch before he sits. He makes sure I’m comfortable as hedrapes his wings across the low cushion. Peering around, I don’t see Aercek.
“Ahstahl, where’s Aercek?”
I know I’m being needy, but I just left my whole freaking planet, and my mates are the only constant I have at the moment.
“He is checking on a few things and providing the other males with our course before we are all…indisposedfor several risings.”
Quirking an eyebrow, I hone in on what he just said. “Why would we be indisposed for several days?”
The sound of the front door opening coincides with my question as Aercek purposefully strides into the room.
“Because we have just enough time to inject you withaptetand the consequential mating heat before we arrive on Undatfonyh,” he answers.
Well, that’s not what I was expecting to hear.
“Alrighty. Why don’t you explain this to me like I have no idea what you’re talking about… because I don’t.”
Aercek has the self-preservation to be abashed at my backhanded statement, and Ahstahl freezes beneath me. If I recall correctly, they’ve mentioned something about this “aptet” before, but I don’t exactly understand the full ramifications of what it does.
Waving at him to get on with it, Aercek jumps into an explanation. “While we told you thataptetis an enzyme we secrete to make you sexually compatible and extend your lifespan to meet ours, what we didn’t tell you is that you must have it to live on Undatfonyh. Your body, as it is now, won’t be able to breathe the air or tolerate the pressure on our planet. You would die in minutes…”
