“And you said Tharios is the animal whisperer.”
Cerian shrugs. “I like unicorns.”
“And this one likes me. Stars above.”
The unicorn noses at Arisanna’s neck, and she laughs.
“She’s mine,” Cerian says again.
Then the unicorn rubs its warm, wet nose on Cerian’s neck next.
“Yes, you can be mine, too. Do you have a name?”
“I don’t think he can talk,” Arisanna whispers.
“I don’t wish to call him the wrong thing.”
“I vote we call him Starfire.”
“Because he’s red?”
Arisanna nods.
“What do you think?” Cerian asks the unicorn. “Do you wish to be Starfire?”
The unicorn nickers and nuzzles Cerian’s neck again.
“I think he approves,” Arisanna says. “And I think you’re amazing. Full of delightful surprises.”
“I just wish he were real.” Cerian runs his hand along Starfire’s glossy neck as the unicorn continues to nuzzle him.
Smiling, Arisanna gently caresses Starfire’s face. “You never know. At times, I wonder if perhaps the heartlanding is closer to reality than we understand.”
The thought makes Cerian smile, and he turns to steal a kiss from her as Starfire nickers and nudges at both of them.
“He seems to approve of us kissing.” Arisanna laughs.
“Good, because I don’t think he and I could be friends if he didn’t.” Then Cerian pulls her into another kiss.
How’s This, Love?
Episode 113
WhenElowynopenshereyes on their sailboat, she smiles.
She made it back to the real world. Back to Feressa. Back to Rominy.
And she’ll wake again in the morning.
She may as well enjoy the heartlanding with Rominy tonight.
Without warning, he’s there, hovering over her, and she laughs as he kisses her cheek. Her jaw.
“Mine,” he whispers in her ear, and her breath catches.
“Yours?”
“Definitely mine.” He rubs her ear with his nose, and her toes curl.
