Already, my chest felt lighter and my body unclenched.
I’d be going back to the terrifying, exhilarating possibility of building a life that included both love and freedom. I didn’t know what that would look like, but we’d make it work.
My heart raced, my hands shook, but underneath that was something that felt like hope.
I was going back.
The weight on my chest was completely gone now. In its place was a lightness that made me want to laugh.
I was going back, and this time, I wasn’t afraid to find out what lay on the other side ofyes.
CHAPTER 19
Rezor
“The soil composition here is more alkaline than I expected,” Galan said, crouching to examine a sample the caretakers had brought from beyond the valley’s edge. The Destran horticulture expert had arrived that morning, full of enthusiasm and plans that made my head spin. “We’ll need to introduce specific bacterial colonies to balance the pH before we attempt any large-scale planting.”
“How long will that take?” I asked, forcing myself to focus on his words instead of the hollow ache in my chest.
“Up to a full sun-cycle, depending on how the soil responds.” He stood, brushing dirt from his hands. “This is a long-term project, Lord Rezor. Decades, possibly. But with the valley’s preserved plant species as a genetic base, we can rebuild what was lost.”
Decades. The word should have filled me with hope.Instead, all I could think was that it meant decades of this emptiness. This constant, gnawing pain that had taken up residence in my bones.
“That’s acceptable,” I said. “We’ll begin preparations immediately. Coordinate with Venith on any technology you need. She has access to all our systems now.”
One of the caretakers, an older female named Sira, was watching me with concern. “Lord Rezor, have you eaten today?”
“My meals are not your concern.” I turned away from her scrutiny. “There’s much to organize. Vikkat arrives tomorrow to discuss trade routes. The Destran council wants a formal treaty. My people need guidance as we navigate these changes—”
“With all due respect, our people need their lord healthy during this unique time,” Sira interrupted gently. “Zelana told me you’ve lost weight. That you work from dawn until you collapse from exhaustion.”
Because if I stopped working, if I let my mind rest for even a moment, all I could think about was her. About Cleo, somewhere among the stars, living her life without me. About the way she’d looked back before the door closed. About the mate bond that burned in my chest like a constant wound.
“As I said, you need not concern yourself with—” I cut off as a shadow fell over us.
Everyone looked up.
Another ship. The same sleek design as the one that had taken Cleo away ten cycles ago. My marks flared with heat and pain, an involuntary response I couldn’t control. Seeingone of those ships in my valley now caused physical pain. My body reacted like she might be on it.
“More visitors?” Galan asked, shading his eyes against the afternoon sun.
“Apparently.” I watched a small shuttle craft detach from the larger vessel, beginning its descent toward the plaza.What did they want now?We’d already established communication protocols. Already begun trade negotiations. Already agreed to scientific exchanges and cultural programs.
What more could they possibly need?
The shuttle touched down with that whisper-quiet precision I’d come to associate with off-world technology. My guards moved into position, but there was no real threat anymore. Just more strangers wanting to discuss more plans for our newly opened world. I sighed, tired, and suddenly missing the simple times before three sky people crashed into the mountainside.
Then, the hatch opened. Cleo burst out.
And I stopped breathing.
She looked around frantically, her hair wild, her eyes searching. She was wearing the same clothes she’d left in—simple pants and a tunic—and she looked beautiful and impossible and I had definitely lost my mind because this was clearly a hallucination brought on by exhaustion and grief.
Then her eyes found mine.
“Rezor!”
She ran. Actually ran across the plaza toward me, and my body moved before my brain could catch up. I met her halfway,and she launched herself into my arms with enough force to make me stumble.
