Kai pulls me into his warm, comforting embrace. “We can’t take any chances that your evil grandparents could learn that you and your mother are still alive.”
I shudder. “For reals. I can’t deal with any more assassins or assassination attempts.”
“Me neither.” His arms tighten around me. “I came far too close to losing you. I can’t bear to go through that again.”
I bounce up on my toes and kiss him on the lips and try to lighten the mood. “Okay, enough gloomy talk. We survived all that bullshit and lived to tell the tale. Right now, we need to live in the moment and do what makes us happy.”
Kai flashes me a look so full of devotion and adoration it makes me breathless.
“We will make it so, my love.”
Like a smooth-ass motherfucker, he casually whips out that Captain Picard-inspired line and lassos my geeky heart.
Fuck, I love him.
With renewed determination, I link arms with him. “Come on, let’s explore the market and see if we can find something fabulous to bring home with us.”
He lets me pull him along with me and under the warm sunshine, we stroll through the crowded market square at ourleisure. It’s a total stimuli overload for me. I get so hyperfocused on examining the items for sale at every stall we visit that I soon lose track of time. There are so many wondrous and unusual things for sale. Some are not all that dissimilar to jewelry or ceramics sold on Earth, but the raw materials used for them are clearly not from my home planet.
After some time browsing, I find myself drawn to a beautiful woman vendor selling stunning handmade jewelry. She’s got a total artist vibe going on—and trust me, I know the vibe. I’ve met a few over the years while living with Benji. Her body is long and willowy and entirely pink in color. Much like our Vroknu pal Osajar back on Earth. Her long, silvery white hair falls all the way down to her waist, and her electric blue eyes glow with an inner light that immediately makes me think of the Eyes of Ibad inDune. I have to fight back the urge to say, “He who controls the spice, controls the universe!”
But I rein in my sci-fi-loving supernerd self. Just barely.
“Good morning, gentlemen,” she says in a light, musical voice. “I am Ula. Welcome to my little store.” She studies us closely and then nods as if in understanding. “Now I see. You are destined souls sharing a special bond. Your auras resonate with one another in a loving harmony, the likes of which I have only seen a few times in my life.”
I gasp with delight. “Are you psychic?”
“My people sometimes do receive visions, but it is common for us to see the auras of others, which remain invisible to most.”
“Wow,” I breathe. “That must be supercool but also kind of trippy. My uncle Benji claims he can see auras when he’s high.”
She tilts her head and considers me, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Perhaps he can. My people do not require any mind-enhancing substances to enable our abilities.”
Kai’s eyes widen. “Are you one of the Laidhu people?”
“I am indeed.”
Kai gives a little respectful bow. “It is an honor to meet you. I know it is rare for your kind to travel so far from your home world.”
She nods. “You’re right. We prefer to stay close to the energy source of our planet, which enhances our abilities. But sometimes we are called to venture farther afield, as I was before coming here.”
She turns to her table and gracefully plucks up two metal cuff bracelets with matching large purple stones in their center.
“I have just the thing for you two. This is my very best pair of devotional love amulets.”
“A love amulet?” I turn to Kai, bouncing on my toes. “Doesn’t that sound romantic?”
His answering grin is filled with amusement.
Ula continues. “These are no ordinary amulets, I assure you. They are made from two halves of a Laidhuian heartstone.”
Kai inhales sharply.
“You have heard of them?” Ula asks.
“My parents have told me tales of them. I thought them to be more a creation of fantasy than reality.”
Ula smiles. “I do not know what stories you have heard, but these stones are sacred to my people. The two halves are always connected and resonate with one another, much like your souls do. If you should ever be separated for any reason, the stones will find a way to guide each of you back to the other.”
