“Our ancestors began their alliance with the trees on this planet by being allowed to live in huts hanging from the lower levels of the trees,” I explained, hoping to divert her attention away from the raging storm outside with a brief history lesson about my species. I was willing to go to any length to calm her fears and make her feel more at ease, especially since she was in a foreign land. “However, as our technology advanced, so did our adversaries’ strength.
“My people refused to kill unless provoked, and the pafeldae had become a threat. They would murder for sport, even if it meant destroying homes. So my ancestors used everything they knew to create hometrees by enhancing the strongest tree species on our planet, and they evolved into what we have today.”
“However, your species now lacks the population to care for all of your planet’s hometrees.” She frowned and locked her gaze on mine, her dark brown eyes reddening from the amount of crying she’d done. “What happens when there is no guardian to protect a hometree?”
“It’s a good thing we don’t have to worry about that right now.” I smiled softly as she leaned her head into my hand, palming her cheek. “Our leaders have a database that contains all the current hometrees and their guardians, as well as their territory and all the occupants within it.
“If a guardian returns to the Mother Tree or decides to leave to seek answers in the stars, leaving their empty hometree behind, our leaders will place anyone willing to relocate or a newly bonded couple sharing a home with another guardian to give them a place to call their own.”
“The more I learn about this place, the less I want to leave.” She sighed and pressed her chest against mine, completely relaxed as she lay on top of me. “How long do you think it will take our hometree to finish everything?”
Closing my eyes, I reached out to the hometree and felt its status, taking in the amount of work that needed to be done and how much energy was left over.
“It should be finished by morning,” I said, brushing back her hair as I inhaled her scent and rejoiced at the sounds of her breaths finally slowing. “After that, you can choose one of your outfits from the new closet.”
“And do you think we can go to my last location tomorrow?” she mumbled, her words slurred, as she took a long draw from my feeder.
I never imagined myself lying in bed with myluwaerilike this, but I couldn’t say I hated it.
In fact, I loved it.
Was this a common occurrence for her species? I hoped we could do it every night if it was. I wanted to feel her body pressed against mine more, even if it was just her drinking nectar from my feeders.
I had a feeling that the Mother Tree had made the right decision, and that in time, she would let me seal our fate and plant my seed in her, even if she wasn’t ready to reproduce.
I wasn’t lying when I said I’d go without having anytserwawith her if it meant we could stay together until the Mother Tree claimed us. She was making more sacrifices by coming here, leaving her past behind, than I was, and I was willing to give up my future of having anytserwato be with her.
“Yes,” I said quietly as I noticed her heartbeat finally slowing as she drank my nectar. “We can go find your answers, and hopefully you’ll want to stay with me when we do.”
Her lips muttered a soft mumble, muffled by the petals of my feeder.
As I opened my mouth to ask her to repeat herself, her hand fell from her face, releasing my feeder, and soft snores echoed throughout the room.
I used my vines to cover both of us with the white petal blanket and closed my eyes, unable to stop the smile from forming on my lips.
“I’ll protect you, until my last breath.”
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
VIOLA - VIOLENTVIOLET
The gentle brushing of my hair roused me from my deep slumber.
A strong lavender and sweet mint aroma assaulted my nostrils as I took a deep breath, jolting me awake.
Snapping open my eyes, I sat up from the fluffy white petal bedding and took in my immediate surroundings.
“I wasn’t dreaming,” I muttered, looking over my shoulder to see Zyre sitting up beside me, his back against the wall, and a vine wrapped around my hair. His half-closed eyes jerked open, revealing their glowing teal brightness, and his slightly opened mouth morphed into a welcoming smile, as if he were waiting for me to wake up. “You’re very.... real.”
“I told you I wasn’t going anywhere.”
“Yeah, but…”
I licked my lips and averted my gaze, trying to gather my thoughts. Even though I had quickly accepted living on this planet as my new lot in life, there was a glimmer of hope in the back of my mind that I would wake up back on Earth.
Zyre’s hand gently clasped mine, his skin soft and cool to the touch, drawing my attention.
“I understand it will take you some time to come to terms with losing everything you’ve left behind,” he reassured, gently squeezing my hand. “And I’ll wait as long as you need,luwaeri, until you’re ready to seal our fate, forever entangling our bond.”
