Climbing up the edge, I sat beside her, letting my fingers brush the soft skin of her cheek. She stirred, her lips curving into a small smile. Even in her unconscious state, she responded to my touch, a soft moan escaping her lips.
With a deep sigh, I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, promising myself that I would find a way.
She was beautiful, not just in form but in spirit. The strength she carried, the burdens she bore, made her even more appealing.
But why did she seem so resigned, as if fate had sealed a path for her that she couldn’t change?
I remembered when she had spoken about her family’s legacy, the responsibility she carried, and the pressure she felt. But was that the only thing keeping her from me?
Or was there something else?
Something had held her back.
Her eyes, even in their moments of passion, held an underlying sadness, a hesitancy I couldn’t explain. I wanted to dive into the depths of her soul, uncover what fears lay hidden, and soothe them away. But no matter how hard I tried, she kept her secrets from me.
Dipping beneath the water’s surface, I tried to cool the heat that burned through me. My blavs twitched.
Yet, something was holding her back, making her act as if this would be our last moment together—forever.
Frustration gnawed at me as I circled the tank, battling the insistent arousal that refused to ebb away. Why did she push me away? Why did she act as though our paths would never cross again?
Her demeanor, her words, they spoke of a finality I couldn’t comprehend—not when her soul reached out to me.
I surfaced, the cool water dripping from my face.
My gaze once again fixed on Isla. I wanted to shake her awake, to demand answers, to understand the walls she had erected around her heart. But deep down, I feared what those answers might be.
What if she genuinely believed our love was impossible?
Was it fear? Was it duty?
Or was it something deeper, something she hadn’t shared with me?
The uncertainty of our future weighed heavily on my hearts.
Determined, I made a silent vow. Once I was free, I would return to Earth. I would seek her out, confront her, and fight for the love I believed we both deserved.
For now, watching her sleep, I clung to the hope I would find a way, that our destinies could be reshaped, and that Isla and I would find our place in each other’s lives—together.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
ISLA
I gasped, disoriented.
The remnants of my dreams, with its soothing lavender waves, were replaced by an imposing shade of dark blue, trapped behind transparent glass and cold metal. A rush of memories came back, sending me shooting up in realization.
The chamber. The tank. Ky’rn.
Panic surged within me as I realized where I was. I had fallen asleep after…after our stolen moment together.
I shot up, my heart pounding, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I couldn’t believe how foolish I’d been, how I’d let my walls crumble and become vulnerable when it should have been just a goodbye, a single night of pretending.
“No, no, no,” I muttered to myself, shaking my head to clear the fog of desire that clung to my thoughts.
Then, a splash sounded beside me, and I turned to find Ky’rn climbing out of the tank. He rested beside me, his majestic tail still in the water, like some Greek god crafted from marble, longing to whisk me away to a world where we could be together.
His hand found mine, his touch cool and yet reassuring, and then he leaned forward, cupping my cheek. His fingers were gentle against my skin, and I found my gaze being drawn to him, unable to resist. Those mesmerizing eyes, pools of understanding and conflict, mirrored my own internal battle. I swallowed hard, trying to find the words to articulate the whirlwind of emotions swirling within me.
