He grunted, but said nothing about it.Kate almost smiled.
“How are you feeling this span, mate?” he asked her instead, his hands straying to her belly.
“Rested,” she said, her smile a little embarrassed.“I guess I was more tired than I realized last night.”
“I am glad you rested,” he murmured.
“What are you up to this early?” she asked, glancing at the Com holograph behind her.
“I am settling my duties for the next couple spans because I wish to take you somewhere,” he said.“I promised to show you more of Luxiria and I have yet to do so.”
“But…” she trailed off, thinking of all of his responsibilities.Yesterday, he had been gone almost the entire day, still dealing with the aftermath of the Trials.She had yet to ask him what had happened to the male that had attacked him during the fight—and she had yet to tell him that she recognized him from the marketplace.“You’re so busy right now.I can wait, Vaxa.Really.”
“It is only a short trip,luxiva,” he told her.“We will leave after we have bathed and dressed and be back by tomorrow night.”
“Only if you’re sure,” she said.Excitement began building up inside her.She’d been anxious to see at least some other parts of Luxiria, since Vaxa had told her the landscape changed dramatically depending on which part of the planet one was on.“Where are we going?”
“A sacred place,” he told her.“My mother and sire ventured there when she was pregnant with me.They are called thelallarix.The silver pools.”
“It sounds lovely,” she murmured, smiling, touched that he was bringing her there, a place that his own parents had visited.
“There is much peace there,” he said.“It will be good for the both of us to relax, I think.”
“I agree.”Ever since she’d found out about the Trials, she’d been a pit of worry and nervousness.Now that they were over, it would be nice to go away with her mate, if only for a couple days.
“Let me finish this and then we may go,” he said, tilting his head towards the Com.“I will be in the bath shortly.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
* * *
The silver pools were literally silver pools, Kate realized.The water was as clear as their hot spring bath back at home, but the rock that it rippled in gleamed silver.
Vaxa landed their hovercraft down into a small clearing after traveling for what Kate guessed was a couple hours.The baby had been kicking something fierce during the journey, but the moment that his father laid his hand across Kate’s belly, the child went still.It was as if he knew better than to disobey his father already and Kate always melted at the look on Vaxa’s face whenever he felt the baby move.It made her fall in love with him a bit more every single time.
The area surrounding the silver pools was so unlike their home on the mountain that it took her a while to process.It was lush, like a jungle…and it was sogreen.But a different green than what she was used to seeing back on Earth.It was the deepest green imaginable, on the cusp of being a pure obsidian black.
Trees shot overhead, climbing towards the sky to seemingly dizzying heights.Kate had visited the Redwoods in California once with Beks.She’d seen giantsequoiasand thought they were the biggest trees she’d ever seen.But they hadnothingon these.These were so tall that the tops disappeared into the foggy mist that shrouded the jungle.And instead of brown bark, these trees were covered in a soft white moss that felt like silk to the touch.The ‘leaves’ really weren’t leaves at all.Rather they were dark green pods that hung heavy on the branches, making them bow.
The ground was covered in a similar moss, creating a soft padding for her feet.The pods that had fallen from the trees created a heavy indentation and they settled into their places, snug and protected.She watched as Vaxa picked up a couple pods and stashed them back in the hovercraft.When he returned, he shot her a small smile and said, “Bidan has a taste for them.Most do not.”
“What do they taste like?”
He cocked his head.“Would you like to try?I warn you, it is not a very pleasant taste.But they are very nutritious.Will be good for the child.”
She almost laughed at the look of displeasure and she nodded.She’d always liked to try new foods.And why not?They’d traveled all the way there and she figured she should try this alien food at least once.
Vaxa retrieved another pod and with his claws, he cut into the hard flesh, expertly slicing open the seed.Or perhaps it was a fruit?She didn’t quite know.
The inside looked innocent enough.It looked white and creamy, riddled with little black seeds, and neatly segmented into eight crisscrossing sections.Vaxa handed it to her and she sniffed it, although it had no discernible smell.
Hesitantly, she used her finger to scoop some out and then tasted it.Flavor burst on her tongue and she looked up at Vaxa with wide eyes.
“Oh my God.”
“Terrible.I know,” he said, reaching to take the pod.But she turned away, huddling the pod close to her chest like a baby.
“Oh my God,” she said, grinning.“It tastes like custard!”
