Warm wind brushed over her cheeks as afreaking hovercrafthurtled them over the deep valley below.
Okay, this was better than skydiving, she decided.She closed her eyes and smiled, clutching Lihvan a little closer.When she opened them, she saw the Golden City, cast in a pure golden light.It looked like something out ofGame of Thrones, carved into the mountainside with infinite precision and care.The city was massive with different levels of activity on the terraces, which she could make more and more out as they got closer.
The bottom level seemed to be a market, full of food stalls and goods for sale.The vendors were setting up their carts and different spiced smells wafted into the air.The next level, accessed by a set of stone stairs that looked like they’d be a bitch to climb, were…perhaps houses?They were circular homes, with domed ceilings, and a plethora of windows.Luxirians liked their light it seemed.The homes were open and airy, each with a wide terrace just beyond the doorway.
The middle terrace, after a few more levels of homes, had a city center of some kind, with a large, domed building, an amphitheater with stone seats, and pathways that wound in and out of shop-like structures.The remaining terraces mostly consisted of homes and they wound all the way back into the mountain.
Lihvan directed their hovercraft, his fingers moving effortlessly over the controls, to the very top of the city.When he parked the hovercraft on a wide terrace, which already contained another hovercraft, she looked at him in confusion.He’d said his dwelling was the next level down.
He read the question on her expression and ran his thumb over her lips.“The Prime Leader wishes to speak with me and to meet you.”
“Meet me?”
“Tev.”
Suddenly, she was nervous.She knew that Lihvan and the Prime Leader were close friends and she wanted to make a good impression.She smoothed down the shirt that fit more like a dress and stepped down off the hovercraft with Lihvan’s help.The terrace was smooth and warm beneath her bare feet and she spied movement in the doorway of the house.
A hulking Luxirian, the same size and build as Lihvan, stepped out from the house.His long, black hair fell down to the middle of his back, a few strands braided together.He was bare-chested, showing off sculpted muscles and defined shoulders, and wore familiar leather-like pants that showcased thick thighs.
His features were perfectly symmetrical, she realized, as she studied him.He was handsome, refined, with proud dark horns that curved over his scalp.
Jesus, she thought.Were all Luxirianshotor what?
The Prime Leader of Luxiria approached them, reaching out to clasp Lihvan on the forearm in greeting.
“I knew I would see you again, my brother,” the Prime Leader said, his voice low and warm.
Lihvan inclined his head.“I am glad you received my transmission in time.”
“I sent a vessel to seek retaliation against the Jetutians.War is inevitable, but has been coming for a long while,” Vaxa’an said.“The warriors wished to go.We are expecting a transmission any moment from Rixavox.”
Lihvan jerked his head in a nod, but then his gaze strayed to Beks.His eyes softened slightly when he saw her and he motioned for her to step forward.
“Vaxa’an, I would like to introduce you to—” Lihvan started but was cut off by a loud screech of surprise.
“Beks!” a loud, feminine voice exclaimed.A familiar voice.One she thought she’d never hear again.
Beks’ head jerked toward the doorway of the house that Vaxa’an had just stepped out from.
And all of her breath left her when she saw who was standing at the threshold.
“Oh my…” Beks started, but found she couldn’t speak anymore as emotion made her throat close.More tears.Terrific.
It was Kate.Kate, her best friend, who had truly been more like a sister to her, who she loved like family, was on Luxiria.Alive.Well.Pregnant.
Beks started sobbing and ran to her, while Lihvan and Vaxa’an looked on in astonishment.“O-oh my God, what are you—what—you…”
The two friends slammed into each other, although Beks was conscious of her baby bump, and embraced.They’d met in college, but Beks felt like she’d known this woman for all of her life.They’d been inseparable, seeing each other almost every day, up until Kate’s disappearance.There wasn’t a single thing that they didn’t know about each other and Beks felt like it had beenyearssince she’d last seen Kate.
Kate was the first to pull back and she clasped Beks’ face in her hands.Her best friend was crying as well.
“I thought I’d never see you again!” Kate exclaimed, shaking her head.“What in the world are you doing here?”
“I c-could ask you the same thing,” Beks returned, trying to get her sobs under control.“You’repregnant!”
“I—I can’t believe this,” Kate said, laughing through her tears, shaking her head.
“You…” Beks was finally starting to connect the dots.“You’re his mate?You were at the Pit and he took you?You’re the human woman that everyone keeps talking about?”
