Erin looked over her shoulder at Jaxor, who was standing next to Vaxa’an. Those piercing blue eyes were on her. His concern, his love was rightthere. While Luxirians weren’t quick to show their emotion, Erin read Jaxor’s like he wore his heart on his sleeve. But he only wore it on his sleeve forher.
Bianca began walking up the ramp. At the top she turned around. Erin thought she looked beautiful in her flowing lilac dress. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement.
“I love you all,” Bianca called down.
“Bye, Bianca,” Erin whispered, lifting her hand in a flutter of a wave.
Bianca gave them all one last, lingering smile and then she rounded the corner of the spaceship. The ramp began to retract silently.
The women looked at one another. They were all red faces and shining eyes. It was bittersweet indeed, but Erin realized that, though they might have lost Bianca, they still had each other. And the things they’d experienced together, shared together, would bind them to one another forever.
Erin blew out a small breath and she heard the spaceship began to power on, the sound like a roar in comparison with the noise of the hovercrafts.
The women retreated back towards their mates, whom led them outside as the docking bay ceiling began to peel back, revealing a bright morning sky.
Jaxor took her hand and she squeezed it.
And all of them watched in silence as the spaceship launched from the docking bay. Erin had to shield her face from the gusts of wind it created in its wake, pressing her face into Jaxor’s chest, as the whole mountain seemed to rumble and vibrate beneath them.
A moment later the winds stopped. The mountain stilled. There was only quietness and the beating of Jaxor’s heart beneath her cheek.
When Erin looked above the docking bay, the spaceship was gone. All she saw was a brief twinkling in the sky before a passing cloud erased it from view.
Jaxor cupped the back of her neck, lowering his forehead down to hers.
Erin closed her eyes, a swell of emotion pushing at her chest. Her mate knew what that moment had meant. Because it wasn’t only saying goodbye to Bianca. It was a final goodbye to her old life.
Without saying anything at all, he comforted her in a perfect way.
Erin didn’t know how long they stood there, but when they pulled away she realized that, though it may be a goodbye, she had a fated mate who loved her, a baby on the way, friends she loved like family, and endless possibilities for their future.
That day was a day for celebration, not tears.
When she turned, all of the women and their mates remained on the terrace of the docking bay where their hovercrafts were parked. They all looked around at one another, understanding passing between them.
Erin smiled. She looked back at the sky, a clear beautiful sky. She thought of Bianca, already starting the long journey back home, and thought about how happy she was for her.
“Let’s go back to the Golden City,” Erin said to her mate. “You promised you’d show me the marketplace today.”
“Tev, I did,” Jaxor murmured, his gaze softened.
She pressed a kiss to his lips.
“I’ll drive,” she said.
Then she pulled him towards the hovercraft.
Epilogue
Two weeks later…
* * *
Steppingfoot inside Jaxor’s base was surreal.
It had been over a month since they’d been there, but they’d decided to make the pit stop, though it was out of their way on their journey.
They parked their hovercraft in the same place—in the tunnel next to thekekevir, which immediately roused when they heard the noise. The gate was, surprisingly, still in place, shut tight.
