Midori nodded slowly as she absorbed the foreign ritual. Her hand found Cael's, and their fingers intertwined. Despite the sadness surrounding them, he felt a swell of affection. Her resilience and open-minded spirit amazed him.
When the last raft flickered from view, the tribe dispersed in silence. Only the gentle rush of the river remained. Cael held Midori for a long moment. He knew they could not linger much longer on the Equus moon. Not only for Midori's safety, but to prevent his uncle from expanding the slave trade further. A renewed determination burned within Cael. He needed to stop his uncle. He needed to return home.
"Midori," he said, gathering his courage. "We need to talk."
The solemnity of the Zebran funeral lingered, but resolve burned in his chest. He needed to confess his feelings before their dangerous mission tomorrow.
Midori tilted her head up, and silver moonlight dappled her bronze skin. Her dark eyes searched his questioningly.
"Midori, I . . .” He took a deep breath. “I care for you deeply. More than I thought possible in such a short time."
Her lips parted in surprise, but a smile tugged at the corners. "I care for you too, Cael."
Relief and joy surged through him. But this wasn't enough. He needed to tell her completely.
"It's more than that. There have been so many times when I thought I'd lost you, and I couldn't bear the possibility. I know you might still want to go to Rivia and follow the plans you left Earth for, but I can't let you go without telling you how I feel."
"Cael, what do you?—?"
"I love you, Midori. Fully. Completely. Absolutely. I love you and you alone." He cupped her face with one hand, his thumb stroking her cheekbone. "After tomorrow, no matter what happens, I want you to be with me. Wherever our path leads, I want it to be together."
Midori's eyes glistened in the starlight, and a lone tear streaked down her cheek. She took a deep breath.
"I love you, too. Cael. I don't know when it happened exactly, but somewhere along the way I fell completely in love with you."
Cael surged forward, capturing Midori's lips in a searing kiss. He wrapped all four arms around her, holding her close. He cherished the beating of her heart against his chest, her skin against his. Every part of his body tingled from head to toe as if an electric current ran through it. He'd never known such delirious happiness before. She intoxicated him with her very essence, and he was happy to drown in it.
When they finally parted, breathless and flushed, Midori smiled up at him. "Wherever our path leads," she repeated his words, hugging her arms around him.
"But there's one more thing I must do," Cael continued with his confession.
Midori raised her eyebrows in question.
"I'll happily go wherever you want, but first I must return to my home planet."
Midori's brow furrowed. "To Zyranth?"
Cael nodded, his face grave. "I have to confront my uncle."
Understanding dawned in Midori's eyes. "You're going to challenge him."
Cael nodded grimly. "I must. He's corrupt and power-hungry. I can't let him continue to abuse our people and expand the slave trade. I don't deserve to rule our land after all I've done in my past, but certainly neither does my uncle. I need to meet with the Council of Elders so a new leader can be chosen. After that, we can go wherever your heart delights."
"My heart delights in you," she said breathlessly.
Cael gathered her in his arms again, his heart swelling with love and hope.
Someone coughed behind them, and they turned to see Pugly giving them a smug look. "It's going to be a hard day tomorrow, oh shining star who guides my path. Perhaps it would be prudent to get some sleep."
Cael nodded. The pig dog was right. They needed to rest.
"The Zebrans have provided a small hut for the three of us to share. That is, if I won't be in the way." He snuffed and shook his fur.
Midori scratched his head. "Of course not, Pugly. Show us where."
The beast gaveher a radiant smile, turned, and trotted back toward the village with Cael and Midori following hand in hand.
An hour later, Midori's soft breathing and Pugly's snores filled the hut. Cael had never felt so content. The woman he loved rested in his arms. He hoped it would be this way for the rest of their lives. A niggling worry tried to push forward that tomorrow might be their last moments together, but he forced the thought from his head. He refused to believe tomorrow was all they had. But even as his own eyes shut and sleep finally overcame him, he knew it was all bravado.
