“Nothing ever worth doing is easy. I expect a few arguments as you are a female, and I am, a male, so we are not always going to look at things the same. But we are more together than we will ever be apart. We will always find a way back to the light as long as we are willing to do it together.”
“What exactly is this vine doing to me?”
“Come relax and sit with me, let us talk.”
CHAPTER 4
KYT
Vedece stands before me, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as she tries to hold in the physical tremors her nerves are portraying. Because of my mating vine, I can feel her emotions like they are my own, and I hate that I have added to the stress that seems to collect in her small frame.
Hesitantly, she comes back over and sits down next to me, and even though all I want to do is wrap her up in my arms, I know I need to tell her out loud what is happening. She does not yet understand how our link works, and even though it would destroy me mentally and physically if she says no, I need her to make this choice.
“Let me start at the beginning. When Father took Kira as his mate, I became obsessed with your race. Not because of compatibility, but as you can tell from all the written works around, I absorb information, and anything new is always exciting, especially when you become my age and believe you have seen it all. Anyway, you cannot imagine how shocked I was to read about the female dryads in your world. To say I was fascinated is an understatement. I mean, they were interpretedas folklore by you, but every tale starts with facts. The very idea that one of my kind was on your world at some point had me tracking down everything ever mentioned, and ANDI was quite helpful with that.
When my father approached several of us about coming here to help, I was among the first to volunteer. I wanted to meet more of the race that lured one of my own to shorten his rotations by leaving our homeworld for good.
Then you walked off that shuttle, your spirit glowing with a pale green radiance, much like my own. I knew right then you were what I had been seeking all along. The fact that you were fascinated with natural healing and the study of plants simply gave me an excuse to be close to you. Each time I rose, I sought you out, felt drawn to you like a flower to the sun, even caught myself leaning toward you at the beginning, as if trying to absorb you from afar.
It was just another rising, one where I got to spend in your presence when the Timbers sent out the warning: a deep freeze was moving our way quickly. I brought you here as fast as my limbs would carry me, as in my mind it was the safest place for you. But the longer you were here, the harder it became to fight this attraction.
Then you caressed me. I should not have been able to feel you through the thick membrane, but the heat from your fingers was more than I could resist, and I presented my mating vine to you. In my subconscious, I knew you had no idea what it was or what it meant. But the joy of seeing part of myself merge with you … well, I cannot put it into words.”
“KyT, before you go any further, why did it embed itself in my skin?” I watch her hand stroke the vine, and I must move mylower limbs so that my little blossom does not realize what she is doing to me as I feel her small hands stroking me physically.
“If you had been born one of us, it would have been seeking out your inner nectar. The sap that runs through my veins, but you are human. At first, I wondered if the vine would reject your inner essence and fall off. Instead, it burrowed deep. And almost instantly, I felt my strength rapidly return as you were not only feeding the vine, but me as well. I am only awake now because of you and the strength of our bond.”
“So, this vine, is this your way of saying you want more? Kinda like an engagement ring that is living off my blood, is that correct?”
I cannot help but laugh at the thoughts that flow through her brain of the vine having little fangs rooting around inside her arm, looking for a snack.
“My sweet, sweet blossom. You are so much more than a snack. I am trying to find a way to help you understand the changes that will come with accepting this bond. Do you know the legends of your earthly dryads?”
“Somewhat. If I recall, they were part tree?”
“You will remain as you are, but with enhancements. Beyond heightened sensitivity, your outward appearance will reflect a deeper understanding of your surroundings. You will become one with the flora.”
“Lots of big words in there KyT; make this stupid simple for me.”
“You are going to bloom, my love. You will leaf, branch, and shed just as I do, but in a more feminine way. However, because you are female, you will wear the blooms of the universe, just asI, being male, wear the leaves. What you are feeling right now will intensify with each season, but you will always retain your human features, which I have worked hard to mimic myself.”
I let the silence surround us as her eyes search mine.
“I was not looking for romance or love, KyT. I considered that part of my life over. I thought that I preferred to stay away from the others, only to find myself seeking out their company often. Here in this alien world, I’m simply accepted for who I am. But you were persistent and I will say, no pun intended, that you’ve grown on me.
I’ve felt more at ease inside these walls than I have anywhere in years, and safer in your presence than any before you. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared of this change you speak of, or the life you dangle before me like a carrot on a string. But the thought of walking out of here alone is much more terrifying. You’re not the only one who was getting attached. I sought you out in the mornings, looked for you in every crowd. Started to hide plants just so that we would have a reason to spend another day together. You’ve given my mind and my soul peace KyT, something I never dreamed I’d have again.”
Because I can no longer resist, I lean over, pulling her close, tucking her small frame within mine as my body curves around her.
“This is your home now, my little sprout, if you want it that is. I will not push you to stay here with me, but I am not too proud to beg if I need to. I want the choice to be your own, but I will admit I was trying to find a way to sabotage that dwelling pod they were building for you. When Briar came up to you with the plans for your own dwelling, I had to walk away before I said or did something that would chase you off.”
“All this time, I thought you were sleeping in the Timbers. I had no idea you had such a beautiful home. Now that the vines and branches are receding, the large viewers and the platforms all around really showcase this area and the bedroom I was sleeping in. I think the reason why I never pushed for a pod of my own earlier was that I didn’t want to live there alone. When Briar gave me that furniture list, I picked the bare minimum because my heart wasn’t in it. I would rather have stayed in the communal tent next to the med center because I knew you were close. So apparently, we’ve both been fighting this attraction, and it took being locked in together for us to gain the confidence to say anything about it.”
“Do you accept my mate vine, little bloom? Will you be mine from now until the Lord of Light takes us home?”
“Yes, … yes, I will! I love you KyT, and as much as I didn’t want to, you stole my heart without me realizing it was gone.”
“Love is the perfect soil upon which to build. Come, let us sow a seed that will root deep so that it holds us strong through any storm.”
