“Lovely.” I kissed his cheek. Dilvonsil would’ve agreed with me, but I didn’t say such to him. We hadn’t discussed his parents much. I wasn’t sure if it was something he was comfortable talking about yet. I wished I could talk to Edith. She would know how to help, but she wasn’t even allowed to ping anymore. The fear of contamination was too great. I understood and agreed. However, it didn’t keep me from missing her dreadfully.
His eyes fell closed and a shudder went through him. “I don’t want to do this.”
“I know.” If he had been home, he would be the one to release his parents' ashes to the stars, but Hallonnixmin was doing it forhim. “We don’t have to attend,” I said, even though this whole thing had been arranged for him, but I wouldn’t force him to go.
“No,” he said with a shake of his head. “I must.”
“Then I shall be with you.” I climbed off the bed and pulled on his tail with mine. He took a deep breath before following me into the shared space.
Cincin yowled from her place on the couch, something she had reclaimed once Monqilcolnen’s family had left. He gave her a flash of a smile before he snagged her off the couch, making her whine in annoyance, though she began to purr less than a breath later. Monqilcolnen buried his face in her creamy fur as his shoulders shuddered. With one last squeeze, he set her back down. She flicked her tail at him, then began to give herself a bath.
I chose not to remark about the orange fur clinging to his dark blue uniform and pulled him from the room. The lifts weren’t working regularly, and I didn’t want to risk getting stuck, so I led him to the access panel. We climbed through the tunnels, silent, as I led the way to the observation deck on the top deck of the ship. We weren’t the only ones moving through the tunnels or along this path. No one said anything, the air somber.
When we slipped out of the tunnels, I pulled Monqilcolnen to the side of the short corridor that led to the closed double doors. People were heading inside, and while they cast us glances, no one said anything. I straightened his uniform, doing my best to brush off Cincin’s fur, before simply holding his face between my palms.
“Whatever you need. I am here,” I said. “Never will I leave you.”
He took a trembling breath, then pushed his forehead against mine, nuzzling and sparking awareness through me as his scent bloomed. Monqilcolnen replied, “And I will never leave you.”
“Good.”
Monqilcolnen had needed me to hold him close most nights or claim him, both of which I was happy to do. What he wouldn’t do much of was talk. This was a process. He had never been one to share his thoughts or feelings in the past, and that habit didn’t suddenly dissipate because we were officially together, mates. No more than my issues had vanished. No, these things we would have to work on separately as well as together through the cycles.
With our tails entwined, we headed toward the doors, which opened at our arrival. The room was a circle. Every wall was a window showing the void of space mixed with the bright stars and a distant galaxy. People were standing on either side, forming an aisle. I caught sight of Urgg next to Seth, Bartholomew, Camden, and Noxlyn. Captain Talvax was opposite her mate, with Qinlin by her side. Vorjyn leaned against the glass, framed by space itself. Cencay was wiping tears off their cheeks as they stood with Gorgownun and some other officers. Even Mistress Kel’yeena had come, playing light music on her webs.
Serlotminden and Kalvoxrencol were in front of us. Behind them was a massive screen, which showed another ship with Hallonnixmin holding two glowing orbs, one in each hand. In front of him stood Emperor Kontilmakqilnen with tears coursing down his blue cheeks. We moved slowly, Monqilcolnen heavily leaning against me, toward his cousins’ sides.
When we were in front of the screen, the emperor began, his voice rough, “I had the great honor of being Jemtonkilsol’s younger brother. He was fifteen, entering the first phase of adulthood, when I was born. He once told me that the first time he held me, he knew he was not only looking at his future sovereign, but his best friend.” He broke off with a gasp, tears flowing faster. Empress Vyn moved closer to her mate, taking his tail.
He took another breath. “Jemtonkilsol has been with me every step of my life, and the thought of tomorrow without him…” He shook his head. “It is unbearable.”
Monqilcolnen released a quiet sob, trembling, and I wrapped my arms around him.
The emperor continued, “I don’t remember a time when Dilvonsil wasn’t beside him, laughing and teasing him. My father would often tell the story of them meeting. Dilvonsil knocked him clean over in a bout and called his effort ‘pathetic.’ They have—had always been a greater warrior than him, despite having a creative soul. Apparently, Jemtonkilsol told our father that he had met his mate, his match. He was right, of course.
“There were times I fought with them both, laughed with them both, and cried for them both.” He closed his eyes. “And now, I mourn them both, wishing they were here right now.” Emperor Kontilmakqilnen looked directly at my mate. “I believe he knew the end was coming, Monqilcolnen, even though we didn’t. The night before he left us, he came to me and begged me to care for you if anything should happen. I thought he was being foolish. His cycles, while greater than mine, were not so great I feared his demise.” He shook his head. “I should’ve known. But I will. In their place, you are mine as much as my sons and daughter.”
Monqilcolnen bowed his head as tears poured down his face.
“Jemtonkilsol and Dilvonsil loved you more than anything in this universe besides each other. You were a product of that love. The miracle they waited so long for and hoped for. You were loved, Monqilcolnen.”
I held my mate close to me, soothing a hand up and down his spine.
“Wyn,” the emperor said, making me start. He smiled through the tears at me, looking so like Monqilcolnen and Kalvoxrencol. “They waited for you too.”
I blinked.
“Jemtonkilsol foresaw you and your place beside his son, long before Monqilcolnen was even born. He knew you before he knew his child. Dilvonsil knew you were out there, waiting for their kit, ready to protect and shelter him.” Emperor Kontilmakqilnen continued, “Jemtonkilsol spoke of you too that night. He was relieved, Wyn, because you were beside Monqilcolnen, and he had seen your strength.” He glanced at his own mate. “He told me his son’s love story and mine were mirrors. I survived through everything because of Vyn.” Vyn held her mate as fiercely as I held mine. “And now, you are that strength for my new child.”
I offered my throat, words unable to slip from my strangled throat.
“The greatest honor I had was being Jemtonkilsol’s younger brother and Dilvonsil’s friend, and now, they have entrusted me with another honor, their son. One I shall protect,” he said, then stepped back.
Monqilcolnen didn’t say anything. No one expected him to.
Hallonnixmin took his father’s place. “In my cousin’s place, I shall release both Jemtonkilsol and Dilvonsil’s ashes to the stars while their souls fly within the light of the Crystal.” He was about to turn around but paused. “Monqilcolnen.”
He looked up.
