Ravok blinks at me, his white eyes reflecting the same feelings of shock, befuddlement, and, strangely, amusement I’m experiencing. He gestures towards the cabin door, and together,we head inside. We collapse onto the couch, completely floored by the rapid turn of events.
I open my mouth to say something; someone has to, but every thought jets away faster than I can catch it. Too unexpected, too shocking, too… lucky? I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that goddesses exist. And I now get to spend the rest of my life with Ravok. I was sure I would never see him again less than a half hour earlier. I think I have whiplash.
After several attempts to speak, I only manage to muster a tired sigh. Ravok turns on the couch, facing me, his face glowing with happiness. “My Leelee. I thought I was going to lose you.”
“Me too,” I reply, my throat suddenly dry at the thought of how close I came to dying.
“I love you. You will never regret choosing a life with me. You will never regret agreeing to be my mate, not ever. I will do everything in my power to make you happy, I promise.”
“You already make me happy. And I love you too. So much.”
I immediately recognize the hot look in Ravok’s eyes. My body immediately revs up in response.
Ravok starts to reach for me when Mango leaps into the small space between us on the couch, interrupting our embrace.
“Mrow!” Mango complains, his tail lashing back and forth, displaying his ire. “MrowWWWWW!”
Ravok scoops up my spoiled feline and scratches Mango under his chin. As he apologizes to Mango for leaving him alone for so many hours, I watch them together with a smile. I have my future.
I saved an injured alien, and, as a reward, I got the love of my life.
EPILOGUE
Lily
“Welcome Lilith and Rav Blackwell, the newest citizens of Lublin Harbor!” Koko cries out, her voice echoing throughout the brightly sunlit town square. The cheering crowd, which appears to be the entire town’s population, is a sea of clapping hands and cheering. Everyone’s faces are split into wide, warm smiles. As the words hang in the airy atmosphere, it’s like something crackles in the air.
Koko turns to us, holding out an arm toward the gathered crowd. “My friends… Now you can see us in our true forms. Welcome to Lublin Harbor.”
The world around us suddenly blurs before crystallizing into something inexplicably… otherworldly. I blink, struggling to comprehend the sudden shift. The gathered crowd begins to morph, their human facades fading away to reveal their true forms.
More than half of the crowd turns into mythological creatures. I stare in shock. My mouth opens but words fail me.I spot several werewolves. Then, I see a green-skinned ogre standing next to what appears to be an enormous gargoyle. Next, my attention is grabbed by the sight of a beautiful woman with gleaming green snakes undulating around her head instead of hair. A gorgon! Just like I imagined from Greek legend. Sema leaps up from the crowd and flies away. What. The. Hell. The dog’s wings were real all along.
I try to take it all in – all the strange and wonderful creatures but I get distracted when Ravok grabs my hand, curling his fingers around mine. I look over at him and startle.
I’m holding hands with a man I’ve never seen before. I stare at the lumberjack-like behemoth beside me, my heartbeat erratic in my chest. The man’s face is covered in a neatly trimmed black beard. His hair is long and the same midnight shade as his beard. It is pulled back into a thick man bun at the top of his head. His skin is a deep olive complexion. The man returns my stare, his eyes a brown so dark they’re almost black. The thick slash of his brows drop in concern at my startled gasp. He frowns at me, and I’d know that frown anywhere, even on a human man’s face.
“Ravok?” I ask.
“Oh, sorry!” Koko interrupts. “I forgot to warn you that this is what Ravok will look like to anyone who doesn’t belong to Lublin Harbor.”
Ravok certainly makes for a handsome man, but I already miss my alien. Before I can even state as much, the man shimmers out of existence and my Ravok is back. I blow out a relieved breath and smile at him.
Ravok having a fake human façade will be a good thing. When I told Aunt Zizi that I wouldn’t be coming to stay with her after all and instead was staying here with ‘Rav,’ she’d immediately started planning to visit and meet my mystery man. I had been trying to find a way to block her from coming, butnow I didn’t have to worry about that. Bright happiness fills me at the idea of the two most important people in my life getting to meet.
Zizi will love Ravok once she gets to know him – of that I’m certain.
“Welcome home, Lily. Welcome home, Ravok,” Koko says, her voice like a heavenly chime in the crisp, bright day. And although there’s a whole lot yet to understand, to learn, a vague sense of rightness wraps around me like a soft blanket on a frigid night.
Rog, the garage mechanic, a bear of a man with a gentle disposition approaches us. My eyes widen as I realize he is carrying a colossal blacksmith’s hammer in one hand. Bright flames lick along the hammer’s head, sending sparks into the open air. The absurdity of the scene makes me blink twice, but the hammer remains ablaze.
Rog approaches Ravok. “Could you spare a minute? I have some questions about your people’s technology I was hoping you could answer.”
Ravok looks over to me before answering the man. I give him a nudge and an encouraging smile. His concern warms my heart, but I brush it off with a gentle smile, touching his hand in reassurance. “Don’t worry, Ravok. I’ll be right here.”
I smile as he follows Rog to the shade of a nearby tree. I pretend not to watch as the two men put their heads together and immediately jump into what looks like a deep and lively conversation. The green-skinned ogre I spotted earlier wanders over and the three of them quickly get enmeshed in a conversation. I love that everyone seems so welcoming to Ravok. I don’t think he’s had much comradeship in his life, and it would be great for him to make friends.
As they talk, Koko comes over, a smile playing on her lips. “You should see your face when you look at him. You’re completely gaga over him. It’s so sweet.”
