“Well, I created it. When I fell. As to why I’m down here, it’s because it seemed like the easiest way for you to find me.”
Her ears perked up. “Wait, you created it?Youwere the shooting star?”
“Yes.”
“You’re a star,” she said incredulously.
“Yes,” he replied matter-of-factly. “I thought that was obvious…” He gestured around the crater. That explained the glow, at least.
“But you’re a man…”
“This is my true form. Sorry if I’m not what you were expecting.” He sounded more amused than annoyed, a small smile playing on the corner of his lips.
“Alright. I just need some time to process this, I think.” Iyana’s hands went to her head and started running through her hair, quickly undoing the detangling she had worked on earlier. She paced. Her thoughts were all jumbled—nothing was coming through clearly, and she was at a loss for how to approach this situation. Pausing, a thought occurring to her. “How are you going to get out of the crater?”
“That’s not a problem,” he replied. His back bent forward slightly, arms ready to propel himself forward like he was about to sprint in a race, and then he was standing directly next to Iyana. She screamed at the sudden proximity and toppled over backwards toward the edge of the crater. The man reached forward with an inhuman swiftness, grabbing Iyana and pulling her away from the edge. He held her tightly to him for a moment, hands hot on her waist, staring at her intensely. His eyeswerea gold color; she was correct before. He was much more handsome up close. Her gaze dipped to his lips.Insanely kissable, was her first thought. The way he was holding her started causing heat to pool low in her stomach. Just as quickly as it had happened, the moment passed. He righted her onto her feet far from the edge, tugged the bottom of his shirt back into place, then regarded her silently.
“How did you… Never mind, I don’t think I want to know yet.” Iyana felt on the verge of a panic. “Do you have a name?” she asked, as she paced again nervously. “Also, thank you for catching me.”
“Of course. A name… I have one, but you wouldn’t be able to pronounce it in your language.” He stood with a predatory stillness, his eyes following her pacing.
Iyana grunted, exasperated. “Well, I need something to call you. I have a feeling I won’t be rid of you easily.”
He tilted his head to the side again with a grin, like he was listening to something. “I believe your people call me Altair.”
“Altair…” The name sounded so familiar. Iyana silently cursed Grandmother for not letting her study the stars more. She didn’t need tolookto investigate them. There were maps for this, but Imo was firmly against any sort of knowledge regarding the stars.It’ll only tempt you, my dear, she’d say. The man before her seemed out of place, but nice. Iyana no longer understood her grandmother’s warnings, which were so prominent throughout her childhood and young adult life. Her secret studying and questions asked of the other elders came rushing back to her. She stopped pacing and gasped, “Altair! You’re part of the Aquila constellation!”
“That is my family, yes.” Her head shot up, seeking the Aquila constellation, and there, in fact, the brightest star was missing. She stared at the empty space for a few seconds before Grandmother’s warning rattled about in her head again. But this time, Imo wasn’t there, and she had an actual star standing beside her. She was free to study the stars all she wanted. All the old rules had been tossed aside when she’d asked for aid. Iyana unintentionally made a noise—probably sounding like a girlish squeal—and then she promptly lied down on the ground and star-gazed for the first time in her life. It was everything she’d imagined it would be. The dark night sky juxtaposed with an infinite number of bright, twinkling stars. Her chest tightened with an emotion she couldn’t quite place.
A moment later, Altair’s glowing face appeared above her, blocking her view. She tried to glance around his head while waving her hand to tell him ‘shoo.’
“Are you okay?” he asked, perplexed.
“I’m fine. I’m trying to look at the stars.”
“I’ma star. You could look at me,” Altair said with a chuckle.
She made eye contact with him then. Those golden irises were mesmerizing molten pools she envisioned diving into. “Well, right now, you look like a person. I want to look atthosestars.” She pointed past him. “I’ve never been allowed to before.”You can dissect those gold eyes later, she thought.Just revel in this moment.
His head remained where it was. “Never been allowed? By whom?”
“My grandmother. Now move.” She made the shooing motion again. “Please.”
“Curious,” he muttered under his breath. “May I join you?”
Iyana shrugged. “Help yourself.” Altair lowered himself to the ground, lying close enough she felt the heat from his arm on hers. Her pinky twitched in his direction. It was as though her body couldn’t help but want to touch him again. They rested there silently for several minutes, taking in the majesty and vastness of the night sky. It was nice to take a moment for herself without worrying about what had happened and what was to come. It was only slightly foreboding to have a star lying next to her in the flesh of a man. Iyana let her mind go blank. A deep sigh she didn’t know was in her escaped her body. She was lighter somehow.
Altair shattered the peaceful moment when he spoke. “I’ve never seen my brethren in this manner. Thank you for sharing this with me. You already recognized the Aquila constellation,” he said, pointing to his former home. “The Eagle. My family is known for their fearlessness and tenacity.”
Iyana found this fascinating. She pointed to another in the shape of a ladle. “What is that one?”
“Ursa. The Bear. They are the most courageous of us all.”
Iyana could pick his brains all night; she wanted to learn everything there was to know about the stars. But she reluctantly tore herself away from the stars to glance at Altair. He was still looking up at what she was now realizing was his actual family, but he turned to her when he felt her gaze on his face. His eyes continued to shine a pale gold color, but the rest of him was dimming. Iyana smiled, and to her surprise, he smiled back.
She peered again at the twinkling stars. “It’s gorgeous.”
“Yes. Gorgeous.” But Altair wasn’t following her gaze; he was looking at her.
