“I…” I was speechless. His declaration of love for me filled me with a pleasant joy. Maybe on Earth this would be considered moving too fast, but we weren’t on Earth anymore. We were living in a mountain with Sirret shifters on Valo Prime. I felt at peace with Tarak. There were butterflies in my stomach every time he drew near, but there was also a calm rightness that washed over me too.
“Yes,” I interlaced his fingers with mine. “I’ll claim you if you’ll claim me.”
Tarak picked me up in his arms and twirled me as if I weighed nothing. There was a look of pure glee on his face and for once he didn’t look like the serious leader I knew him to be. He just looked happy.
“Come on, let’s tell everyone,” I encouraged because I knew Tarak well enough already to know that he would need me to suggest an announcement before he’d believe this was all real.
He wore a wide grin on his face as we walked back to the group hand in hand.
“Everyone,” Tarak addressed the room. “I’d like to present my kira-si.” The room erupted with cheers as we kissed. Kira-si didn’t translate but I could ask him about that later.
“The big moon will be full tonight. Perhaps you two will luminesce,” Neelu said with a wistful smile on her face.
“I once thought that would be impossible, but Gab-bae has shown me that anything can happen. She has given me hope again.”
Tarak’s face shone with pride and joy and he looked down at me.
“What does it mean to luminesce?” I knew I might still have a lot to learn about Tarak and his dekes, but this was the first I’d heard of luminesceing.
“When the goddess has blessed a union,” Drondia began, “the couple will glow for each other under the light of the full moon and their horns will turn from white to black.”
“And they’ll have the strong urge to mate all night.” Karo smirked at Drondia, his mate.
“That they do,” Drondia smiled back.
“We might glow?” I could hardly believe it. But I guess it could be possible. My eyes had turned purple after all.
“Yes, our veins will glow a bright purple,” Tarak confirmed.
“Interesting. I wonder if the glowing is connected to the purple water. It would make sense. On Earth the moon affects the water, causing tides, so perhaps whatever is in the water here is activated by the full moon in a similar way,” Anusha suggested as she looked down at the veins in her wrist.
Although I was fully enthralled with the idea I might glow for Tarak, I did notice Sarah yawning and decided it was time for me to lead the women to the storage cavern where they would sleep for the night.
My toes curled in my canvas shoes at the thought of spending the night in Tarak’s bed. Well not just tonight, but every night.
“I better get them settled. I’ll meet you back here.” I reached up on my tippy toes and kissed Tarak on the cheek.
His tail thumped the ground and he blushed all over again.
“I’ll be waiting,” He smiled down at me and I noticed we had quite the audience. Not only did his hunters watch us with their undivided attention, but the women were staring as well. I mentally prepared myself for all the questions I knew they were going to throw my way as soon as it was just us ladies.
We filed into the cavern where there were ten beds made of furs laid out neatly in two rows of five. Each bed had multiple furs and a bonnet.
“Cozy.” Talia commented as she sat down on a fur. “Sarah, next to me!” She waved Sarah over, who looked more than happy to have a bed next to her friend.
“What are these for?” Sarah held up the bonnet that was on her bed.
“Girl! Are these what I think they are?” Kayla happily picked up the bonnet and slipped it over her head, neatly fastening it in a bow so it would stay in place.
“Yep, it’s part of their culture, everyone sleeps in a bonnet,” I confirmed with a smile.
Sarah studied Kayla and how she had secured her bonnet on her head, and did her best to copy her.
“Sounds good to me,” Anusha commented as she fastened her bonnet onto her head as well.
Soon the room was filled with women draped in furs wearing bonnets looking very cozy and tired.
“What about you? I only counted ten beds.” Taylor observed, giving me a knowing look. “Is it safe to assume you won’t be joining us?”
