She surprised them both by pressing her lips to his.
He was so shocked he did not react for a second, but then he pulled her close, deepening the kiss. She smiled against his mouth then pulled back, breathless.
Absently, she felt relieved by the addition of mint into the cure’s recipe.
‘I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to see how wonderful you are,’ she said, eyes pricking with tears. She held his face in her hands. ‘But I can see you now. And you are a treasure.’
‘No, don’t apologize,’ he said, a soft expression on his face. ‘Every moment with you is a gift.’
‘Can you stand?’ she asked with a smile. ‘I want you to meet my sisters.’
30
With Xander’s help, Bisma made more of the cure. She told him to rest—that she could do it herself—but he wanted to see how she had accomplished the feat that had eluded them all these weeks.
‘Brilliant,’ he said, shaking his head in awe as she showed him how she had grown gulkhaira, a single-blossom flower that was rose pink, shading into pink and white. She had used the root of the plant to treat stomach disorders before, and with some magic and manipulation it was just what their cure needed. ‘Bis, you’re absolutely brilliant,’ he said, looking at her with wonder in his green eyes. She smiled to herself, cheeks warm.
When the cure was ready, they treated her sisters together: Deeba first, then Azalea, Nori, Mei, and, lastly, Luna. They were all groggy and grumpy, as if waking from a midday nap that had accidentally turned into a day-long slumber.
‘My tummy hurts,’ Nori said, pouting, while Azalea groaned.
‘I feel awful,’ Luna said.
‘Owie,’ Mei added, rubbing her eyes.
Deeba whimpered as Bisma scooped her into her arms, cuddling the toddler.
‘Nori, get off,’ Luna complained, as Nori stretched out on top of Luna.
‘But you so warm,’ Nori said, cuddling closer, smiling at having successfully vexed Luna.
‘Go bother Azalea—she’s warmer,’ Luna said.
Azalea shot up. ‘Donotbother Azalea,’ she warned.
Bisma had never been happier to hear their noisy complaints; the greenhouse was brimming with them. With all the girls awake, the private space that was hers and Xander’s now felt crowded, but in the very best way, all of them snuggled tight and cozy.
‘I missed you so much,’ Bisma said, going to kiss each of them.
Deeba jumped from her arms onto the cot to snuggle with Mei, while Bisma hugged Luna tight. Azalea waved Bisma off when Bisma approached.
‘It’s too early in the morning for this,’ Azalea fussed, but Bisma didn’t care, she plopped a kiss onto Azalea’s cheek.
‘Where are we?’ Nori asked, looking around with wide blue eyes.
‘I’mstarving,’ Luna added.
They were all sitting up now, taking in their surroundings.
Bisma felt Xander’s hand at the small of her back, and she turned to look up at him.
‘You girls get reacquainted. I’ll get some food,’ he said.
‘Thank you,’ she said, reaching up on her tiptoes to brush a soft kiss against his cheek.
His face lit up with such innocent cheer that she wanted to kiss him properly, but she was aware that all her sisters had stopped their complaining and curious glances to watch with shocked faces.
‘EW.’
