Page 128 of Tempting Fate

No contest.

As soon as we got back to the village, I raced to Airida’s hut.

He looked up from his datapad, and the radiant smile lighting his face was everything I needed to see. “Moonlight. What is it?”

“Do you want to hide?”

He blinked, then set down his device and patted the bed next to him. “Hide?”

“There’s a network of caves here. We could hide out there instead of you going on the carrier. That way, we don’t have to… be apart.” I sat, my heart beating too hard, too fast.

He nodded slowly. “We could hide. And after that?”

After? I blew out a long breath. “I thought I wanted to go back to town. I did. I do. I need a secure home and an income, and I need my independence. But when Daiytak said I had to leave…” I cupped his face, thumbing the seam of his mouth. “I care about you too much to walk away.”

Airida crushed me to him, wrapping me in his strong, warm arms. “Oh, my moonlight. But you sound worried.”

Of course I was. Even if I accepted I’d broken my promise and was moving into the terrifying unknown, there were wider considerations. I squeezed my eyes closed, focused on his hard muscles under my cheek. “I want this to work between us. But if it doesn’t, I don’t want to be stuck. I don’t want to be without options. If I don’t go back to town, don’t find another job, where would that leave me?”

The plant on the dresser had flowered at last, small bells in pale pink that cascaded from each other and filled the room with a gentle perfume.

Airida drew away, resting his hands on my shoulders. “Why would you be stuck? If these feelings between us are as strong as I know they are, there wouldn’t be a worry.” Softly, so softly, his harmonics ringing with conviction, he added, “Mate bonds are permanent. It will work.”

My eyes filled with tears. “I want to believe that.” I was so, so tired. Of the relentlessness New Earth had been. Of being a prisoner. Of being stranded. Working myself to the bone to earn a home. Having to start my life over again. Avoiding relationships due to fear. How wonderful would it be to have that kind of certainty? “I still want independence. I need to earn my own credits, and that might mean working in town. Your position isn’t secure anyway, how long can you stay in Zyamzh?”

He stroked my cheek. “Imani, it is my home. Forever, if I want it. I have a life here. I am free. As long as I contribute, I do not need that many credits, only for things I would choose. And there is always something here to develop, something to do. When the village expands the new construction, they will need a geology analyst. There is the garden to tend. Your worth is not tied to the credits you earn, my love.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks. “Let’s get through this, then. Together.”

CHAPTER FIFTY

Intercession

Airida

IMANI WANTED TO be with me.

I could not contain my joy, yet I had to, lest I scare her away. And though we had mountains to climb first, we would scale them together. I would hold my joy close—but inside, I burned with the purest truth I’d ever known.

I tucked my arm around her. “Let us speak with Tokki or Daiytak, I’m sure they’ll understand.”

The small moon glowed peacefully in the twilight sky as we left my dwelling. A handful of glowbugs were already flitting around, and a blue moonlark flew from the swaying branches of a nearby tree, trilling its melody.

Loud, angry voices carried over from the courtyard.

“He needs to be sent away!”

“It’s too early in kalidi. He can’t move yet.”

“He brings trouble to our door, and it’s getting worse.”

I pulled Imani closer. Fear warred with guilt—but I gritted my teeth against all of it and kept walking forwards. This was my home. Tokki had assured me I belonged. I had not come this far only to be sent away.

Bekatal stood, spreading his arms wide. “His rescue has paved the way for many of our siblings to be rescued! His struggle is our struggle.”

Daiytak’s voice rung with command. “Indeed it is. He is one of us.”

I sent them both my silent thanks.