Page 169 of Tempting Fate

We touched down with a satisfying jolt.

Home.

The engines shut down with a whine.

I took Airida’s hand, gazing up at him, his besotted expression echoing my own.

We disembarked to bright sunlight and all shades of beautiful green.

CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX

Family

Airida

AS ONE, THOSE at the central fire rose, dashing over to us, hands clapping my arms and back with force I returned, more gentle greetings for Imani.

Tears shone in Orukem’s eyes. “Welcome home.”

“Thank you, my friend.” I cast my gaze over the half-dozen villagers before me, none of whom appeared to be injured, thank the gods. “May I introduce our newest permanent resident, Imani Adeyemi. My mate.”

As they cheered, I took in the aftermath of the battle. The central mast was gone, only a blackened stump remaining on the top of the building, but other than some scorch marks, nothing else seemed amiss.

Bekatal gave me a knowing nod. “Perhaps Myria should have gone into the caves instead of the forest.”

“Still on your pixie tales, my friend?”

“I am simply glad it worked out for you.”

“Oh, as am I. What is that?” I pointed to the enormous commercial crane on the village outskirts.

“Just arrived from Lietan Shipyard.” Bekatal turned to Imani. “There’s another human there, too.”

The most inelegant squawk escaped my mate’s mouth. “Human? Where? Who?”

I sent Bekatal an apologetic smile as she dragged me away.

We skirted the gardens, arriving at one of the nearby clear patches of ground, where a mixed bunch of sapients moved around the new machinery. “Trin!”

The smallest one looked up at my mate’s cry. “Imani!”

She ran towards us, a lean, pale human like Kira and Fenn with short, dark hair and the Lietan Shipyard logo on her dark grey overalls.

The two females embraced.

“Airi, this is Trin. Trin, this is Airida. My mate,” Imani said, beaming with pride.

“Your mate? Like Garrison has?” Trin asked.

“Just like that. And this is Shohari’s brother, see. So we’re all like family now.”

Another worker, a biped species I’d never seen before, sauntered over to join them, wearing nothing but tight shorts. The cobalt streaks over his pale aquamarine skin were familiar, but I couldn’t place them.

“Are you going to introduce me?” The sapient’s voice was cool and deep. He was shorter than me, with smooth skin similar to humans and leanly muscled like shaa’ith. Smoky, shadowy tendrils wisped from his body as he moved.

Trin didn’t look at him. “Friend, meet friend. This is Imani, and this is Dunuutasfaalkhzzakai.”

I was never going to remember that.