Page 41 of Meet Me in the Stars

“I hope we will. For the first time, I’m certain I want you to be telling the truth.”

“Good, because I am,” I said and playfully swatted him on the ass. “Come on. Quit stalling. It’s time for me to find vindication in all I know.”

Laughing we raced up the stairs together to the Star Room.

Chapter Twenty-One

Fred

The Star Room was built directly into the side of a mountain. In that way it reminded me of Hemlock Mountain and all the caverns my first Earthside ancestors lived in. I still couldn’t imagine myself with a crescent shaped scale showing on my forehead all the time. I pushed the thought away and focused on the not-temple in front of me. The building itself looked to be plated or perhaps space-painted in gold.

“Those are little gold nuggets. Each one had to be slapped into place,” my dragon observed, shifting my eyes to his for a better look at the building’s exterior.

“Let me guess, Starscale Mountain? Mount Starscale?” I teased.

“Huh?” Elio glanced at me. “No, it’s the Star Room. Are you okay? The doctor on the ship said the oxygen levels and air composition would be fine for you guys, but if it’s not---”

“I was making fun of how some Earthside mountains were named, mate,” I laughed, the sound vibrating through my bones like it hadn’t since before Lotus had to leave.

“Oh. It’s the Star Room,” Elio nodded again, once I pulled myself together.

“It wasn’t that funny, I know,” I shrugged.

“It was sorta funny. Once you explained it to me.”

“What is the name of the mountain?” I asked more clearly this time.

“Uhh… You’d have to ask it,” Elio shrugged. “The building is the Star Room, and the mountain is a mountain. Do they name everything where you come from?”

“Just about,” I shrugged again. “Maybe not every mountain individually, but the mountain ranges at least.”

“Oh, the mountains are called the mountains here. They run all the way around the world in a nice wavy line. They were built that way.”

“Maybe you guys don’t name them because they didn’t have to be discovered.”

“Uhhhh…. Just because you stumble upon something doesn’t mean it belongs to you. Don’t go naming our mountains,” Elio gave me a serious look.

“What?” I blinked.

“Look,” Elio grabbed my arm and pulled me off the beaten path into a copse of trees. “There are whispers that the leaders put off connecting to everywhere else because they’re worried who might try to take our worlds and to be fair, the Moonscales took a lot from a lot of people back in the day. Your flight wasn’t the only group snatching shit up, but you were part of it. So, stop it. Stop trying to be that guy who discovers things. These mountains,” he pointed up, “are the Mountains of Starscale 1. They were planned and grown and loved and lived in. They don’t need you or anyone else to name them. They were not discovered. If they were, it was by the first generation born in their foothills. Love them, admire them, or whatever, but don’t do that.”

I blinked and let out a long, slow breath before speaking because I knew anything I said would be wrong. It was just one of those situations. Though, if Clarence bugged me into outer space because he wanted someone knew to fight with, his heir, Cade Moonscale, better be ready, willing, and able because Sunny’s dad or not, Teddy’s friend or not, I’d take his head and take my own chances with Medwin descaling me.

“That was the right answer,” Elio nodded, picking up on my confused thoughts over our mating link.

“What if I was going to name them after you?” I teased, sliding a hand onto his hip and stepping closer to him.

“They’re not yours or mine. They’re mountains. They belong to everyone,” Elio grinned, still standing his ground.

“I won’t let Clarence or anyone else steal the mountains of Starscale 1,” I said, tilting his chin up.

“You better not invite them to either,” Elio’s grin widened.

“At this rate, I’ll be here forever. It’s such a strange thing to think about.”

“The mountains? Clarence? Being here? What’s strange to think about, Alpha?” Elio asked, his gaze meeting mine.

“All of it. Somewhere between magic and space engineering, we’re standing here in front of a temple about to look between lives.”

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