Page 43 of The Pregnancy Pact

Chapter 25

Ellax

To her credit, my human wife was maintaining her composure. Perhaps I’d made a good choice after all in wedding her, despite the lyven making the choice for me. If she was nervous, I could not tell. She sat in the chair before the desk, her face turned towards the window, watching the planet grow closer as we descended into our capital city, Korith.

“It is very beautiful, is it not?” I asked, walking over to stand beside her, my hands clasped behind my back.

She nodded, her attention never leaving the window. “It is. I guess I wasn’t expecting the mountains. The sunlight. It’s all so…green.”

Her planet, Earth, was a blasted, cold, withered place, the planet’s cooling and warming systems nearly destroyed by human warfare. I hated it. How glad I was to be home.

“We have two suns,” I informed her. “They are at sufficient distance to keep Asterion mild and warm. The weather here is most pleasant.”

“It’s certainly very different from Earth. Does it ever snow?” she inquired, glancing up at me.

“Rarely. In the mountains, yes, during our winter season. The highest peaks are covered with snow. When warmer temperatures come the snow melts, turning into rivers that feed the lakes.”

She quirked a small smile. “I’m familiar with the process. They are no mountains where I live, and, of course, our natural seasonal cycles have been disrupted, but I’ve read plenty of books. It will be fascinating to see it play out in real life, though.”

She turned back to the window. “This is definitely going to take some getting used to. It’s all so different from anything I’ve ever known.”

“It will be well,” I assured her. The mountains were vanishing against the skyline of Korith’s soaring towers, high-rise housing, and the skypads on which we would soon land.

“I hope so.”

I heard the timidity in her tone.

“It will,” I promised. Without thinking, I reached out to gently touch her back, placing the flat of my hand against her spine. “I will be with you. I will guide you.”

I felt the jolt that passed through her body at my touch. Was she offended? Disgusted?

Her chin turned my way. “Gee, thanks,” she replied, her tone a bit flat. “Glad I’ve got you to tell me what to do.”

Was that human sarcasm? Why did humans say one thing and mean another entirely? Or did she mean the words as spoken?

“You are very fortunate to have me to tell you what to do,” I agreed. “There is no scenario we could encounter that I’ve not had some experience with during my many years as an Elder.”

“Well…” She shrugged and looked back to the window, absorbing the approaching planet. “That’s a fair point. I’m sure it will be helpful to have your experience on our side.”

***

I hadn’t meant to lie to my new wife.

Stretching the truth or polite little lies were oftentimes a necessary part of my role. However, I’d not intended to lie to my new human wife. I’d simply not foreseen the difficulties that lay ahead, and had no way of knowing I would soon encounter problems I'd not encountered previously during my career.

Once the space ship landed gently on its skypad, I left her side to gather my personal effects, knowing the remainder of my belongings would be packed, collected, and brought to my house later by spaceport employees. When I advised her to do the same, Lorelai lifted her little bag.

“This is all I brought on board with me, remember? Unfortunately, I’m dependent on you to provide for my every need.

“Much as I wish that wasn’t the case,” she muttered in an aside to herself.

But I heard her and answered, “I will care for you. It is no burden.”

She fixed me with an odd look I could not interpret.

Walking back over to her, I offered her my arm. “Come. Time to present a united front to Asterion. You are my wife now. We will make them know it.”

She hesitated, staring at my arm and me, then slowly placed her hand in the crook of my elbow. With a sigh she stood, twitching her skirts to neaten then.

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