Page 87 of Alien Haven

They stood there for a long while, simply holding the joy they’d found, the promise of clanship and a future. Whatever it held, good or bad, at least they’d be together. Ilid sighed to feel the torment he’d borne dissipate.

“I have a bottle of excellent leshella at my place.” Mitag broke the silence at last.

“You do? You’ve been holding out the high-end stuff?” Charity accused.

He eyed them, blushing. “I put it aside ages ago. You know I’m a romantic. I was saving it for the day I was asked to clan. A promised clan is worth opening it now, isn’t it?”

“It absolutely is,” Ilid agreed. “I’ll buy us another bottle for the big day itself.”

They left without finishing the tour of the house. They were too eager to celebrate the more important event of having found love among the fields and pastures of Haven.

* * * *

Ilid examined Mitag’s dining room as the Imdiko poured sapphire blue Plasian leshella in fluted glasses. “You have excellent taste. Can you decorate our new home and swear not to break the bank?”

“I sure as hell won’t let Detodev do it.” Mitag shot a look of mock horror at the Nobek. “If you thought the chicken wire and haybale wedding reception was bad, it’s nothing compared to what he calls décor.”

“His home looks okay. A bit bare bones is all,” Charity laughed.

“Don’t you dare put frilly shit in the areas where I’ll spend any length of time, my Imdiko,” Detodev growled, eyeing the lace curtains at the window.

“But you’d be so lovely in a setting of—”

Detodev stepped close to loom over Mitag and growled, cutting off the dramatic protest. Mitag cracked up. A second later, the rest joined him, Detodev loudest of all.

When the chuckles quieted, Ilid raised his glass to them. “To us, possibly the most unlikely future clanmates to come together. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that we did. I’ll never take you for granted.”

“To the men who turned a backwards town and planet into a true haven for this lost girl,” Charity added. “Thank you for everything, especially the part where I had no choice but to love you so much I had to stay.”

Mitag uttered a sound suspiciously like a sniffle. “To all of you, who finally granted me the one dream I’ve always had.” He winked at Detodev. “Though it took a lot of convincing.”

“To you for being so damned pushy,” the Nobek grinned in return. “And Charity too. Most of all, my gratitude for you three letting me be the Nobek I want to be…and showing me I already was a protector when I couldn’t see myself clearly.” His smile softened as he waved his glass at Ilid in recognition for his role in setting him straight.

“To us all for overcoming and helping each other do so,” Ilid said. They murmured affirmative responses. They drank.

Sighs of pleasure followed the first sips of the smooth, sparkling leshella. “No wonder people go on and on about how great this stuff is.” Detodev gazed at his glass in surprise.

“It costs a lot too. How far in debt did you go for this bottle?” Charity quizzed Mitag.

“No debt, but I saved for a couple of years to buy it.”

She rounded on Ilid. “I refuse to wait a couple of years before we clan for you to afford another bottle.”

“We’ll all pitch in as best we can,” Mitag laughed. “Since I bought this, I’ve forged terrific relations with a few suppliers and can get it at a discount.”

“Better be a big discount,” she muttered. She sipped and brightened again. A wicked gleam lit her eyes as she looked the men up and down in turn. “How else can we celebrate our upcoming nuptials? I have a few ideas.”

“Hmm. Better run those ideas by us. Make sure you include specific details,” Ilid invited. He had a few ideas of his own, but he wasn’t sure he’d share ahead of enacting them.

As they drank, Charity described acts that tempted him to gulp his leshella and get rid of it so he could race to fulfill her fantasies. She made it easy to ignore the hefty price tag demanding the drink be savored.

When she finished her recitation, leaving the men wide-eyed and obviously aroused, Ilid offered a breathless chuckle. “From Starry Eyes to Miss Behavior in the blink of an eye.”

Detodev appeared faintly stunned. “Getting rather adventurous for this poor, boring farmhand. Where did you find such…inspiration?”

“I’ve heard women can be wilder than men. Is this what you and Matara Sara talk about over coffee?” Mitag asked.

“No! No, no, no.” Detodev set his empty glass on the polished dining table to clap his hands to his ears. “Sara’s been a mother to me. If she gave you these ideas, I don’t want to know. If you truly love me, don’t tell me.”

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