Page 43 of Soren

"Do you love him?" Janie wastes no time getting to the root of the problem. She never does.

It doesn't take even a second for me to answer. I don't have to question. Don't have to consider. Because everything I know and everything in my heart has already decided. "Yes."

"Then here's what we're going to do." Her eyes light up like they did when we were kids, when she had a brand new idea she couldn't wait to tell me about. "And don't interrupt until I finish, cause I know you love to do that."

I snort and roll my eyes. She's right, but I don't have to like it. "Okay. Go on."

"You're going back to that planet, and you're going to have the best damn alien wedding of all time."

"But--" Too late. I can't stop myself.

"No buts! This is an opportunity, Lara! Don't you see that? He clearly adores you, and I want you..." She trails off. "And your child...to have the life you both deserve." She sniffs, but quickly composes herself. "And before you say anything about me, here's the deal. When my leg heals, you're going back to Aesir and you're going to have your big fat alien wedding, and I'm going to be there cheering you on."

"What?" I gasp. I didn't expect that. Could we even do that?

"You heard me. We're a package deal, remember? You came back for me. Now I'm going back with you. We're in this together, or not at all."

And with that, the strong front I've worked so hard to hold up for her sake breaks. With a great, choked sob, I fall into her arms. Tears flow freely now, but they're not tears of grief or sadness. They're tears of hope. Of thankfulness. I've got the best sister in the galaxy. The most adoring mate a girl could ask for. And a miracle baby on the way.

RETURNING TO AESIRHEIM

SOREN

THREE MONTH LATER

Three months I've been without her and each day feels longer than the last. I've had no communication, no indication that she's okay or that she will come back at all.

And with the solar storms passing through our corner of the galaxy, even my little re-routing trick can't get a signal off the planet. All I have left are my memories. That, and the soft pink ring of fabric I found under the bed after she left. I think she called it a 'scrunchie'. All I know is that it smells like her, and it's the last tether I have to what could have been.

Every Aesir knows the gravity and power of a heart-mate. Children grow up dreaming of finding a fated one. But no one tells you just how devastating it can be to lose a piece of your heart like that.

When I found her, it felt like everything finally fit into place for the first time in my life. That I wasn't running, wasn't fighting an endless war anymore. I wanted to be there for her. I wanted to build a life and settle down and watch our children grow up to be big and strong.

But right at the moment I asked her to marry me, the unthinkable happened. An accident back on Earth injured her sister, and Lara chose to return and take care of her and her niece.

I couldn't blame her. How could I? Every Aesir knows how important family and loyalty are. Especially when little ones are involved.

But what about our little one? The thought sours in the back of my throat. Would I ever see my child? Would I ever see either of them again?

In the meantime, all I could do was wait. Watch. And try to pour myself into anything and everything that would take my mind off the pain.

It wasn’t all bad. I threw myself into my work and my training. My muscles burned with exhaustion daily and I’d gained more than a few new scars, but it was nothing compared to the pain of missing Lara.

She’s still there, a faint presence deep in my chest. I feel her when I wake and when I go to bed. I never got the chance to tell her just how much she means to me. To show her, the way only an Aesir can.

And I don’t just mean sex. I mean the ceremonial mate-bond, the one we were supposed to share before circumstances tore us apart. As fully-bonded heart-mates, we would be able to share thoughts and feelings with one another. She would never be alone again.

I frown and clench my fists at my side. That’s if, of course, she ever comes back.

Every day it seems less likely, but the distant presence of Lara’s spirit stays with me. A constant reminder of what could have been.

It’s no wonder some men go mad after losing a heart-mate. If I didn’t have a job to do, people to serve, I would have lost it long ago.

My men give me sympathetic looks when we meet up for drinks, but none of them dare broach the topic. We shoot the shit and try to keep our spirits up as best we can, but things just aren’t the same. No amount of fighting or feasting will change that.

One of my buddies had the nerve to suggest I ‘take the edge off’ and go to one of the Aesir whore houses. He ended up with a broken nose for that one. I don’t want any random Aesir whore. I want Lara. She’s the only one for me, and now that I know she’s out there, I won’t rest until she’s in my arms again.

I find myself passing by the port more than I should. Checking the monitors, just in case. It’s foolish — I know that. Especially with the storm season the way it is. But every time I pass the monitors, I envision the ticker changing and announcing a new shuttle from Earth coming in for a landing…

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