Page 64 of Stars in Mist

A deep craving crashed into Riv’s core, and he bit back a groan. He wondered whether she slept at night or tossed and turned, thinking of him like he’d fantasized about her for years.

He ached as she left, eyes raking her lush body molded into the sleek jumpsuit she still wore from their flight and journey to her home.

Every enticing step away from him brought back memories of yearning for her for so long. It would be nothing short of a miracle if he managed to restrain himself before he had the answers he sought.

10

Lament For A Long Lost Lover

RIV - THEN

When Élisa agreed to marry Riv, it catapulted their love into incandescence, as their passion burned brighter than ever.

They planned their wedding with excitement, inviting their closest friends and neighbours within the Pika community.

Even leaders of the local gangs were included, many of them ruthlesskinaiswho’d since come to respect Riv and his Sable brothers for their canny business ventures.

As the wedding day approached, the groom-in-waiting became more enthralled with the idea of spending the rest of his life with the silver angel. The woman who’d saved him from darkness and misery.

Together, they re-enacted how they would exchange vows in a simple ceremony. One to be held in a space adorned with colorful flowers and candles that would cast a soft glow over the couple as they exchanged rings.

Riv imagined how, on their wedding day, he would stand at the altar, gazing at Élisa as she walked down the aisle towards him.

When she described her dress to him, he thought of how she’d dazzle in her silver and lilac gown and how his heart would swell with pride and love.

He planned to take her hand and pull her close as she reached him, his lips meeting hers in a passionate kiss.

The crowd would cheer when they were pronounced husband and wife. They’d take their first dance as a married couple to a slow, romantic tune, lost in each other’s embrace.

As the night wore on, they laughed and mingled with their loved ones, basking in the joy of their union.

But even as he lost himself to fantasies of what would be, Riv couldn’t shake off an uneasiness, as if a darkness lurked in the shadows.

His strong meta instincts went off, honed from years of living on the streets.

It didn’t help that a mysterious series of events unfolded one after the other.

An asteroid high above Eden II appeared to obliterate itself and throw itself into the thrall of Alphetraz’s twin suns.

A rare, once-in-thirty-year storm formed over the northern hemisphere of Eden II, where it was most tilted on its axis. The massive thunderstorm formation, fueled by ammonia, flung out violent string lightning bolts every other second, vaporizing rocks and entire lunar mountains.

Then, a Triple Pegasian Eclipse occurred, created by a line-up of three smaller galaxy moons.

Last of all, Élisa refused to discuss her past with him.

He didn’t press her on it, but it had something to do with her people, whom she refused to expand on, and he couldn’t quite place.

He’d never seen anyone with her physiology before. While she spoke standard with a tiny trace of an accent and dressed like most Edenites, she was different. From the jewel on her brow to the feathers on her nape and the distance in her lilac eyes.

All told of a story she wasn’t sharing with him.

He wondered who or what she was running from - and whether her past put them both in danger.

He didn’t want any secrets between them, not on their wedding day.

He waited to broach the subject until they were alone in their small home one evening, a few weeks before the nuptials.

‘Élisa, my silver-hairedmalaíka,’ he murmured, pulling her close. ‘I know we’ve never discussed your background before, but we should be honest with each other with the upcoming nuptials. Can you tell me where you’re from and why we’re not inviting your family to our big day?’

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