Page 107 of Alien Warlord's Fury

Nirako's eyes softened with memory. "The Aerie sits high in the eastern mountains, carved into the rock face itself. Our dwellings open to the sky, with bridges of woven vines connecting the community. When dawn breaks, the entire cliff face glows gold."

"It sounds beautiful."

"It is." His lifelines pulsed gently. "Though beauty takes many forms. The Shadow Canyon clan finds beauty in darkness and depths. The Eastern Settlement in forests and waters."

I placed the sliced vegetables in the cooking pot. "And what does Nirako of the Aerie find beautiful?"

His gaze met mine, steady and unguarded. "Silver markings against human skin. Brown eyes that see beyond surfaces. Courage that outweighs caution."

Heat rushed to my face. Even after everything we'd shared—our bodies, our energies, our fears—his directness still caught me off guard.

"You said something, back when we were tracking Hammond." I stirred the pot, focusing on the simple task. "About me being your fated mate. What did you mean exactly?"

Nirako was quiet for a moment, measuring dried herbs with careful precision. "The Aerie believes certain souls resonate together—a harmony that exists before meeting. When two such souls find each other, their lifelines or markings recognize the connection."

"Like the bond we share?"

"Yes." He added the herbs to the pot, the scent sharp and pleasant. "Though it is rare between Nyxari and human. Unprecedented in my knowledge."

I thought about our first encounters—my frustration with his caution, his exasperation with my recklessness. "We didn't exactly start with harmony."

A smile tugged at his mouth. "The strongest resonance often begins with discord. Two notes finding their way to alignment."

"So it's predetermined? We had no choice?" The idea bothered me—after Hammond's control, the thought of another force directing my path felt unsettling.

Nirako shook his head. "The Aerie teaches that the resonance is predetermined, but the choice to honor it remains our own. I felt the connection from our first meeting, but I would never have forced it upon you."

"What happens if fated mates reject the connection?"

"They live separate lives." He stirred the pot, steam rising between us. "The resonance fades to background noise—always present but ignorable. Many Aerie warriors choose this path, believing duty must supersede personal bonds."

"Is that what you would have chosen?" I asked, suddenly needing to know.

Nirako considered this, his expression thoughtful. "Before you, I would have said yes without hesitation. Now..." His lifelines responded faintly. "Now I understand why our elders speak of fated bonds with such reverence."

We moved to the small table with our meal, sitting across from each other. The food was simple but flavorful—earthy vegetables and herbs in a rich broth.

"Human courtship is different," I said after a few bites. "Less mystical, more... practical, I guess. Or at least it was before the crash."

"Explain." Nirako looked genuinely curious.

"Well, there's dating—spending time together to see if you're compatible. Meeting each other's families and friends. Moving in together as a test run before making any permanent commitments."

Nirako's brow furrowed. "You test potential mates like equipment?"

I laughed at his scandalized tone. "When you put it that way, it does sound cold. But it's more about making sure you work well together before committing."

"The Aerie approach differs. Once a resonance is acknowledged, the pair enters a binding period—living together,working together, facing challenges as one. The elders provide guidance, but the bond itself teaches compatibility."

"So no dating multiple people to find the right match?"

Nirako looked perplexed. "Why seek others when the resonance has already identified your complement?"

"Humans don't have convenient glowing markings to point us in the right direction." I gestured to my arms. "We have to figure it out the hard way."

"Inefficient," he declared, but his eyes crinkled with amusement.

"Very." I smiled, enjoying this lighter side of him. "So what happens after the binding period in Aerie tradition?"

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