Page 62 of Scars & Starlight
Shaking his head again, he takes a step back, gently extricating himself. “I’m going to take care of this now,” he says, his voice sounding more determined. “It’s lovely to meet you, Tara. I hope you’ll take some time to tell me about Earth’s politics later.”
With that, he turns to where his majordomo is waiting on the sidelines, and starts shooting off instructions. Hopefully to have that black spot in our family’s history removed from the palace.
“Always so eventful when you’re around, Kai,” Elara giggles nervously.
“Uh, yeah,” Tara adds hesitantly. “Almost made me want to bust out the popcorn.”
I watch as the females use their nanites to process what my match said.
“Fascinating.”
“Who was the first human to use heat to expand seeds, and why did they do it?”
“Is there a compound in this popped corn that enhances entertainment?”
31
TARA
Ican’t believe I’m having dinner on an alien planet surrounded by alien people who are now my family. They’re all so nice and have been nothing but welcoming. Well, except for Kai’s ex. She was a real bitch, but that was to be expected. I felt a bit self-conscious at first, what with everyone being so tall and gorgeous, but I soon realized that they don’t care what I look like, as long as I’m not a complete a-hole like Zeriah.
“I love your hair,” Kairen’s sister Elara gushes for what feels like the tenth time. “We don’t get those warm tones here. Oh!” She covers her mouth with her hand. “I wonder what kind of hair your babies will have.” I swear even her eyes get misty.
I blush for probably the hundredth time today as Kairen squeezes my hand. Our eyes meet, and he smiles conspiratorially; only we know that they’ll find out what hair color our babies will have sooner rather than later.
“You two are adorable.”
I smile at Kairen’s aunt with gratitude. It feels so good to be accepted, especially since I miss my own family as much as I do. I just hope his brother’s going to be alright after that scene. I’ve hadfights with boyfriends before, and it’s never nice for anyone in the vicinity when they’re public.
Not thinking about propriety, only about how grateful I am to have him, I lean my head against Kai’s shoulder and stifle a yawn.
“You should take your bride to your quarters,” the queen says in an amused tone. I jump up, both at the words, or rather what she called me, and at the realization that I’m half lying over her son at the table. “I fear that she’s about to fall asleep,” she continues.
Before I can pull away, Kai wraps an arm around my shoulders.
“I don’t think she’s used to how long Avaren meals are,” he says before looking down at me. “We live a little slower than humans.”
I shake my head. “Traveling always exhausts me. And I did travel across the universe, didn’t I?” I wink at my malien, earning a warm smile in return.
“You certainly did, love,” he says, straightening me so he can push back his chair. “Not to mention you’ll need energy for everything Elara’s going to put you through in the next rotations while I see to some work.” He pulls my chair back and helps me up before his sister is even done giggling.
“Good night, everyone,” I say, embarrassed to be leaving early like a child with a bedtime. Kiko scrambles after us.
“I love your family,” I tell my space hunk once we’re out of earshot of said family.
He pulls me to his side, squeezing me against him. “I knew you would. Are you going to worry yourself sick next time we’re meeting someone from my planet?”
I grin up at him cheekily. “Probably.”
He throws his head back and laughs, stopping us in our tracks for a moment. “You’re a treasure, Tara,” he says, his sharp teeth flashing in the crystal palace lights and making my heartbeat move to my nether region, far from my chest.
“I live to please.” I perform a clumsy curtsey, earning a bewildered look that makes me burst out laughing too.
“This way, you curious little creature,” he says with a shake of his head.
I soak in the displayed art and the surreal architecture, like something out of a drug-fueled dream. Something is missing, though.
“Hey, Kai?”
