Page 89 of May the Stars Have Mercy
Aphrodite chuckled softly, rolling her eyes. “Vivian’s got me all stitched up, but I still need to rest.”
“I know, and much like when we attached your breathers…I will find the patience and resolve to resist climbing into bed with you.” He moved to press his forehead to her knuckles again. His body shivered as he took a few shaky breaths. She didn’t imagine he would ever cry. Xexis her ever stable, steady, durable mate. Not until he peeked up at her with a weak, soft pinch in his face. His pincers were softly curled, as if afraid to even touch her. Several tears trickled out of his eyes and fell onto her knuckles. Aphrodite blinked, trying not to follow him into a fresh set of her own. She wasn’t sure she had the hydration to cry at that moment. Instead, she stroked the side of his face sweetly.
“My mate, don’t cry,” she murmured.
“I can not help it. The relief of seeing you alive is a joyous moment worthy of losing hydration.” He cupped her hand to his cheek harder.
“Xexis,” Aphrodite exhaled, curling a finger against his pincer. His big eyes snapped up to her face again. “Bring your face closer, you massive goofball.”
He beamed, shuffling forward till his face was propped as best it could against her pillow. Aphrodite shifted, grimacing as she did, before pressing a kiss to his cheek.
“I am missing context, my mate,” he chuckled under his breath, “what is a goofball?”
“It’s an affectionate insult. It means you’re silly, but that I love you.”
Xexis let out a soft hum of appreciation as she kissed his cheek again. Aphrodite let the pain subside, getting used to the new position solely so she could have her face close to him. Eventually Vivian cleared her throat and Aphrodite settled back to where she had been.
“I love you too, Aphrodite Kerso. My mate.” He slipped up to his feet, pressing his forehead to hers.
“Xexis,” Aphrodite pouted as he pulled away. “Are all our hunts going to be like that?”
He let out a fully belly bark of a laugh. “No, no they won’t. Not if our new Korzavic has anything to say about it.”
Aphrodite grimaced, watching her mate deflate with a groan of his own. She gave him an apologetic look. “Has Xnasis been yelling at you for our hunt?”
“If yelling means the sound of cannons going on repeatedly, then yes, he’s been yelling.” Xexis crossed his arms over his chest. The small somber moment was quick livened as he peeked up to Aphrodite with a mischievous smile. His pincers twirled aroundhis mouth. “Though, I think he’s rather proud. He tends to get louder when I point out how well you did.”
“Not bad for the first hunt on my own, huh?” Aphrodite let out a puff of air, all the wind under the sails long gone.
“As if there was any doubt that my mate was the strongest hunter in all of the station,” Xexis winked at her teasingly. “You’re one of the few who can say they hunted the Kannatch and won.”
“Few?” Vivian snorted.
“Well…I wasyoungonce,” Xexis chortled, bending over to press his forehead to hers. “But yours is the only one worth note, as I was at my full skill when you bested me.”
Aphrodite flushed, sinking into the bed like a puddle of goo. Xexis took a deep breath, lingering with his forehead to hers before slowly pulling back.
“You have to go?” Aphrodite didn’t want him to leave but knew there was much to do.
“I do not, but as I was not permitted to eat inside the bay,” Xexis shot a glance at Vivian before glancing back at Aphrodite, “I am going to go stuff my face full of food with Grooug, Kiefgr, and Reevar. Then I will be able to return and sit by your side until you can be moved to our chambers for more rest.”
Aphrodite turned her head to give Vivian a side eye. The physician slowly gave Aphrodite her back, typing away on her computer. Aphrodite snorted, rolling her eyes. Returning her attention to her mate, she nodded. “Go, get some food, I’ll still be here.”
He pressed his forehead to hers one last time before slipping away. Aphrodite immediately broke the rules, jerked her arm up with a hiss, and snatched the flower. Vivian made a strangled sound as ifto stop her, but it was too late. Aphrodite had her arm back down and the flower against her nose. She took the biggest whiff before grinning like a fool.
“What even is that?” Vivian huffed, flicking Aphrodite’s finger in vengeance.
“Mangroix flower, wanna sniff?” Aphrodite winked at Vivian. The second her friend’s face was in the petals, she said, “Xexis says that pussy tastes just like Mangroix fruit.”
Vivian choked on petals, hacking up a lung as Aphrodite giggled, then groaned, then giggled some more.
Despite the physical pain, it was really fucking nice to laugh again. Aphrodite felt at peace, and as she calmed down from her fit of giggles and dozed off once more to the sound of her friend muttering to herself…she found the stars were also at peace. A small voice filled the back of her head, tickling tendrils licking up the back of her head.
Thank you, Aphrodite Kerso…we are safe.
And she watched dancing jellyfish in an endless, starless oblivion.
Epilogue:
