Page 41 of I Married Kayog
We laughed as Tala playfully elbowed him.
“Most people have a very inaccurate perception of who I truly am,” Kayog said in a more serious fashion. “It is hard for me to be playful around people with unpleasant auras or who love to wallow in negative emotions. But both of yours are awesome.”
Both Tala and Mares stiffened in surprise, although they also felt deeply touched by the compliment.
“Really?” Tala asked.
“Mmhmm. The most beautiful emotion in the world is true love. The song of two soulmates reunited is enthralling. It’s like a flood of divine light shining down on you. You want to wrap yourself in it,” Kayog said.
Mares frowned, his confusion reflecting the one Tala felt.
“A song?” Mares repeated.
Kayog nodded. “Every soul has a song, a unique melody. The songs of two soulmates vibrate in perfect harmony, like yours.It’s absolutely beautiful and makes it extremely pleasant for me to bask in your aura.”
“Are you saying they are soulmates?” I asked, happiness filling my heart.
“Yes, they are,” Kayog replied with conviction.
“Really?” Tala asked in a hesitant voice.
“Yes, undoubtedly. Congratulations to both of you for finding each other,” my mate said with a smile.
Mares and Tala exchange an uncertain look before looking at Kayog and me in turn, their emotions loudly broadcasting their confusion.
“Is that a joke, or…?” Mares asked.
“I never joke about that,” Kayog replied in a tone that made it clear he wasn’t playing. “You two absolutely are soulmates. But you’ve been aware of it for a while.”
My friends exchanged another look, but this time, love laced with a hint of shyness dominated. They exchanged a kiss before glancing back at Kayog.
“So, what you’re saying is that you’re able to see when two random people are soulmates?” Mares insisted.
“Essentially, yes,” Kayog said with a shrug.
“Damn, my friend. If you can 100% match people with their soulmates, you should start some kind of mating agency. People throughout the galaxy are fed up with crappy dating apps and websites.”
We all burst out laughing.
“Kayog, the matchmaker,” my mate said with a disbelieving expression. “And you say I’m the one with a sense of humor?”
Mares shrugged. “I think it would be a blast to be able to provide people with their happily ever after. That would be a lot better than the countless crappy jobs out there that no one wants.”
“True. But I believe I’ll pass. Interesting suggestion, though,” Kayog said teasingly.
“I aim to please,” Mares retorted, imitating the flourishing bow Kayog had performed when he spoke those same words earlier.
We laughed.
“Come on, you overpowered, silly aliens. Let’s get going. I have a cool winged mount to ride!” Tala said.
“Lead the way, my love,” Mares replied.
We hopped into Mares’ personal shuttle to complete the thirty-minute journey to Xilqen Canyon. It was a majestic, protected land where the native species of Mazeria thrived for centuries before their extinction. Guided tours were offered riding a winged mount that followed a specific trail through the large territory that the Syllens had occupied.
Tala compared it to the Grand Canyon on Earth, but with the stony ridges clustered far closer together with narrower passages in between. Furthermore, Xilqen Canyon didn’t have the burnished red and ochre color of her homeworld. Instead, the ridges all boasted grayish stones covered in moss or luxurious vines and other greenery.
We went to purchase our tickets, Tala and Mares each picking the mount they would ride. The Nordjarimm were magnificent creatures, half birds, half mammals. The four-legged mounts had cleft hooves on their back legs, and reptilian talons on their front paws. According to Tala, their bird heads looked like a mix of a puffin and a golden pheasant, both creatures from her homeworld. The golden tuft of hair on top of their heads and the long beard-like strings dangling from each side of their beaks gave them a wise and elder look. A soft brown fur covered their bodies with two majestic, feathered wings. Although they were pacific creatures, their rumps extended into a set of very long twin tails. They were tipped with a leaf-shaped, reddish appendage with ridged darts, which could stab or electrocute any predator that threatened them.
