Page 65 of The Alien Noble's Little Human

“I was terrified.” I chuckle. “But you know what? For you, I’d do it all again.”

She giggles as I adjust her coat, pulling her collar closer to her neck. We turn up a route, coming onto a section of the peaks with fairly even terrain. The ground here is still icy as the name suggests, but the flat surfaces eliminate one difficulty of getting around.

There are more people than I expected at the resort in the distance. Even in the dark orange glow of the evening sky, I spot people taking the jet propulsion ski lift up the incline and others skiing down the mountains. Still others climb a watchtower to view the landscape from above. A few more wait in line to practice bob-sledding on a mechanical hovercraft sled for beginners trying to practice the motions without the friction of actual snow interfering.

“Taurek, is that where we’ll be staying?” I call out.

“Yes, my love, but before we head there, we’re heading to a different spot where we can get some private space away from everyone else.”

He looks back over his shoulder with a confident glint in his eye, winking. There’s something sneaky about it that amuses me. It makes Hanai laugh, too. We come to the bottom of what seems to be the final hill, the top of which is obscured by wisps of white clouds.

“This is as far as I’m coming today,” says Rylan, handing the reins to Taurek.

“Will you not come with us? We can get you a room,” I reply.

“No, thank you, Zaya. Out here in the wilderness of the mountains is where I thrive.” With that, he bows and takes his leave, waving goodbye before disappearing around the corner from where we came.

“Will he be okay?” asks Hanai.

“He’ll be fine,” insists Taurek. “These peaks are his home. Now…” My mate pulls out a blindfold and tosses it my way. “Hanai, put that on for me dear.”

“Huh?” she quips. “Why?”

“Trust me, it’ll be worth it.”

She giggles as I pull the blindfold over her face. Holding on tight to her, Taurek leads us up a steep incline. Upon reaching the top, Hanai’s laughing grows louder as she begins shaking with excitement.

We dismount from the chordatas, Hanai’s hand taking mine as we walk side by side with her father. I see the surprise we have for her just up ahead, filling me with anticipation for her reaction to it.

“Just another minute,” I whisper, taking us nearer. When we’re in position, I bring her to a halt, and Taurek gives me the thumbs up to remove her blindfold. “Open your eyes, my dear.”

Hanai’s eyes bat open, widening with shock when she registers the structure just a few meters ahead.

“Surprise!” exclaims Taurek.

Hanai’s hand slips out of mine as she takes a few steps ahead, observing the newly built house. The structure had been put together over the course of a few weeks, starting when Hanai officially began her recovery journey. It sat on a piece of even-leveled terrain on the slope of the Ice-Charred Peaks.

The house is one story tall, made of wood, and painted a deep ocher red. Over the door is a small white archway, from which hangs yellow flowers. Beside it is a small stable for the chordatas.

“Is this…” mutters Hanai.

“Yes, my love, it’s for you,” says Taurek. “For us. I remember how much you wanted to come here, so I thought I’d build you a place of our own to stay from time to time.”

“I love it!”

“Just wait until you see the inside.”

Hanai peers up at me and smiles with glee as she jumps excitedly. She runs past Taurek, beating him to the entrance.

“Let me just unlock the door,” he says, sliding the key into the lock and twisting it with a satisfying click. Hanai runs inside, and from inside the house, I can hear her yelps of joy. I haven’t yet seen its interior myself.

Stepping in at the gesture of Taurek, I become overwhelmed with wonder at the interior decor. The place is stylized after a cottage, with an oven nestled in the corner of a cozy kitchen. There’s a fireplace in the center of the living room, where a large couch sits neatly prepared.

I peek into the other rooms, spotting a small bed for Hanai, and a larger bed for her father and me. What stands out amongst it all is the roxolite crystals, hanging in every room and inlaid in the molding. Most appear to be placed in the bedrooms, but a gentle blanket of purple ambiance is cast over the cottage.

“Do you like it?” asks Taurek.

“I love it!” yells Hanai.

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