Page 66 of The Alien Noble's Little Human

“You did a great job with the place,” I remark, clutching my mate’s arm.

“Well, I couldn’t have done it without you and your collecting. Come, there’s one more place to see.”

I tilt my head in curiosity as he leads Hanai and me out to a porch, hidden behind a drawn curtain. He slides it back, guiding us out onto a balcony. Walking to its edge, the view displays the Mountain Kingdom in all of its glory.

Far below is the palace, a mere speck in the distance. At the other end of the landscape, a distance that looks like mere feet from afar but in reality is hundreds of miles, is Tlisan. On the slope opposite us, just a valley away, is the resort we spotted earlier. The rest of the peaks pierce the clouds like white-tipped, jagged teeth.

“This view is something else,” I gasp, rubbing my eyes to check I wasn’t dreaming.

“It’s not the only stunning view I see,” says Taurek from behind me.

“Oh, Taurek.” I melt at his words and turn around. “You’re such a –”

I throw my hands over my mouth, covering it in shock when I spot my mate on his knees. He opens a small box in his hands, revealing a beautiful roxolite ring in the shape of an oval. Now I definitely think I’m dreaming.

“Zaya,” he says with a smile as a tear falls down my cheek. “My life has changed since I met you. Not only did you bring my daughter back from the abyss…”

From behind him, Hanai waves politely, a smile spreading across her whole face. “You also showed me it was safe to love. More than safe. Transcendent. A miracle. I may not always be easy to deal with, but I know what I want when I see it, and what I want is to be mated to you forever. Will you –”

I rush forward,wrapping him in my arms.

“Say no more! Of course, it’ll be yes!”

“Somehow, I had a feeling,” he whispers. “Oh, and there’s one more thing.”

“Something else! Taurek, you spoil me.”

I take notice of Hanai stepping forward with a box of her own. From it, she pulls out a roxolite crystal necklace.

“Hanai,” I mutter, unable to find words.

“Zaya, Daddy gave some of this crystal to me, and I made this for you. I wanted to ask something.”

I take her small hands in mine, kneeling down to her level.

“Anything, my dearest.”

“Well…” she begins shyly. “I want to be adopted by you, officially. Will you be my mom?”

“Oh, Hanai, that means so much to me.” I hug her so tightly, I can feel her chest constrict, but I’m no longer worried about damaging her. She’s the heartiest child I know. “But what about…”

“As far as I’m concerned, she never existed. You’re my mother. You, and only you.”

Taurek lays a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “We have enough proof to decree a dissolution of the familial bond, especially with witnesses to her words. After we sever those legal formalities, the adoption will be official.”

“Well, there’s no question, my darling girl.” I boop her little nose.

Together, we settle in for the evening, watching the tranquil landscape as all of the Mountain Kingdom carries on before us.

33

TAUREK

The mating ceremony goes off without a hitch. It better have, considering how much we spent on the planning. We mix Kiphian and human traditions as we bring our worlds together.

The ceremony hall is adorned with the roots, silks, and minerals from the mountains that Zaya used to save Hanai’s life. She also used them to save mine.

It seems like half the kingdom and all of Tlisan are in attendance. I stand alone at one end of the room, everyone in the audience staring at me.

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