I twist to look up at him. “Rhysan needs you. He can’t get another Uncle Zorin. You can find another female. There are trillions of females in this galaxy.”
Zorin hugs me close like I’m going to be torn from his arms again. “Just because we can find another female, doesn’t mean the first isn’t everything. A scent-bond may mean we’re compatible and fated, but you are more than that to me. You have healed so much already. You stay when most run. You touch me like I’m not a disease, look at me with those beautiful eyes and that smile that gives me hope that the universe isn’t lost…that there is still good among the stars.”
“I don’t know about that. I just try to hang onto the things I have that I know I could lose. Right when I really needed a protector, you came to my rescue. I just want to be sure I’m what you want, since we’re voting tomorrow. I mean, I know it’s pointless because of the whole war situation…”
“Don’t say it means nothing. That’s not how I feel.” Zorin clutches me tighter. “I know I’m probably the last one who should be the one loving you because I’m damaged inside. My family is broken. I can’t be with you the way we’re meant to be because our love is forbidden by Mindoran and Isonian commands, and the Isonians don’t want you touched by anyone. But please, don’t say we can’t hang onto this.
“I’m only voting for you. I only want you. Forever.”
I rest my head on his chest. “I’m just expecting this to be the end of the best days we have together with what’s going on.”
“Then we fight for more days like this, together.”
I curl up against him. “I hope it actually works this time. I’m so tired of fighting for a better life and always losing and then starting over.”
“Me too.” He rubs my back. “Let’s see what happens tomorrow.”
“I wish we could stay here, like this, forever.”
Zorin presses a kiss to my forehead. “Does that mean you’re voting for me?”
I smile to myself. “Guess you’ll have to wait and see.”
He scoffs. “Tessi.”
I shift against the muscled planes of his chest and draw his lips to mine. “What do you think?”
He sleepily eyes me then kisses me again, rolls me onto my back and nibbles my throat. “What do you see in the sky?”
I look up at the stars and the shadow of a sleeping Earth. Zorin shields my body with his as he strokes my hair. “Most would say stars or hope or the vast emptiness.”
“What about you?”
I hold him close and imagine all the places my mother traveled, all the worlds I wanted to explore as linguistics major. “Possibilities for everything. We just have to head in the right direction.”
“And that’s why I love you.” Zorin’s body presses into mine, and I feel the full pressure of his erection between us. “That and how you care for Radar. I know you’ll handle Rhysan with love, but you won’t baby him.”
“I will at first,” I admit. “Can’t help but love puppies.”
He growls, grabs my hands and binds them in one of his above my head. Zorin’s touch slides down my side until his hand wraps around my hip. “Damn rules. If I had my way, I’d take youright here in front of everyone. I want them all to know you aremine.And I will stand in the way of any one who threatens to take you or Radar from me.”
“You’d protect him too?” I ask.
“He is your family. And I know he means a lot to you. I will guard anything that affects you, protect you from every angle I can.” He grazes his teeth over my shoulder. “I can’t lose you, Tessi. I think it might be the one thing that can actually destroy me.”
27: Zorin
When I awake in the morning, Tessi isn’t next to me on the blanket. Instead, Carnas sits in her spot in full body armor like he’s back to work for the MTF. “’Sup,dawg. Esrynne and Onidus escorted Tessi to her room to get cleaned up and ready for the bonding ceremony.”
“Are we actually doing that?” I ask, pushing myself up and scanning the sleeping couples.
Spike walks up to me and offers me a hand. “Yes, quietly, with Ohni.”
Carnas gets to his feet beside us. “We’re not idiots, man. Everyone knows you two are meant for each other.”
“Holofeed comments are blowing up about you two,” Ignus remarks, joining us, eyes glued to a tablet. “But because of that, Ohni wants us to get your ceremony done early, so we can get you out of here. You just need to vote.”
I open my wristband and pull up the ABR voting program, select Tessi, and submit it. A light circles the frame of my wristband.
