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Especially on a planet where you haven’t seen a single Aelyd female.
"There's nothing to prepare for," he says. "My mom has already accepted you. She always says I'm too cautious and she's excited I finally have a woman in my life."
"You've never dated before?" I ask, fluttering my eyelashes at him.
We stop by a large clearing. I can see water from the corner of my eye, a large, almost clear lake stretching out as far as I can see. Tall, imposing towers surround the water. The view is breathtaking, but all I can think about is the man standing in front of me.
He's so tall, so fucking stunning. The sunlight itself pales against his gorgeous skin.
"I assure you I've had plenty of practice," he says, his eyes narrowing. "Plenty of people want to be touched by a king."
"What about you? What do you want?"
He turns to me, his eyes narrow and dark green. "What I want is to make you happy."
I look into his eyes, sparkling green and white like clear seawater mixed with starlight. I want to tell him that the only way I can be happy is if he touches me. And it's not a ploy. It's not me trying to do my job. I just genuinely want this man's hands on me. I don't want to go another minute without knowing what his skin feels like on mine. I want to take a step toward him, but I know I'll be zapped by the forcefield around him if I do. So I just look up at him and we hold each other's gazes for what feels like the longest time.
"You'll make me happy," I finally say.
"I know," he replies. "But I'm also aware I'm probably not what you expected."
"You're not," I reply. I can't help but smile at him.
He's so much better than I thought he would be.
He takes me around the lakeside, where I see a group of Aelyds waiting at the other end. High-top tables are set up all around a small pavilion, fine crystal set on the tables like we’re going to a wedding reception.
“I wish I was better-dressed,” I mutter, gesturing down at my black leggings and tunic. “This was just for travel, not meeting the in-laws.”
Atlas’ eyes narrow in confusion. “I don’t know this terminlaw.”
“It’s what we call our spouse’s family where I’m from,” I say. “Like she will be my motherin law.”
Atlas nods in understanding, picking up on it right away. If I was expecting a big alien brute, I was wrong; he’s sharp, shockingly intelligent. “Your family structures on Earth fascinate me,” he says. “Fertility issues…they can change a culture. People like you are so very rare, and highly valued. Priceless, even. I hope that, on Earth, women are not traded like commodities.”
“You would be surprised,” I say, but Atlas doesn’t seem to pick up on my tone.
“In fact, I didn’t…” He trails off, then pauses as he looks down at me. I stop with him, staring up at him. “I didn’t want to bring you here. This isn’t a good place for people like you. Or for almost any of us, really.”
I bite my lip. “But aren’t you glad you did?”
He smiles. “Yes. I’m glad I did.”
This would be the moment when he should pull me in for a kiss. I can see that he wants to, his lips slightly parted, that damn charming superman curl springing out of his otherwise slicked back hair. But he doesn’t reach for me…because he can’t.
We keep walking, close enough now that I can make out the faces and clothing of the people on the other side of the lake. There’s only one woman among them, tall and statuesque, her complexion the same rich gold as Atlas’. Her white hair is curly and flows over her shoulders, drifting in the wind, and she wears a black sheath dress that seems oddly informal compared to the men.
She looks like a queen, the men around her fawning over her.
And I wonder ifthisis where Layla is. Not locked up or trapped somewhere, but being fawned over and worshiped.
It doesn’t seem like such a bad life.
Atlas’ mother turns to face us, and a smile breaks out on her face, sharp canines shining white. Atlas picks up his pace, and I wonder how long it’s been since he’s seen her—and if he’s her only child. Apparently most Aelyds are born in test tubes, but Keon mentioned that the Gift is almost always passed down in pregnancies carried by an Aelyd—or human—female, so she must have given birth to him.
No more children, I would think.
Atlas is her only one.
