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“Do you think that’s where the bad guys are hiding?”
I frowned, not wanting to think about the conflict ahead, but nodded. “Yes.”
“Then that’s where we have to go without being detected. The question is, how?”
“The water tunnels,” I said at once. “They drain the stormwater away into the wilderness. Most are more than large enough to walk in.”
She nodded once. “Good enough. I hate running through sewers and storm drains, but it seems like we’re both facing things we don’t like tomorrow.”
“Yes.” My voice was a little soft, and she turned to look at me as we set up camp.
“This is really getting to you,” she said quietly, concern in her eyes.
“Delven is a good Gladiator—he would never purchase Earthlings. I suspect Torian is now the Alpha.” I’d given the slaver situation a lot of thought, and my gut knew that Torian—a vocal advocate of buying Earthlings during my reign as Alpha—had taken over leadership of my sector.
She came over and touched my arm comfortingly. The warm press of her body against mine distracted me from my troubles far more than changing the subject would have. I held her, wanting to keep her close forever.
“The best way to overcome a challenge is to face it head-on rather than trying to avoid or escape it,” she murmured against my chest.
“This is true.” My duties were at war with my heart. But I could not let my feelings win. “Our people need us.”
“I agree,” she said, her gaze unwavering, a stark contrast to the delicate quiver in her voice, like a whisper of vulnerability. “That’s why we must make the most of the time we have together tonight before returning to serve them.”
“Yes. Tonight.” My voice trembled, heavy with an unspoken symphony of emotions—longing, fear, hope—each note resonating with a yearning for something more permanent than tonight. The huskiness masked the vulnerability that surged within me, a yearning for something beyond this night—a forever that seemed both essential and impossible.
As twilight wrapped its fingers around the alien forest, we set our camp beneath an ethereal canopy of bioluminescent flora, their glow painting our refuge in hues of otherworldly blues and greens. The night air was filled with the symphony of unseen creatures. After we indulged in a shared bath in the nearby luminescent stream, the water shimmered with an otherworldly light, caressing our skin like silk. Glowing softly in an ethereal radiance, we sat by the fire. Despite the flames’ vivacious dance, a tangible coolness cloaked Amara, her introspection casting shadows deeper than those flickering around us, her gaze lost in the fire.
“Is there something wrong?” I asked, my voice laced with concern as I observed the distant look in her eyes, her usually expressive face shadowed with doubt.
Her eyes, reflecting the firelight, met mine. “Are you with me because I helped you escape your feral fate?” The vulnerability in her question hung heavily in the air.
“No,” I said firmly, moving to kneel before her. I took her hand, weaving her fingers through mine, feeling the slight tremble of her touch. “You are my equal. My breath and life.” My words were a solemn vow, an anchor in the vastness of my emotions. “Be my Sheleki, Amara. For now and forever. Stand by my side.”
Amara’s expression shifted through a myriad of emotions—from surprise to wonder, then a flicker of fear. “The magnitude of what you’re asking—our shared path into the unknown—it terrifies me,” she confessed, her voice trembling like a leaf in the wind. “I’m drawn to you, can envision a life together, but I’ve never been in such a serious, committed relationship.” She sighed, a sound that seemed to carry the weight of worlds. “I fear disappointing you, your pack.”
In a whisper, I invoked an ancient Gladiator oath, its words carrying the weight of centuries and symbolizing the deepest bond. “Kal’mora Shentallum A’lavra Jess’torr-vak.” A vow seldom spoken and deeply revered.
She frowned, a crease forming between her brows. “What did you say? My translator didn’t catch that.”
“It’s an ancient Gladiator language. It means stay by my side. I respect you as my equal and partner.” My eyes held hers, conveying the depth of my sincerity.
We gazed at each other, the world around us fading into insignificance. Then her expression blossomed into happiness, like a flower unfurling its petals to the first light of dawn.
“Naxer,” she said, her voice steady yet filled with emotion, “I will stand by your side forever.”
Her words ignited a fire in my heart, a blaze of joy and relief. “Are you sure?” I asked, needing to hear her affirmation once more.
“Yes.” Her lips curled into a genuine smile, one that reached her eyes. “My decision is about us, about building a life together, not about being unable to return to Earth.” She paused, a thoughtful look crossing her face. “But I’ll be honest with you. I need time to consider the idea of children.”
I nodded, understanding the gravity of her words. “Understood. Not having pups will not diminish what I feel for you.” It was a truth that ran deeper than any tradition or expectation. Love, in its purest form, was about connection, not procreation.
I tenderly pressed my forehead against hers, a silent communion of souls, bridging worlds and hearts in a moment of serene unity. In the crescendo of our newfound understanding, our lips met in a kiss, sealing our promise with a passion that spoke volumes.
As our lips met, it was like a spark ignited between us, a fiery passion that consumed us both. Her hands tangled in my hair, pulling me closer as I deepened the kiss. Our tongues danced together in a sensual rhythm, exploring every inch of each other’s mouths.
Her taste was a heady elixir, sweet and intoxicating. I couldn’t get enough of her, couldn’t get close enough to her. Our bodies pressed against each other as if trying to merge into one being.
Her nails dug into my back, sending shivers of pleasure through me. I moaned against her lips, my desire for her growing with each passing second.
