AllFreeNovel
Share Us
After hours more tense debate, Turok threw up his hands in frustration. “The council has spoken. I wash my hands of this. But heed me - if that human brings woe upon us, do not expect mercy.”
He stormed from the hall. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. Kate rushed to embrace me happily. “You did it, Kian! Even Turok won’t stand in our way now.”
I returned her smile, but worry nagged me. Turok was not one to let go of grudges lightly. I would need to be vigilant against any sabotage he might attempt.
But I pushed those concerns aside for the moment. Weylin clapped me on the back. “Come, let us celebrate this joyous union! The brewers are preparing a special vintage of honey mead in your honor.”
Laughing, I allowed myself to be swept out into the sunlit village square, where whooping villagers congratulated us on the successful betrothal. I drew Kate close and kissed her soundly to the crowd’s delight.
For today, nothing mattered but my beautiful bride-to-be. Turok and the past could threaten us no longer. The future was ours to shape together.
* * *
I strode through the village, my boots kicking up puffs of dust. The twin suns beat down unrelentingly, but I was used to the heat. I nodded in greeting to Wyatt and Lance as they passed by on their way to the fields. Ever since our successful mission against the rustlers, they’d treated me with a newfound respect.
My thoughts turned to Kate, as they often did these days. After dinner last night under the stars, I’d felt closer to her than ever. The way she smiled at me made my heart race. I still couldn’t believe a woman like her would choose to stay here with me. With the wedding fast approaching, I should have felt overjoyed, but a sliver of doubt nagged at me. Kate was still an enigma in many ways. An alluring, maddening enigma.
As I neared Alya’s house, hoping to take Kate on a walk, the sound of banging and cursing reached my ears. I frowned and hurried inside, one hand on my laser pistol.
Kate sat cross-legged on the floor amidst a mess of mechanical parts and tools. That blasted communications device of hers was disassembled before her. Frustration clouded her eyes.
“What are you doing?” I asked sharply.
Kate’s gaze darted up to meet mine. “I told you I was trying to get this working again. The storm damaged it more.”
My jaw clenched. “Why? Are you still trying to hail a ship to take you off Surlon?”
“No, no,” Kate said. She stood, wiping her hands on a rag. “It’s just to have a connection to the rest of the galaxy. I’m not going anywhere, Kian.”
I stepped closer, anger and hurt welling up inside me. “Are you certain? Because it seems you’re fixated on repairing the one device that can take you away from here.”
Kate tossed the rag down, scowling. “Don’t be ridiculous. I want a comm link as a precaution, that’s all. What if another ship passes by one day that can take us to a hub world? What if we both want to go on a vacation off-world? Or I want to talk to one of my old friends. It doesn’t mean I’m leaving you!”
“Doesn’t it?” I shot back. “Admit it, you’re just waiting for a chance to escape this dusty rock and your simple Surlon mate.”
“That’s not true!” Kate shouted, her cheeks flushing pink with frustration. “I love being here, with you and our people. But I also spent my whole life among the stars. Having a connection to that world makes me feel less isolated.”
I raked a hand through my hair, conflicted. I wanted to trust Kate, but a comm device represented her old transient life.
Kate stepped closer, her expression softening. She took my hands in hers. “Kian, look at me,” she implored gently. “I’m here because I want to be with you. Only you. I know it’s hard for you to leave the past behind, but you have to trust me.”
Her earnest words pierced my doubts. Kate had proven her dedication to me in countless ways already. With effort, I forced the bitter seeds of jealousy aside. She was right - I needed to trust her completely. It wasn’t like me to act with such immaturity.
“You’re certain the device is only for emergencies?” I asked.
Kate nodded, her thumb gently caressing my wrist. “I promise. My place is here now, with the man I love.”
I drew her close and she rested her head on my chest. The sweet floral scent of her hair surrounded me. “Forgive me,” I murmured into her golden locks. “The past still haunts me at times.”
“I know,” Kate whispered. “But the future is ours to shape together.”
I held her tight, letting her presence chase the darkness away. She was my light in the lonely desert night. My guiding star. With her by my side, I could face anything.
Over the next few days, I noticed a subtle change in Kate’s demeanor that troubled me. She grew quiet and pensive, often staring into the distance with a furrowed brow. When I pressed her about it, she claimed it was wedding nerves. But in my gut, I feared it was something more.
One twilight as we sat by a crackling fire, Kate picked at her food, eyes downcast. She claimed she wasn’t hungry, but I knew her well enough by now to see the signs of inner turmoil.
“Kate, please tell me what’s wrong,” I implored, tilting her chin up to meet my gaze. “You’ve been distant lately. Are you having second thoughts about us?”
