Epilogue

One Week Later

He's doing that thing again. A tingle runs down my spine, and sure enough, when I look out of the corner of my eye, a flash of golden tail flicks across the tall brush. The corner of my mouth quirks up, and I swallow a laugh. That's the only glimpse of him I get, and I cluck my tongue, urging the horse into a trot. It's not luck that I saw him, after all, or skill, that's for sure.

It's his way of telling me it's training time. Ugh. Still, I can't help the smile blossoming across my face. Training time always leads to… well, things that are much more enjoyable than training.

A hot breeze barely stirs the air. Sweat beads on my forehead as I squint into the prairie. Chest high on me, the grass stretches as far as I can see on either side of the beaten dirt path that qualifies as road out here on the way to Westshear and Mina. In the distance, I hear the faint trickle of water, and sure enough, a few green trees peek out above the grasses. I slow the horse, dismounting with all the grace of a woman whose thighs are jelly from being on horseback for a week.

It's not a lot of grace.

A growl sounds, and I half crouch in anticipation, adrenaline spiking. The horse simply stares at me with one great brown eye, then promptly ambles over to the grass and starts chomping.

The starlight weapons flare to life in my hands, this time a bow and arrow. My fingers twitch around it. Not my favorite. The tip's blunted, a nerfed version of my powers. It's something we've been working on, because I certainly won't use real ones, not on Ras, not during one of our many tedious, exhausting and, unfortunately for me, entirely necessary sessions.

A hand snakes around my throat, an arm around my waist, and I gasp. Warm breath gusts across the nape of my neck. Clenching my hands, I shift the weapons to a wooden knife, and bring it to the chin of the man standing behind me.

"That was not quite fast enough, my love," Ras murmurs, then presses a kiss to the back of my neck.

I shiver all over, my eyes fluttering closed. "You're not playing fair."

"You think any who attack you will play fair?"

I turn in his grip, grinning wide and arching an eyebrow. "I wasn't talking about training." The weapons wink out of existence, and I cup his face instead.

His hands skate across my back, until he reaches the round curve of my ass. "I see." He kneads it, and I make a low moan.

"Does that feel good?" His voice is husky and low, and I wrinkle my nose.

"It hurts," I admit. He stops, and I yank his hands back to it. "It also feels really good. I'm still pretty sore."

Despite his concern, he manages to chuckle, raising one eyebrow. "You are the one who has insisted on setting such a punishing pace."

The horse chuffs, and when we glance over at him, he chews his cud and fixes us with a baleful look. It's so pitiful that I can't help the laugh that bubbles out of me.

"Come, my love." Ras tucks me under his arm and grabs the horse's reins in one fluid motion. "There is a river nearby, the sun will set soon, and it is the perfect place to make camp."

My hand flies to my brow, and I squint into the sunlight. "There's still daylight."

"This is a good place to rest. Trees for shelter, fresh fish, a bush full of berries… just like old times." He grins at me, and he's so damn delicious that I can't help smiling back. Even though I'm dying to get to Mina, I know he's right.

I heave a sigh and nestle closer to him, enjoying the sunlight and musk smell of him. It's better than any cologne because it's all him. It's hot though, too hot to cuddle, and I pull away. He holds my hand, tugging me along as lag behind. A flock of green-black iridescent birds take wing, startled from their hiding places.

Ras tamped a small trail of grasses down in his huge lion form. Still, I'm not nearly as agile as he is. My feet sink through the crunching stalks, and he shoots me an amused look as I trail behind him, the horse picking his way through the grass on his other side.

"What?" I run the back of my hand over my forehead.

He shakes his head, a rueful grin on his face. "Nothing."

"Sure, sure," I mutter, but can't help smiling back. "I'll never be as graceful as you are."

His grin turns to a frown, and he stops, pulling me closer. "I love you the way you are, loud feet and all."

I yelp in surprise as he picks me up, hefting me easily into his arms, somehow juggling me and the reins both.

"See? Even when I carry you, you are still loud as a newborn babe."

I scowl at him, then gently swat him on the nose. "Bad cat."

He breaks into a breathtaking smile, and I settle against his chest, content to be carried. My legs and thighs are on fire, after all. Between the low purr of his contentment and the heat of late afternoon, I'm half-asleep by the time we reach the burbling stream.

Carefully, Ras sets me down in the shade of one of the large trees, and I wince as I settle in, leaning against the rough bark of the trunk. Sunlight glimmers on the surface of the slender river, and light bounces off the tree branches and leaves above.

"This is beautiful," I tell him, sighing a little.

"I know," Ras says, winking at me as he leads the horse to water.

I love him like this, all playful and sweet and always taking care of me. I don't think I'll ever get used to it. Despite everything—the dangers in this world, my worry for my sisters, and the fact I'll never see a single Earth moonrise again—I feel like the luckiest girl ever.

The horse drinks deeply while Ras carefully takes the bridle and saddle off of it, rubbing it down.

"I wish you'd do that to me next," I mutter. I shouldn't be jealous of a damn horse, but yeah, I am. My legs and abs are sore as hell, and a massage sounds absolutely magical right now.

"Then I shall," Ras says simply, his mouth twisting to the side in amusement. "All you have to do is ask, my mate."

Finally, Ras retrieves a rope halter from one of the saddle bags and tethers the horse to one of the trees.

He stalks towards me, that predatory look in his eye, and suddenly, I'm wide awake again. The sun sets behind him, casting him in a golden light, slowly sinking below the horizon in a riot of fuchsia and orange.

My breath catches. He looks divine, his hair aglow in the dying light, the water sending up more of it. When he reaches me, my breath's already coming in short spurts, excitement ratcheting up at the heated look he gives me.

"Come on," he says, "let's clean up and then I'll make you dinner, hmm? Then I'll give you that massage I promised you."

"I can't say no to that." And I can't.

He hauls me to my feet, and I groan at the pain rippling from my sore muscles.

"Poor Lana," he murmurs, rubbing down my back as we walk to the water's edge. "I am not sorry for stopping us early today. You need to take care of yourself." His chest puffs up a little as his gaze skates over me. "You need me to take care of you."

His hands move from my back to the hem of the rough linen shirt I wear, and he lifts it over my head. The palms of his hands smooth over my stomach, to the waistband of my soft leather leggings. They stick to my legs as he pulls them down, and I hold onto his shoulders for balance as he eases them off of me.

It's sexual and yet, at the same time, it's not. I can see the effect undressing me has on him, but this isn't about sex. Ras is taking care of me, like he promised, and my heart swells with appreciation. Gentle hands knead my calves, and I cup his cheek, running my hand over the rasp of short scruff there.

"Bath and food first, or I'm going to fall asleep standing up," I say with a laugh, and Ras tilts his head up to look at me.

"Fall asleep if you must, I'll catch you."

Even though I'm worn out though, his touch is like fire across my skin, like always. Will I ever get over my obsession with his touch? With the way he looks at me, with the way he laughs with me and considers my opinions and needs? Everything about Ras is a balm for my damaged soul, and he's utterly perfect for me. My heart squeezes with affection, and I step out of my short boots, pulling my pants the rest of the way off.

Ras kisses the curve of my stomach, making me giggle, before we both quickly undress and walk into the ice-cold stream bed. Cool fingers of water lick over my skin, and I shiver, bathing quickly. Goosebumps pebble across my skin, and we bathe as fast as possible.

"It's not the cave," I say.

Ras stops scrubbing and peers over at me. "Do you miss it? Only you and I and the hot springs?"

I consider it, washing away the dirt and grime of the road, the sweat from the hot afternoon that's quickly slipping into night. The three sisters, the trio of Vrayan moons, begin their evening ascent.

"Right now, I miss the hot springs. I loved having you all to myself, too," I admit. "But I was too worried about my sisters to appreciate that… and I'm glad you have your memories back. But having a place that was ours? I do want that again."

"I enjoyed that as well." He steps closer. "I think about the first time I claimed you there, and I want to do it all over again. I think about that every day." His fingers run over the curve of my hip, and his soft smile undoes me.

I shiver, the air cooling quickly as the fuchsia sky dips into purple and navy.

"Clean?" He asks, ever thoughtful.

"Yeah, good enough. I feel better." I do. The cold water definitely woke me up, and I'm starving… and as usual, I want Ras.

Dripping, we reach the saddle bags, pulling out the thin towel we share. We'll wash it and hang it to dry by the fire, so it's fresh for tomorrow. Well, as fresh as it gets out here without a washing machine, at least.

Can't say I don't miss some of the modern conveniences. His brow furrows in concentration, and a soft smile curves my lips as he runs the towel over my body. We dress in comfortable silence, and I collect fallen branches and manage to start a fire as Ras fishes. It's a necessary skill, and one Ras made sure to teach me as soon as we were on the road. It's not always easy, but I'm getting the hang of it.

Once the fire's blazing, I forage for some of the dried supplies in our pack, laying out hard cheese and crusty bread. Ras catches several fish, grinning from ear to ear as he brings them back to our meager dinner.

"So, my Lana." He cleans the fish as I set about getting blankets out and filling our waterskins. "You say you miss having a place that is ours."

"Mmhmm," I answer, concentrating more on finding the best spot to set up the rolls that are this world's version of sleeping bags. Kind of.

"You know I sent men out to restore Midkeep Castle, right?"

"I remember."

"You've hardly asked about it." He doesn't sound put out; he's simply stating fact.

I heave a sigh, warming my hands by the crackling fire. Wild that only an hour or so ago I was sweating, and now I need the fire's heat. Stars wink into existence high in the heavens, and my power tingles under my skin. Sometimes I wonder if I'm like a solar battery, except powered by the light of the stars above.

"Are you unhappy at the thought of living there with me?"

I jerk my head towards him. He's still fileting the fish, carefully avoiding my attention.

"Of course, I'm not unhappy, Ras. Of course not, I want to be with you, I am dying to have a home and to be safe and have my sisters safe in theirs, too." My mouth's hanging open, and I snap it shut. I've hurt him, somehow, by not being more interested in Midkeep, I realize. "I have been preoccupied, and tired, that's all."

He looks up from the fish, grinning at me. "I thought so."

"What?"

"I wanted to hear you say it." He gives a one shoulder shrug, and I laugh.

"You are ridiculous." I shake my head, grinning.

"Tell me what you want our home to be like while I cook your dinner. Then I can send word in Westshear to make it so."

My heart does that funny squeeze again. "No one's ever asked me that."

"Then I am glad I am the first."

So, I tell him. I tell him about the sunny, cozy nooks for reading I've always dreamt of, having a kitchen that's pretty, and his personal favorite, what I want our bedroom to look like.

By the time I'm done talking, we've eaten the fish and it's fully dark.

Ras tucks me into him. "It will be so, my love."

We may yet have a long road to that home, but for now? I don't need it. I am warm, I'm in his arms, and I'm safe.

I may be worlds away from Earth, but I've never felt more at home.

Click for Ali and Lesath's story, coming January 2022!

Not ready to leave Vraya behind? Click to read this free bonus epilogue, where Ras and Lana are finally back home at Midkeep.