Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Jade looked out across the desert, taking in the undulating ochre-red dunes. Clusters of spinifex grass dotted the landscape, interspersed with wavy lines etched into the sand by the wind.

It reminded her of nature's own version of a Zen garden, only wilder.

Order borne from chaos.

Just like her and Dragek. Just like the ebbs and flows of the Universe, the infinite energy in the atmosphere and the void of space swirling and coalescing around them. She'd needed to very quickly learn how to organize and channel it.

Lest it destroy her.

He'd taught her how to do that.

He, who had learned perfect control and order through pain and suffering.

Compared to him, her hardships were just a drop in the ocean.

The wonder of their bond hadn't yet worn off, and she suspected it never would. Her breath caught every time he entered the room. Her heart beat a little faster every time she caught sight of him or heard his delicious voice.

He was a constant treat for her senses. He delighted her in ways both big and small.

She loved how he always sought her out, how generous he was with his time—even though he called himself selfish for always wanting to be with her—and how whenever they came together, things inevitably turned sensual.

His appetite and stamina were endless.

What a dream.

She was the luckiest woman in the Universe.

Yet this newfound life wasn't without challenges and responsibilities.

Dragek wasn't perfect.

Neither was she.

Kordolians could be uber-logical and ruthless. Sometimes, their way of dealing with the world was a little too methodical. They could misinterpret human intentions, fail to read between the lines, and disregard emotion.

It had led to misunderstandings between her and Dragek on more than one occasion.

On the other hand, she was guided by her emotions. Sometimes, she could be unsure of herself, overthinking things and making decisions she later regretted. There were times when she'd convinced herself she wanted something, only to realize later on that it wasn't what she wanted at all.

When the spark between her and Dragek had so very quickly turned into a conflagration…

That was the first time she'd followed her instincts so strongly.

Not because she was afraid or shoehorned in a certain direction.

She'd wanted him, and the space in their dreams had given her the freedom to go after him.

The stuff with the ka'qui, the krisalix, and following him halfway across the Nine Galaxies—through the Fourth Dimension and into the past…

It all seemed like a wild, heady dream.

But it was real.

The voices that used to drive her to despair weren't loud in her head anymore. Using the krisalix had shown her how to channel her energy with precision. It was like holding a lens up to the sunlight; for a short period of time, her energy had become an intensely focused beam.

After feeling that , she understood perfectly well.

That had been a torrent, a high-pressure blast.

Without the krisalix , her ka'qui was a gentle stream. All she had to do was contain and channel it.

Suddenly, blocking out the world became easy, but she could also open up her mind and receive the thoughts and energies of thousands of souls—if she so wished.

Not for too long, though, because that would drive anyone mad.

The warm breeze swirled around her as she dug her toes into the sand.

She'd walked out to this place alone. Dragek was busy with some official Kordolian business. She hadn't realized it before, but he was fairly new within the Darkstar organization. She knew he'd been forced to do terrible things against his will, but she hadn't realized he'd been captured by Tarak and his men after attacking them.

He'd been their enemy.

If she'd encountered him at a different time, he might have killed her on the spot.

The realization had nearly made her weep.

But everything was different now. Ever since Dragek had returned from his mission and gotten physical relief from the Mating Fever, he'd been in an immensely good mood.

Him, of all people.

And his euphoria was infectious.

When he'd told Jade he wanted to go on an Earth holiday— as he'd put it—with her, she'd been floored.

They'd come back, and the solid ground beneath her feet felt so good.

No matter how comfortable the accommodation was onboard the Kordolian ships, there was nothing like being on Earth.

The warmth of the sun, the fresh breeze, and the scents of the desert were a soothing balm. She hadn't realized how amazing Earth was until now.

With the threat of the imperialist Kordolians neutralized, Tarak had deemed it safe for them to return to Earth.

Jade could hardly believe they were back already, but she was overjoyed that her life wouldn't be as different as she'd thought.

Just a little different.

After all, Dragek, Tarak, and the rest of the Kordolians were here to stay. They'd discovered humans and their compatibility with Kordolians.

There was no going back.

But after all that had happened—the threats to Earth, the attempt to change the timeline, the subterfuge of their enemies who had gone so far as to collude with other humans—Tarak wasn't taking any chances.

Apparently, he'd put the Federation government on notice.

He was appointing his own people to run Earth, and that pretty much consisted of them.

The human mates.

The women she'd met over the past week or so.

Abbey—Tarak's wife—had sought her out and warmly welcomed her into the fold.

She wasn't at all what Jade had been expecting.

In contrast to the formidable and calculating General Tarak, Abbey was surprisingly down-to-earth. She was unguarded and quirky; not afraid to speak her mind or go up against her terribly intimidating husband when she disagreed with him.

Jade had instantly liked her. She'd liked the other women she'd met, too. They were all different in their own ways, but they were genuine. They'd welcomed her with open arms.

They were all so very… human.

Ordinary people, just like her.

And yet, they were all so very comfortable being with the extraordinary.

They certainly weren't afraid or brainwashed like the stories in the media had made them out to be.

Neither was she.

She knew exactly what she'd gotten herself into, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

Dragek was an extraordinary being, just like the otherworldly warriors of the First Division. He was inhumanly strong, fast, and deadly. He wielded his psychic power with terrifying precision.

Unlike her, who was still clumsy and uncertain—she had a long way to go when it came to learning how to use her ka'qui.

Suddenly, she felt him—hand on her waist; warm breath feathering the side of her neck—before his soft, tender lips planted a kiss there, sending a ripple of anticipation down her spine.

He'd come out of nowhere, as silent as darkness, as inevitable as the passing of time itself.

On a subconscious level, she'd probably sensed him—his aura was imprinted on her like a tattoo—but she'd been so immersed in the beauty of her surroundings that he'd simply become part of the tapestry, like the warmth of the sun or the tender caress of the dry desert wind.

She hadn't even flinched.

He was a part of her now. She never needed to be tense or guarded around him.

"You're here," he murmured, resting his cheek against her hair. "They were looking for you—the women. They are arranging some sort of human thing— high tea, they call it."

Jade laughed. In the middle of the desert—on a vast station that had been turned into a highly fortified Kordolian military base, with alien structures popping up everywhere and a mysterious network of tunnels stretching underground—a bunch of humans were going to be having high tea.

She was sure there would be scones with jam and cream, as well as cucumber sandwiches.

How bloody delightful.

That they could do stuff like this after everything that had happened and everything that was.

And she could stand out here, digging her bare feet into the warm sand, her man beside her radiating the most warm, serene, protective aura she'd ever felt.

"I'm a bit partial to high tea," she replied, glancing up at his face. He wore a deep hood that cast a shadow over his silvery Kordolian features. Of course, Dragek didn't like the sun. None of the Kordolians did, on account of the ultraviolet being highly damaging to their skin and eyes.

But he'd adapted.

They had high-tech sunblock and dark glasses.

Dragek didn't even need the lenses. The sun couldn't affect his eyes.

"Go on, then," he encouraged. "You should enjoy all these things now that you're back on Earth."

He left the obvious unspoken, but Jade understood.

Not too long ago, she hadn't known if she would ever get to enjoy such simple pleasures ever again.

Life was too short, too precious.

She cherished it now more than ever. The way she understood the world and the Universe had completely changed. Before, when she'd lived such a safe and predictable experience, she'd always felt—deep down—like she was waiting for something to happen.

The thought had crossed her mind more than once— surely, this can't be it.

She didn't have those kinds of thoughts anymore.

"I'll go, but I'm not in a hurry. I actually don't mind just being here with you for a while." She looked out across the desert, where the brilliant reddish-brown dunes met the endless blue sky. "It's so calm, isn't it? So beautiful. This land… it's ancient, you know, and it's remarkable that it's still untouched after all this time. I can see why Kenna likes to stay out here. There's something about it that makes me feel so grounded."

"Earth has its charms," Dragek acknowledged. "It's unlike any planet I've ever visited. The diversity of environments is unique. I could get used to it."

"Well, you're going to have to. You are all staying, aren't you?"

"It's going to become our primary base in the Nine Galaxies. It's the future of our species—and yours."

"I know I certainly need you, but not all humans are going to embrace the Kordolian way so willingly. Some argue that we would go on reproducing just fine without Kordolians in the mix."

Dragek chuckled. "That may be true, but now that everyone in the Nine Galaxies knows of your planet and its rich resources, Earth is bound to attract attention. You need protection, and nobody is better equipped to defend this planet than us. There is an argument that for the sake of survival, one must align themselves with the strongest."

"There is no objection from me. All I'm saying is there are a lot of people that are going to be terrified of the new status quo."

"That's why Tarak has ceded responsibility for Earth's governance to the mates—including you."

"Me? What would I know about running a planet?"

"You? You have the ability to peer into minds. You know about laws and justice. And you are righteous."

Jade couldn't deny it; she was terribly daunted by the responsibility that was about to fall on her shoulders. But then she remembered the group of women she'd met. The so-called Kordolian Wives' Club.

Between them, they had a wide range of skills, knowledge, and experience. Abbey was a plant biologist overseeing the largest space-based food production project in existence. Arin was ex-military, now in charge of logistics. Jia was a spacecraft mechanic. Riana was highly trained in informatics and network systems. Kora was a nurse. Alexis had worked in law enforcement as a detective.

Layla had been a high-profile actress; she understood the entertainment industry and wasn't averse to being in front of a camera. She could communicate a message if needed. Sera was a journalist who owned a media company. Clarissa knew the ins and outs of the corporate world. Mari was street-smart and understood a side of the world that others often didn't see.

Tasha had a very unique set of skills.

Sienna could turn any set of ingredients into a gourmet masterpiece, and had introduced the spartan Kordolians to the concept of good food.

Soraya was a teacher, polyglot, and academic; as was Seph, who studied alien politics for a living.

Then there was Kai, a human man who had bonded with the only Kordolian female in the Darkstar crew. Jade didn't exactly understand his background, but she got the impression he was highly connected and extremely savvy about all things finance and business.

Jade had made a great effort to remember everyone's names and what they did for a living. Old habits died hard—she always tried to get a sense of a person, to figure out what they were all about.

The humans that had found themselves entangled with the Kordolians were a remarkable bunch.

Surely, between them, they should be able to figure out how to make Earth a peaceful place for both humans and Kordolians. It wasn't as if they were going to do it all on their own, either. They had the freedom to consult hand-picked experts and work with the appointed officials of the Federation—even the new president, Inez Viray.

The only difference was that they had Darkstar's muscle to back them up.

Ultimately, they called the shots.

That was a hell of a lot of power and responsibility for anyone to have.

"I think I can make it work," Jade sighed at last, leaning against Dragek, feeling reassured by his hard, warm frame; his unyielding strength. "If the people I've met over the last week are anything to go by, we can make it work."

"Of course you can." He kissed her again, this time on her cheek. It was a light, tender gesture. She enjoyed the easy familiarity, the way they were so comfortable with each other. "Everything's under control now. You take your time. We have time."

"Because you stole it back," she marveled. How different things could have been.

"I didn't do anything so monumental. I was merely a tool, facilitating a greater objective."

"But it wouldn't have worked without your cooperation. And you did move through time in a different way, which is just remarkable. You were very brave, Dragek."

He made a low sound in his throat—half-growl, half-purr.

Her words pleased him.

How many times in his life had he been affirmed for what he did, for the remarkable person he was? Not much at all.

He'd come from a dark place where he was ruled by fear and control.

Jade sensed he needed her acceptance and appreciation as much as she needed his strength.

For a moment, they were both quiet, taking in the openness of their surroundings; the sounds and scents of the undulating landscape.

They basked in each other's presence, their auras gentle and relaxed—merging in the most natural way.

Until a tendril of disquiet leaked from him. "I've been curious about something."

"Hmm? Tell me."

"Are you not angry at the ones that wronged you? The humans that betrayed you and sought to capture you?"

"I honestly hadn't thought much about it." Jade had intentionally blocked the horribleness from her mind, even though she knew she would have to come to terms with it sooner or later.

"Do you want me to disappear someone? Or just hurt them a little. That… previous male of yours…" He uttered Cameron's existence with perfect disdain—as if it were the most despicable yet insignificant thing in the Universe.

"No," she said gently, placing her hand on his cheek. Even in the act of promising swift, silent death, he was terribly sweet.

But even though Jade despised everything about her past relationship and was terribly disappointed in the people who had been around her—most of all, her friends and her father—she understood that most people could only comprehend things in a certain narrow way. All they knew was the rules and laws of the Federation.

Her father honestly thought he'd been doing the best thing for her. He thought she was sick. He was old and conservative in his thinking. How could he even begin to understand anything about her newfound ability?

Eventually, she would have to seek him out and make him understand.

As for Cameron…

He was the one who'd betrayed her because he'd tried to take advantage of her weakness for his own personal gain.

How could she have been such a bad judge of character, especially when she dealt with these situations all the time?

She'd been so busy fixing other people's problems that she hadn't seen what was right in front of her eyes.

"You don't wish for revenge?" Dragek slipped his big, warm, callused hand into hers. "I don't understand."

"I'm not hell-bent on revenge," she replied, squeezing his hand. "I don't have an innate drive to seek revenge like your kind do. But I do have my own sense of what's just and fair, and I'll deal with Cameron in my own way. He doesn't bother me because I have the power to put him in his place. He just feels insignificant now. Something from my past. A lesson learned. I've moved on to much better things."

"I'm glad," he whispered fiercely. "And as much as I'd take great satisfaction in getting justice for you, I know you're strong enough to deal with these matters as you see fit. No human can harm you now. They can't even touch you."

Deep down, Jade knew it was true. A twist of fate had granted her great power, and she was still figuring it out. Thankfully, she'd learned how to control her power while she was asleep; she no longer wandered into other people's dreams, although she could visit Dragek's inner sanctum at will, and they had met there more than a few times already.

She could enjoy him both in the real world and in her dreams.

How incredible that was.

She could probably enter other people's dreams as well and mess with them a little if she wanted…

But she would figure that out later. It wasn't even important. All that mattered was that she was here with the one who'd saved her. She felt good, and the future stretched out before them—as vast and wild and promising as the windswept desert, where dormant wildflowers could bloom profusely after the rain.

She turned slightly, leaning into him, seeking his lips.

Under Earth's brilliant sun, she kissed him.

He kissed her back.

Their energies merged.

The world turned.

The Universe flowed.

And for a rare, precious moment, it felt like everything around her was in perfect harmony.

At last, she was home.

And so was he.