Page 124 of Shadows of Stardust

I wonder what it feels like—that crisp, clear, endlessly blue water.

A prickle of warning runs over my back, my shoulder, but I shake it off.

Does it even matter?

Why should I give a single shit about my scars after everything that’s happened, after how fundamentally the fabric of my universe has changed these last few weeks?

In comparison, this is nothing.

Fuck it.

I want to feel the warmth of the Eritin sun on my skin and the cool wash of ocean water on more than just my toes.

I want to stop hiding.

Stripping my dress off to leave me in just my bathing suit, I walk to the water’s edge. Cameras circle and, like he’s got eyes in the back of his head, Zan turns to see me wading in toward him.

It only takes a few swift strides for him to reach me in the waist-deep water.

Zan catches me to him, turning me first in his arms so my back is pressed to his chest, then spinning us both so he gives the beach nothing but a view of his wide shoulders and back. The waves crest around us, breaking softly on the shore, and I close my eyes to savor the kiss of the afternoon sun.

“Ros,” he murmurs. “Is everything alright? Do you need me to—”

“Fine,” I whisper, turning my head to lay my cheek against his chest. “Everything is fine.”

After nuzzling there for a moment, I step out of his embrace and take his hand, pulling him in deeper. He follows, though the concern doesn’t leave his eyes.

I splash him.

Hard enough to send a cascade of droplets over his chest, his face, catching in the salt-curled strands of his black hair. It startles all that concern right out of him, narrows his eyes in playful pursuit. He lunges for me, catching me around the waistand tossing me over his shoulder, drawing a shriek of laughter from me when he dives forward and dunks us both.

I come up laughing and sputtering, shrieking again as we play like kids in the waves. Dunking and splashing, water flying around us. Trading kisses in the midst of it all just because we can.

And when we’re both panting, calling a truce to our little battle, Zan scoops me up again and swims us out into deeper water. He keeps me close—my legs around his waist, his strong arms banded around me—as he leans back in the water and tips his face to the sky. I drag my lips over the stretch of firm, muscular throat it exposes, less a kiss than an excuse to taste the warm salt of his skin.

We stay like that until the sun dips down behind the distant mountains, casting the beach in lengthening shadows. Until the afternoon deepens to evening and the very first stars shine faintly in the sky.

Only then do we leave the water, hand in hand, returning to the beach for our last night on Eritin II.

37

Zandrel

Mate Match Transcript: S24 E12 INTERVIEW 11

Contestant: Zandrel|Producer: Sella

S: Alright, Zan. Tell me how you’re feeling.

Z: You still haven’t come up with a better opening question?

S: No, I haven’t. And you still haven’t cut me any slack and given me an answer I can use.

Z: Fair enough. I’m feeling fine.

S: Just fine? You and Roslyn seemed like you were having a great time swimming earlier.

Z: We… yes, we were.

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