Page 30 of Balarr
Balarr.He was here.
More tears burned in her eyes.How could this be happening?She despaired over losing him, but how could she ask him to remain mated to her?He had the opportunity to get his family back—in a way.
“Is the battle over?”she whispered, her voice hoarse.
He closed the distance between them and kneeled in front of her.When he took her hands in his, it took all her strength to refrain from breaking into a sob.
“Yes, the battle is over.”There was a note of resignation in his voice, or perhaps it was weariness.
She struggled to hold his gaze, so she opted to stare at their joined hands.She willed the tears not to fall.
“Did your side win?”she asked quietly.
“Yes,” he said, offering no elaboration.
“And which side is that?”Bitterness crept into her words despite her efforts to contain it.
Balarr released one of her hands and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.He studied her with that unblinking gaze—the same deep green she’d recently decided was her new favorite color.Fuck.If she didn’t shut down her thoughts, she would start crying.If she didn’t harden her heart to him, he would break it completely.
“Do you really think I would’ve joined the rebels?”he asked at last, disbelief roughing his tone.
“Under normal circumstances, no.But the rebel leader promised to give you your family back.He said in less than a year…” Her voice faltered, her throat too tight to continue.
“You are my mate, Luna,” he said with conviction brimming in every word.“And you are my family.”
“But your mate… and your son and daughter…”
“They died years ago when the Irrcons destroyed Vaxxlia,” he said softly.“There is no bringing them back.I still grieve for them, but I have accepted that I’ll never see them again—in this lifetime, anyway.It’syouI want, Luna.You are my mate now, and I won’t forsake you for a clone that isn’t truly Keissa, or for replicas that aren’t my children.”
“I don’t understand,” she whispered.She’d been so certain he would accept the rebel’s offer.Now she could hardly believe he was really looking into her eyes, insisting it washerthat he wanted.
She tried to blink back the tears, but one slipped down her cheek.“Do you really mean that?”
He brushed the lone tear away.“With all that I am.”He leaned closer and rested his forehead to hers, a tender gesture that caused more tears to roll down her cheeks.
He pulled back slightly, then leaned in to kiss her tears away—softly and gently—cradling her face in his large, warm hands.
“Oh, Balarr, I am so relieved.I-I didn’t know how I would bear to say goodbye to you.”Her voice broke over the last few words.She gave him a regretful look.Guilt and foolishness pricked at her conscience for ever believing he might forsake her.“I’m so sorry I thought you were going to?—"
He silenced her with a finger against her lips.“You don’t need to apologize, sweet Luna.”His visage suddenly grew serious, and his hands tightened slightly on her face.“We exchanged mating vows.You’re mine, and I’m yours.Until the end of our days.”
His words soothed her, a balm to her soul.She appreciated that he was being so understanding.So affectionate.So devoted.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead, then lifted her and carried her to the bed, placing her atop the rumpled sheets where they’d exchanged those vows and joined their bodies and hearts as one.
As he placed her on the bed, she caught a glimpse of darkness and stars outside the viewport.She gasped.“Have we truly already left Earth?”
“Yes, we have.I’m taking you home,” he said in a warm voice, his eyes sparkling.“We’ll arrive on New Vaxx in less than a day.”
She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.Relief continued flowing through her—along with waves of happiness and hope.
Balarr had chosen her.And he was taking her home.
He lay down beside her and pulled her close.She rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart—the heart that now belonged to her.She smiled at the thought.
As he stroked her hair, he told her more about Starzzia and the home he’d built there.He described the city in vivid detail, and he also told her about the beautiful forests that surrounded the main settlement on New Vaxx.She already knew what his planet looked like from the VAMOB commercials, but hearing his passionate description made it come alive in her mind.
She couldn’t wait to set foot on her new world—with her fierce, loyal Vaxxlian warrior at her side.
