Page 183 of Starborn Husbands
“Sometimes I’m not an asshole, and you can’t handle the truth.”
All I can do is fume. He is an asshole, but he’s an asshole who’s right. I hate that more than anything. I can’t blame him or anyone for this. Zhang wanted to protect me as foolish as it was. I should have gone with Daniel when he asked, but no, I’ve got to be a stubborn brat.
Cupping Zhang’s cheek with one hand, I grip his meaty palm with the other, twisting our marriage runes together. He’s still warm. I rub my face against his knuckles and wet them with my tears. “No. Stay with me. Please. I’ve been an idiot.”
His eyes flutter open, but they don’t shine. I’m losing him. The last time, I practically discarded him. This time, I almost did it again.
He smiles.
“How can you smile at a time like this? You’re dying.” I grit my teeth and set my jaw. The hollow in my chest grows larger, already haunting me.
“Am I?” he croaks. “I … I remember, which means so do you.”
“It means a lot more than that.” I love him so damn much, I’m brimming with it. I didn’t think I could love someone like this, but now here I am with two someones I love more than I thought possible. “It was me. I made everyone forget so I could never be reminded.”
“Mhm.” His hand gives a weak squeeze. “I begged you to let me remember.”
“I’m a coward.”
“Not a coward. It’s okay, Treyu. This is good. It’s more than I hoped for. And for the record, you didn’t lose me. Love is never lost, only found.”
“I didn’t lose you,” I agree. “And I got to fall in love with you all over again.” My chest heaves, shaking with sobs. “I know what my favorite trope is.”
“You do?”
I sniffle. “Uh-huh. Soulmates. You’re my soulmate, Zhang. I’ll fall in love with you in every timeline. In every incantation of our existence, we’re bound to find each other.”
“Love you, Starfleet.” Zhang’s eyes flutter closed.
“No! Fuck you, Centaurus. No!” Pounding on his chest does nothing to ease the pain or fill the hollow, but I do it anyway. My whacky star spins out of control. It knows him now, we’re joined. It was supposed to get to be with him too, and it’s pissed about this.
Light pours out of me, and something new joins with it, then it lights Zhang up like a human Christmas display. Zhang screams, but it’s music to my ears. Screaming means he’s alive. I wrap my arms around his writhing, screeching body. I can’t imagine what’s happening inside him to have him react like this, but I don’t care. I pour more of it into him, and more still until the light dissipates.
A beefy hand lands on my back, and possessive fingers dig until I’m sure I’ll have new bruises. “You love me.”
“I love you. If you ever fucking die again, remember that I can pull you back just to make your life miserable.”
“You already make my life miserable. Don’t see how it could get any worse.”Whack!“Oof, careful. You wouldn’t want to have to save me again so soon.”
“You’re on thin ice, Centaurus.”
That doesn’t deter him. His smile widens. “You saved me.”
“It’s only fair. This whole thing began with you saving me. Well, and maybe you saved me a bunch of other times too. I figure I owed you more than a couple of sandwiches.”
We sit up together. People are staring.
“Treyu! Get your Godly ass over here,now,” a familiar voice shrills. It’s the kind of voice that only means one thing. I’m in big fucking trouble.
So soon? That’s a record even for me.
I help Zhang up, even though he wants to be macho and stand up on his own.
Merrick winces. “Remember when I said we’d deal with my father later? It’s later. Dad’s just arrived, and he’s pissed.”
Yeah, figured that one out for myself.
Erick’s here alright, dressed in his usual kilt and boots with leather jacket ensemble. “I like yah, kid, but if you don’t revive my mate, these teeth are gonna turn you into God meat.”
