Page 91 of Zalis
“I chose you,” she whispered.
This was real. This was forever.
GEMMA
Gemma opened the window, letting in the cool night air. Curled up on the window seat, she tried to focus on the night noises and not her racing thoughts.
Conversation and gentle music drifted up from the garden below. The pre-wedding day dinner was still going strong. Gemma slipped away early with claims about needing beauty sleep. She just needed a minute to herself. The last few days had been go-go-go with planning the “simple” wedding and meeting Zalis’ family.
She tilted her head back, soaking up the moonlight. “I’m getting married tomorrow,” she whispered.
Technically, she and Zalis had been married for months now. They did the tea ceremony to seal the deal. Throwing a human-style wedding was just icing on the cake—pun intended. But somehow, exchanging vows in front of their combined family made it real.
This was real. Tying the knot tomorrow on a bright autumn day. Couldn’t get more real than that.
Having the wedding this quickly wasn’t her first choice. She’d rather wait a year to mark their anniversary, but the Val Mori refurbishment ended, and Zalis had some well-deserved leave. With things heating up with the Suhlik and raids happening more frequently, they needed to seize this opportunity for a little vacation while they could.
The concept of a human wedding confused Zalis’ mother, Lyresh, but she was absolutely onboard to host a party. The backyard of their family home was just the right size for a small gathering, and small was what Gemma wanted. Keeping it small was a struggle. Lyresh was very social and wanted to invite everyone. After long negotiations, the guest list was limited to Emry and Ren, Havik and Thalia, and Loran and Wyn.
Gemma could tell her mother-in-law wasn’t satisfied with hosting only six guests, but Gemma really couldn’t handle a crowd right now. Her emotions felt too raw.
She started therapy with an older gentleman who, while he didn’t have any experience with humans, had parents that lived through the Suhlik invasion of Sangrin. He had some idea of what she went through and the effects of generational trauma.
Ines, Maria, Scarlett, Amariah, Madilyn, and Jessica had been found along with other survivors from the starship the Suhlik exploded. They talked a lot about that, the frustration and guilt of such a shared trauma. Gemma shared a bond with the other women, a terrible bond, but their abduction would always tie them together.
Anyway, therapy was a process not a bandage, as the doctor said. Gemma had to do the work.
The work made her feel like an exposed nerve but also… good? More like herself, for the first time in a while. And excited.
The ceremony would be a simple exchange of vows in the backyard. She wished her parents could be part of the celebration, but she had Emry and Ren, and now Lyresh and Zamos.
His mother was a lot, but in a highly enthusiastic way. Gemma already knew that from their video calls but in person waswow. Lyresh had the kind of personality that adopted strays, and she was utterly thrilled to be presented with Gemma and Emry, especially when she learned of Ren’s estrangement from his family. Emry effectively had no in-laws.
“I will be mother to you both. Can you imagine, twins!” Lyresh proclaimed.
Gemma braced herself for the bad luck comments.
“How fortuitous!” Lyresh clapped her hands. “I have two daughters now. Has anyone ever been so lucky?”
Zalis’ father, Zamos, was like looking at Zalis in forty, maybe fifty years in the future. They were identical: same build, same face, and same nose. Even their horns curled the same. As far as Gemma could tell, they had the same shy and quiet demeanor. The only difference was time adding white hair and softening Zamos’ hard edges.
Gemma got the feeling she was going to like being their daughter-in-law.
A knock sounded on the bedroom door a half-second before opening. “There you are,” Emry said. “You said you were going to bed.”
“You checking up on me?” Gemma asked as Emry sat next to her on the window seat.
Mittens trailed behind Emry and flopped down on the ground at their feet.
“Hey, Mittens.” Gemma held out a hand for Mittens to sniff. Having passed whatever standard the cat held, she bumped her head against Gemma’s hand.
Cute. Still terrifying.
“Wanted to make sure you’re not going to do a runaway bride,” Emry joked.
“Never,” Gemma answered, and then because the mood was getting too heavy and humor was a defense mechanism—thanks doc— she added, “I saw the cake you made. I’m not missing out on that.”
“Hey, that was a surprise.” Emry banned Gemma from the kitchen while she spent the afternoon baking the oatmeal cake with a gooey coconut frosting from their dad’s notebook.
