Page 78 of Splintered Shadow
Now she really wanted to see photographic evidence of awkward teen Vekele. Instead, she asked, “What about you?”
“Yes, I am pretty by Arcosian standards,” he said. Despite the dry delivery, his lips quirked in amusement.
“Such modesty.” She placed a hand over her heart. “I am humbled, Your Highness.”
He removed her hand. “You do not call me that. Ever,” he said. “I am your mate. There is no room for titles and honorifics between us.”
Damn him for being sweet. “Okay,” she said. “For the record, you’re attractive according to human standards, too.”
He said nothing, but a smug expression settled on his face. Oh, her prince was vain, and she loved it. Loved him.
Funny how that snuck up on her.
“What is your mother’s name?” Vekele asked.
“Oh, Seraphina. I know, Sarah and Seraphina. I didn’t pick my name.”
“It is lovely. Does it have a meaning?”
“Seraphina is a type of angel… a divine being. They have wings.”
“Like me?”
“Oh no, the last thing I need to do is feed your enormous ego.”
He scoffed. “My ego is moderate, at best.” Then, “My mother was called Annan.”
“I like that. It’s a good name.” The photos progressively marched back into time.
“That’s my friend Trisha,” Sarah said, stopping at an image of her and Trisha standing in front of a yellow house. “We met in school. We used to go traveling together, but now she’s married with a kid. That’s the Emily Dickinson house. She was a poet.”
“Your hair is the wrong color.”
“That’s my natural brown. Don’t worry, it’ll come back real soon. My roots are already showing,” she said.
A weird sense of nostalgia fell over her. She missed Trisha and her family, but mostly, she missed the life she had years ago. Before everything soured and she hid away.
She paused at a photo of Robert.
Vekele tensed next to her, sensing the importance of this face. “That is him. Your mate.”
He took the tablet, holding it close to examine Robert’s face. It wasn’t a particularly good photo. The flash washed out the color, and his eyes were closed, because he was always closing his eyes in photos. They had spent the day in Atlantic City, on the boardwalk, eating pizza and funnel cakes. Sarah could still smell the sea air and grease from the pizza place. A seagull had landed on the table. Being the softie he was, he fed it French fries rather than chase it away.
“I met Robert on my second day of college. He says we met at orientation, and we walked to the library together, but I honestly don’t remember that.” She wished she did. An extra memory of Rob sounded like a prize. “We had a class together and he sat next to me. I was eighteen, and I knew my life wouldn’t be the same.”
Vekele flipped to the screen to the next photo, carefully examining it. “I am sorrowful for your pain.”
What else could he say? Sorry for your loss, but glad he’s out of the way? No. Vekele wasn’t like that. He said what he meant and never bothered to dress it up to spare feelings. That was his charm.
“Thanks,” she said.
“Tell me about him.”
“Hmm.” She took the tablet back. “He’d like you. Love this whole situation, really. An adventure on an alien planet? Yes, please.”
Sarah found herself sharing the story of their first date and how she didn’t realize it was a date until he kissed her at the end of the evening. In her defense, they had friends in common and often went to dinner and the movies as a group of friends. One afternoon, he asked if she wanted to go to a movie; she thought they’d meet friends at the theater. Or at the diner. When no one showed up, she assumed they blew her and Robert off.
It wasn’t her best moment. But that kiss…
