2. Ell-rom
2
ELL-ROM
E ll-rom lay awake in bed, his eyes fixed on Jasmine's peaceful sleeping form and his body still humming with the afterglow of their lovemaking. The bedside lamp cast a warm light over her features, highlighting the gentle curve of her cheek, the sweep of her lashes against her skin, and her slightly parted lips. She looked so relaxed, so at ease in his arms.
It was the venom's effect, and he had done that for her, giving her this euphoric trip to another realm.
Ell-rom felt foolish for being so proud of himself for finally achieving something that any immortal male could do, let alone a half-god, half-Kra-ell male like him.
Not that there was any other like him or like his sister.
He and Morelle were each one of a kind. There were no other hybrids like them in the entire galaxy. They were the product of a forbidden relationship between the son of the king of the gods and the daughter of the Kra-ell queen.
It was an impressive pedigree, but it needed to remain hidden. If their grandfather ever discovered that he and Morelle had survived the crash, he would annihilate Earth just to get rid of them.
The thought wiped the satisfied smile off his face.
Did the Eternal King know about his death-ray mental ability?
Was that why he feared them so much?
The title Death Ray had been coined by Jasmine, and although it was apt, Ell-rom did not like it. He didn't want the ability to kill with a thought.
Was that cowardly on his part?
Probably.
Some people deserved to be eliminated, and he shouldn't let his former training as a priest make him soft.
Ell-rom chuckled softly. Why was he thinking about death rays and vermin that needed eliminating when he was holding the woman he loved more than life itself, having just shared with her the most profound connection of his life?
Jasmine had been his anchor from the moment he had awakened from stasis, confused and frightened, in a world he didn't understand, and she hadn't left his side ever since.
Closing his eyes, he let the memories wash over him.
He remembered the disorientation of those first few days, the struggle to make sense of a world that seemed alien and overwhelming. The fear that had gripped him when he'd realized that he didn't remember who he was or where he had come from.
But throughout this time of confusion, there had been Jasmine. Her gentle presence had been like a beacon in the darkness of his mental state. From the moment he first saw her face, peering down at him as he emerged from stasis, something in him had immediately recognized her as vital to his existence.
His lips curved into a soft smile as he recalled their first real conversation, the way Jasmine had patiently explained things to him. She had been his anchor in a sea of uncertainty, a constant source of comfort and strength as he fought to regain some semblance of self-identity while adjusting to life on Earth.
Things had been going so well when the dream about his deadly thought-projecting ability had rattled what little foundation he'd managed to set, but again, Jasmine had been there, offering support without judgment, helping him to see his power not as a curse but as a part of himself to be understood, controlled, and used for the greater good.
He recounted his victories—the progress he had made in his physical recovery, facing his aversion to blood, learning to shroud. Small as those victories might be, each was a milestone, a step towards reclaiming his autonomy and becoming the male he wanted to be for Jasmine, for Annani, and for Morelle.
He had a family now, a whole clan of blood relatives who seemed to welcome him and his twin sister with open arms.
As he thought of Morelle, Ell-rom's chest constricted. She was still in a coma, still struggling to break through the barrier of consciousness and emerge to join him at their final destination after the journey that had begun over seven thousand years ago.
Well, the keep was just one small step before they arrived at the hidden village where Annani and her clan lived.
Tracing patterns on Jasmine's bare shoulder, he contemplated the future that stretched before them. There were still so many unknowns, like the search for Khiann, Annani's long-lost love, the full extent of his own abilities, and the challenges of integrating into this new world.
Ell-rom was ready.
He felt stronger now and more optimistic about the future because he was loved, and he had just sealed his and Jasmine's connection with a venom bite.
The memory sent a shiver of pleasure through him.
He brushed a strand of hair from Jasmine's face, his touch feather-light to avoid waking her. The trust she had shown in him and her unwavering belief in his goodness, even when he doubted himself, humbled him.
His gaze drifted to the window, where the first hints of dawn were beginning to lighten the sky. He marveled at the sight, at the simple beauty of a new day beginning. Every sunrise was still a wonder to him, a reminder of the life he had been given a second chance to live.