4. Jasmine
4
JASMINE
J asmine drifted slowly back to consciousness, her mind still filled with the remnants of vivid, ethereal dreams. She had been flying, soaring over landscapes both familiar and fantastical, her body weightless and free. Translucent beings had waved at her as she passed, their forms shimmering like sunlight on water.
The memory of it lingered, a gossamer veil between sleep and wakefulness.
As reality began to seep back in, Jasmine became aware of the warmth surrounding her, the solid presence of Ell-rom's body against hers. She opened her eyes to find him gazing at her, his expression so full of love and tenderness that it made her heart swell like a balloon.
"Hey," she murmured, her voice still husky with sleep.
"Hey, yourself," Ell-rom replied with a smile tugging at his lips. His hand came up to cup her cheek. "How are you feeling?"
Jasmine took a moment to assess herself. Her body felt languid, pleasantly heavy, and there was a lingering buzz of euphoria coursing through her veins. The spot where Ell-rom had bitten her tingled, a phantom reminder of the profound connection they had shared.
"Amazing," she said, a slow smile spreading across her face. "Incredible."
She was no stranger to the euphoric high that the venom induced, but somehow, it had been even better with Ell-rom. She wondered whether this was because his venom was more potent than Edgar's or because of the profound love they shared.
His answering smile was radiant. "It was," he agreed, pulling her closer.
As Jasmine snuggled into his embrace, she thought how surreal it was for her to be in the arms of an alien prince.
She'd rescued him, but fate, or the Mother of All Life, wanted her to find him and save him. The goddess had guided her all along.
Perhaps later, when she dragged herself out of bed, she should offer her thanks to the goddess for the great boon she had bestowed on her.
Ell-rom was still a work in progress, but he had made great strides.
Jasmine's lips curved into a soft smile as she recalled the early days of his recovery. The patience it had taken to explain even the simplest concepts, the joy of seeing the world anew through his eyes. It had been challenging but also incredibly rewarding. With each passing day, she had found herself falling deeper in love with this extraordinary being who viewed the world with wonder and curiosity.
Her thoughts drifted to the obstacles they still had to face, like Ell-rom's struggle with his deadly ability, which was still a source of fear and anxiety for both of them.
And then there was the matter of her own latent abilities. The discovery that she possessed paranormal talents had been shocking at first, but now it filled her with a sense of purpose. Her scrying abilities, her connection to the tarot, those gifts that had once seemed like mere curiosities now held the potential to change lives and reunite long-lost loved ones.
As Jasmine's thoughts turned to the search for Khiann, the weight of Annani's hope was daunting. She didn't want to think about that as she lay in Ell-rom's arms, basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking.
She lifted her head, meeting Ell-rom's gaze, and the love she saw there, the adoration, filled her with a warmth and a sense of well-being so sweet that it was intoxicating.
"What are you thinking about?" Ell-rom feathered his fingers over her exposed skin.
It tickled, and she giggled, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his lips. "How lucky I am to have found you."
"I'm the lucky one," he murmured.
"We are both lucky." She kissed him again. "This is such an incredible feeling."
"The love?"
"Yes, but it's more than that." She frowned as she tried to put the feeling into words. "I'm not alone anymore. It's no longer just Jasmine or Jaz, as my human friends call me. It's Jasmine and Ell-rom. We are a package deal."
"What's a package deal?"
"It means that you don't get one without the other. We are a pair."
"I like it." He smoothed his hand down her back, cupping her bottom. "I never want to be alone again."
It occurred to her then that he hadn't been. Before entering stasis, Ell-rom had always had Morelle by his side. Twins shared a special connection, and once Morelle was awake, Jasmine would have to share Ell-rom with her.
The burst of jealousy shamed her.
Ell-rom and Morelle had grown up inseparable. She couldn't expect him to distance himself from his sister just because his mate was greedy and wanted him all to herself.
Hopefully, Morelle was as wonderful as her brother, so it wouldn't be a problem. Surely, she would want what was best for Ell-rom and would realize how important Jasmine was to him.
The bond they shared went beyond the physical, beyond even the emotional. It was a connection of souls, a merging of beings that transcended the boundaries of species and time.
The euphoria of his venom was still humming through her veins, a physical reminder of their joining.
In this perfect moment, Jasmine was content to simply be, to feel the steady beat of Ell-rom's heart against her cheek, to breathe in his familiar scent, and to revel in the love that surrounded them like a tangible force.
But the sun was up, and the world outside their room began to stir. It was time to get out of bed.
"Ready to face the day, my love?" she asked.
He shook his head. "I want to stay right here with you in my arms."
She smiled. "I guess we could stay in bed a little longer."