Epilogue
There’s freedom in willing sacrifice, and then there’s just being plainly dumb. Daft enough that it makes my day.
Ever since we’ve confirmed the pregnancy, Datu has stopped “stretching” me to fit. Even though he has taken me so many times, I think he just enjoys the thought of having a part of himself inside me at all times. His elation had turned into fear when he heard Sunny had been throwing up a lot.
So, all of the unused plugs he’d carved have now become pendants of a heavy necklace.
Moriarty is out of the island, which leaves me questioning—what had happened to Alani and her ship?
“She will return.”
“And you know this how?”
“There is a need for more human females in Esoterra. There are a lot more islands than just mine.”
I blink twice. “What?”
“Let’s just say there are thousands of Providers still buried. We have hope in bringing most of them back.”
We’ve found out that reproduction between Terra and humans are possible. The compatibility’s high enough that it’s just not Sunny who’s pregnant now. Cora, too, by her provider who owns a questionable amount of giant pitcher plants.
The males did not have to pass on in order to give more.
We’re still figuring out how long our gestation periods are, but it seems like we are growing at a similar pace.
The sprouts that hatched are being taken care of by Brother Bear and me, but ever since I had to waddle around, Datu has insisted I let someone else take over.
“You guys are kidnapping women again?”
“No, they are informed beforehand.”
“Alani pulled this off?” I can’t wrap my mind around silent Alani being this high-octane supplier of willing women.
“She is fiercer than she looks. She has my admiration.”
This is amazing news, but also, it makes me uneasy since being a fish out of water here isn’t as lovely as it sounds.
“Well, if she ever gets one, we need a doctor. Preferably an Ob-Gyn with all the pregnant women around.” I joke, but Datu just smiles cheekily. “You didn’t.” Scoffing, I slap his smoky form, my hand going through him.
“I had to guarantee everyone’s safety, especially yours, my love.”
So Alani is basically smuggling women out of the Otherlands to Esoterra. Knowing how weirdly morally grey she is, I’m unsure how ethical she will be at procuring all these women.
“Do not worry yourself. We will cross the bridge when we get there.”
The stroll across the coast is quiet now, the only sounds surrounding us are nature and the crashing waves. A bunch of driftwood are halfway buried in the sand, so when we drift past them, I see that there’s something else washed ashore with it.
“Oh, no, what is that?”
Datu takes a solid form and picks up the broken white thing. It’s about four-feet wide with a word printed on it.
Conqueror
“Sounds like a boat’s name.” I touch the aluminum where the edges are jagged and slightly melted. “Must have blown up or something.” A chill zips down my spine. “Is that usual here, for things from the Otherlands to wash ashore?”
He stabs the thing to the ground, nodding. “It happens more than you know.” He urges me away from the beach, and there’s a pep in his step. “I have been keeping a secret from you.”
“Oh no,” I groan and run my hand down my belly. “What is it now?”
“Remember when I asked you what you wanted the most? You said you just wanted a place to be yours. For you to belong in.”
My heart’s like a hummingbird’s wings right now. We’ve walked away from the beach and deeper into the woods where I see another staircase. Just a plain staircase with nothing else.
“Stairs in the woods again?” I’m confused.
“I could not build an altar big enough for you, so the stairs are just a formality. And we have sprouts coming soon, so we would need a larger space.” Hands on my shoulders, he turns me around.
My breath hitches in my throat before my eyes water. “You made me a house?!”
“I know how much you love your walls.” He jokes, and then falls to one knee, holding out a key and a ring. He has changed forms again, and now, it makes me want to cry. He’s wearing a wedding dress with a giant bow on his head.
“A key and ring made out of the finest teeth in all the land.”
Hormones taking over, I begin to sob. “You didn’t say my house is made of teeth, too!” I crush him to me. Words cannot express how much I love Datu. “You’re so fucking weird but I love you so much.”
“So, do you accept the house and the ring?”
“Of course!” Excitedly, I wear the ring and press a sloppy, wet kiss against his mouth. “This is exactly where I belong.”
“Yes, you belong inside me, my sweet dreamer.”
~ E N D ~