Chapter 19
Dave
I stretched out on the plush bed, my wings wide against the soft sheets as Zarath and Delilah’s teasing laughter filled our shared living space. The removable partitions we’d used to combine our three cabins into one luxurious apartment gave the illusion of expansiveness, but right now, all I could focus on was the heat of their bodies so close to mine.
“Looks like someone’s getting antsy,” Zarath drawled, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Can’t even wait until we reach the space station, can you, Dave?”
I grinned, unashamed. “What can I say? I’ve got two irresistible partners. A guy can dream, right?”
Delilah giggled, her dark eyes sparkling as she playfully swatted my arm. “Oh hush, you big green lug. We’ve got resupplying to do first.”
My heart swelled at her easy banter. It was a far cry from the shy, sheltered girl we’d first met. “Come on, Delilah,” I wheedled, wiggling my eyebrows suggestively. “A little pre-mission stress relief never hurt anyone.”
“You’re incorrigible,” Zarath said, but I caught the fondness in his tone. It still amazed me how much his icy exterior had thawed.
I sat up, my wings unfurling slightly. “Fine, fine. I’ll behave... for now.” I couldn’t help but trail my gaze over both of them, drinking in Delilah’s warm brown skin and Zarath’s shimmering blue hue.
Delilah’s cheeks flushed, but she met my gaze boldly. “Later,” she promised, her voice low. “After my seminar.”
“Another one?” I asked, genuinely impressed. “You’re becoming quite the space-faring doctor, aren’t you?”
She beamed, practically vibrating with excitement. “There’s so much to learn! Did you know they have techniques for treating microgravity-induced bone loss that—”
Zarath cleared his throat, amusement clear in his voice. “Perhaps save the medical lecture for after we’ve restocked, my dear?”
I chuckled, marveling at how far we’d come. Five planets into this journey, and Delilah was thriving. Yet a nagging doubt crept in, whispering of past hurts and future uncertainties.
“Hey,” Delilah said softly, catching my change in mood. “You okay?”
I plastered on a smile. “Just thinking about how lucky I am,” I deflected, not quite ready to voice my fears.
Zarath’s brow furrowed, his skin shifting to a deeper blue – concern, I’d learned. “Dave...”
I stood abruptly, stretching my wings. “So, supply run? What’s first on the list?”
They exchanged a look, and I knew I wasn’t fooling either of them. But they let it slide, for now.
“Food,” Delilah said firmly. “Real food, not more of those nutrient packs.”
“Agreed,” Zarath nodded. “And perhaps... some recreational items?” His gaze flickered to me, a hint of mischief in those alien eyes.
I felt a surge of affection, tinged with that persistent fear of loss. But as I looked at them – my found family – I pushed it down. For now, I’d focus on the present, on the warmth of their smiles and the promise of adventures to come.
“Lead the way,” I said, gesturing dramatically. “Your wish is my command.”
As we walked down the corridor towards the shuttle bay, Zarath suddenly stopped, a wave of worry alerting me to his altered mental state.
“I suppose I’ll stay behind for this excursion,” he said, his voice carefully neutral. “Someone should monitor the ship’s systems during your... surprise visit to Earth.”
My eyes widened as Delilah gasped. Zarath’s hand flew to his mouth, but it was too late.
I couldn’t help but laugh, shaking my head. “Well, there goes that secret. Thanks, Z.”
Delilah’s eyes were as big as moons. “Earth? We’re going to Earth?”
I nodded, feeling a warmth spread through my chest at her excitement. “I arranged for you to see your sisters.”
The squeal that erupted from Delilah was deafening. She launched herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Oh my god, Dave! Thank you, thank you!”
I stumbled back, laughing as I caught her. “Easy there, wildcat. Save some of that energy for your family.”
As Delilah bounced on her toes, chattering a mile a minute about what she’d tell her sisters, I turned to Zarath. His skin had shifted to a soft lavender – embarrassment, maybe?
“Sorry about that,” he murmured. “I didn’t mean to ruin the surprise.”
I leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. “Don’t worry about it. The look on her face was worth it.”
Zarath’s skin rippled with pleasure, a deeper purple blooming across his cheeks. “Have a safe trip,” he said softly.
With a final wave to Zarath, Delilah and I boarded the shuttle. As we took off, I couldn’t help but smile at her endless stream of chatter.
“...and I can’t wait to tell Sarah about the medical advancements I’ve learned about! Oh, and Rachel will love hearing about all the different aliens we’ve met. Do you think they’ll believe me about the seven-armed bartender on Nexus Prime?”
I chuckled, inputting our destination coordinates. “I’m sure they’ll believe anything after seeing me land this shuttle in their backyard.”
Delilah’s excited rambling continued as we entered Earth’s atmosphere. When we touched down in an open field, she looked around, confusion evident on her face.
“Um, Dave? Where are we?”
I grinned, unbuckling my harness. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
We walked through tall grass, the scent of Earth – real, honest-to-god Earth – filling my lungs. As we rounded a copse of trees, a battered pickup truck came into view.
Delilah’s breath caught. “That’s... that’s Elijah’s truck.”
I watched her face, a mix of emotions playing across her features. “You ready for this?” I asked softly.
She squared her shoulders, determination shining in her eyes. “More than ready.”
I stepped back, my stomach churning as Delilah’s sisters burst from the truck, their eager cries piercing the air. Elijah remained behind the wheel, his steely gaze fixed on me. I could feel the weight of his judgment, his distrust of the alien who’d stolen away their sister.
My wings twitched, an instinctive reaction to shield myself from his scrutiny. I forced them still, reminding myself that this wasn’t about me. This was Delilah’s moment.
“Oh my God, Delilah!” Sarah exclaimed, wrapping her arms around her sister. “We’ve missed you so much!”
Rachel joined the embrace, tears streaming down her face. “We were so worried!”
I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to intervene, to explain, to defend our relationship. But I knew better. This was Delilah’s choice to make.
“I can’t control her,” I muttered to myself, clenching my fists. “She needs to decide for herself.”
The buzz of my communicator startled me from my thoughts. I lifted it, relief washing over me at the sight of Zarath’s face. But that relief quickly turned to concern as I took in his ashen complexion.
“Dave,” he said, his usually smooth voice strained. “I’ve spoken with Vaelu about the ankra bond.”
My heart raced. “And?”
Zarath’s eyes darted nervously. “It’s as we suspected. We’re experiencing a true ankra bond. But there’s a complication.”
I glanced at Delilah, still engrossed with her sisters. “What kind of complication?”
“The bond... it means we can’t be separated. Not just you and me, but all three of us. Delilah included.”
My blood ran cold. “What are you saying, Zarath?”
He sighed, his iridescent skin dulling further. “I’m saying that this distance... it’s affecting me. Badly. And there’s so little information on three-way bonds. I’m not sure what the long-term effects might be.”
I ran a hand through my hair, my mind reeling. “Shit. How long can you manage?”
Zarath’s eyes met mine, fear evident in their silvery depths. “I don’t know, Dave. But I don’t think we should push it.”
As I ended the call, my gaze fell on Delilah once more. She was laughing, her face alight with joy. How could I tear her away from this reunion?
But as I watched, I noticed her smile falter, her hand absently rubbing her chest. Was she feeling it too? The pull of the bond?
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what needed to be done. Sometimes, being a protector meant making difficult choices. I just hoped Delilah would understand.
My stomach dropped as the reality of our situation sank in. Zarath’s ashen face haunted me, a stark reminder of the invisible tether binding us together. I watched Delilah, her warm brown skin glowing with happiness as she chatted with her sisters. But even as I observed, her smile faltered, and she glanced my way.
The moment our eyes met, her face fell. She must have seen the worry etched in my features. Without hesitation, she excused herself and rushed over, her muscular frame moving with purpose.
“Dave, what’s wrong?” she asked, her voice tight with concern.
I swallowed hard, hating to be the bearer of bad news. “It’s Zarath. He’s not feeling well with us gone. The ankra bond... it’s affecting him more than we realized.”
Delilah gasped, her dark eyes widening. “Oh no! Is he okay? What can we do?”
I could feel the heat of her body next to mine, smell the faint scent of her skin. It was intoxicating, and for a moment, I struggled to focus. “We might need to head back sooner than planned,” I managed.
She bit her lip, conflict clear on her face. “I... I understand. Can I just have one more minute?”
I nodded, watching as she sprinted back to her siblings. My heart ached for her, for the choice she was being forced to make. But a selfish part of me thrilled at the fact that she was choosing us – choosing me.
As Delilah handed something to her sisters, I couldn’t help but admire her strength. She was navigating this complex web of relationships and obligations with a grace I envied. When she turned back to me, taking my arm, I felt a surge of affection so strong it nearly knocked me off my feet.
“Let’s go,” she said softly, her grip tightening on my arm. “Zarath needs us.”
I swallowed hard, my throat tight with emotion. “Delilah, are you sure? If you want to stay...”
Her eyes met mine, fierce and determined. “Of course not,” she said firmly. “I just wanted them to have a solar-powered communicator, just in case they need us.”
“Us,” I whispered, the word slipping out before I could stop it. My spirits soared, wings twitching with the urge to take flight. The way she said it, so casually including herself in our little unit, made my heart race.
Delilah’s lips curved into a soft smile, her hand sliding down to intertwine her fingers with mine. The touch sent electricity coursing through my body. “Yes, us,” she confirmed. “Now come on, we really need to get back to Zarath before he gets any sicker.”
I nodded, my massive frame moving in sync with her smaller one as we raced towards the shuttle. The urgency of our mission mixed with the thrill of her proximity, creating a heady cocktail of emotions.
As we boarded, I couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly this ship had become our home. The thought of reuniting with Zarath, of the three of us together again, filled me with a warmth I hadn’t felt in years.
“Hold on tight,” I called to Delilah as I fired up the engines. “We’re going home.”
She grinned. “I love thinking of that crazy spaceship as home. And Zarath.”
“Really only Zarath,” I said, chuckling. “And you. Home is where the people you care about are.” I couldn’t quite bring myself to say the word I really meant, but her wide, warm eyes told me maybe she heard it anyway.