Chapter 35 Laura
THIRTY-FIVE
LAURA
Gerverstocks like Ilia load the All-Mother’s sleek black flyer. The ship stands ready to take me, Dom and Shade back to Earth, away from the laws and schemes of the Prif. The very idea of being home again feels almost surreal.
Shara and Samara are here, overseeing the preparations. They’re not quite walking arm in arm, but there’s an ease between them that wasn’t there before.
Samara approaches me with that same aloof calm she always wears, her eyes sharp but unreadable. She's been publicly humiliated; despite her concessions to the clones, I wouldn't put it past her to put a bomb on this flyer and make a wish on the resultant shooting star.
I curtsy to her. “I hope the test of your laws has been helpful. Perhaps enshrining them by writing them down will lighten your workload.”
“It's more work for now, but I can see efficiency benefits.” Her gaze passes over me, snagging on Shara. “I do want to… thank you, human.”
Holy shit. “What for?”
“Reconciling myself and my sister. It has been taxing to be on separate sides of this issue. Perhaps, we can forge a new future together.”
Well, that's pretty fab. Mending the rift between them is a huge added bonus. Maybe things can change here, even for people as powerful as Samara and Shara.
Samara says, “Now, I did offer to assist with the mind-sync. The collars we developed have proved effective at blocking mental wavelengths of Parthiastocks.”
Right back to square one. Great. “That's pure torture for them.”
‘I’ll do it,’ Dom's voice whispers. Of course he would.
Her lips twist. “I wasn't suggesting they wear them. My scientists have been working on something.”
I begin, "That's nice, but I don’t—”
She pulls a small box out of her pocket, pressing a button. It unfolds in her palm to reveal an amber chip on a delicate golden chain.
“The same transmitter as in the collars has been modified to this piece of adornment. Once you put it on, you are advised not to take it off. This ensures the necklace continues to function.”
“So if I put it on, it'll be forever.” My heart sinks.
Shara's eyes light up as she smiles at me. “How about that? The link can be… inconvenient, I imagine. Thank you, Samara, for thinking of Law-rah.”
“Yeah. Thanks.” My focus shifts to Dom, who stands a little apart, watching all of this.
He smiles. ‘I know how much this means to you, to finally have your own thoughts fully to yourself.’
I shake my head, but… it isn’t fully my choice, is it?
“Dom,” I say softly, moving closer to him, into the familiar warmth of his presence. “What do you want?”
“Me?” He frowns.
“Yes, you. You deserve someone who can put you first.”
“I have that,” he says simply, eyes shining. “You were willing to give up so much for me. Your boundaries. Don't think that I'll demand you give up your privacy too.”
I swallow hard. “You have a choice in this as well, you know. You can have freedom from me. The decision is yours, but I promise you, whatever you decide, I’ll make sure you have a choice. Even if that means you… you…”
I can’t stumble over words here. This is too important.
“Even if it means you might choose something other than me.”
The words catch in my throat. My chest tightens at the thought, but I push it down. This is his decision, and I can’t let my own feelings cloud the bond. He’s earned this, more than anyone, and I shouldn’t hold him back if he wants something different.
Dom’s gaze meets mine, eyes deep warm pools of lavender. “My choice is you, Law-rah. I want you, all of you. I’ve made my choice.”
Relief surges through me, through us both. He chose me! Not just because he was accidentally bound, but because he wanted to.
I reach for his hand, entwining my fingers with his, his warmth seeping into me. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so whole.
Samara’s scales turn gray. I suppose a public declaration of love is a bit icky, but not ours.
“Thanks, but no thanks,” I tell her.
Sliding the necklace into her pocket, she addresses Dom for the first time. “Do tell your shipmates, Surgere ac excitare.”
Is that Latin? I don’t understand the words, but Dom tenses, his grip on my hand tightening. I catch the barest glimpse in his memory: a male Olorian, slipping into his cell last night, his voice a low, threatening hiss.
He puts a mental hand on my shoulder. ‘I’ll show you later. For now, we just need to go, before anyone rethinks this outcome.’
‘Best fucking idea ever. Let’s bounce.’
We step into the flyer, the doors hissing shut behind us, sealing us in. The engines hum to life, and as we lift off, I clear my lungs of the cloying air of that planet. The society, the trial, it all falls away.
Once we’re airborne, I curl into Dom’s side as much as the pilot chairs will let me, resting my head on his shoulder. My heart’s still racing, but with delicious anticipation, not fear.
He looks down at me, his eyes softening, the corners of his mouth turning up in a small smile. There’s so much in his gaze, warmth and devotion, and something fiercer that stirs a thrill within me. It’s a promise that, whatever happens, he’ll be there.
‘I will, always. We’ve proved through simulation that you strengthen me enough to support Nevare even if he goes nova, although I wouldn’t want to try it for real.’
“Right. A new and exciting career change for me.” I drop my head in my hands. “At least I’ll find out what’s happening with the inquiry. I… I know now it’s not all on me. I’m going to expose Morgan, though; after dealing with the Prif, he’ll be laughably easy to kick to the curb.”
He kisses the top of my head. “I would be delighted to join you in the kicking. In terms of your new vocation, there will be plenty of pursuits for the law-sayer who changed how an entire planet views clones.”
“Not exactly something I can put on my resume. And anyway, I didn’t do that. You did.”
He chuckles. “I did nothing, I stood there. You made the Prif give me a trial. You entered the Base loyalty test and showed me that what I do for you, I’m strong enough to do for Nevare as well. You helped me through it.”
Remorse sinks teeth into me, cracking my resolve.
“I’m still sorry, Dom. None of this should have been necessary.
I should have listened to you and learned how shields work, but I was overwhelmed and panicking.
” I take a deep breath. “I’m going to see someone about my anxiety.
It’s too much for even me and you together to handle, and I don’t want to cause Nevare any more issues. ”
His arms band around me. “I will support you in everything you do, Law-rah,” he whispers, reverent. His thumb brushes across my skin, tracing a soft, tender line that leaves a trail of warmth in its wake.
The ship beeps to indicate we’ve left atmosphere. Both of us glance at the planet below us, red scars seared through its desert landscapes, the gray and green dots few and far between. Perhaps it will start to heal.
In the meantime, our craft turns. A vast spiral galaxy unfurls across the void, its arms awash in shimmering shades of violet and indigo.
Clusters of newborn stars burn like lavender fireflies within nebulous clouds of amethyst dust. At its glowing heart, a pulsing core radiates deep purple light, casting a serene, otherworldly glow into the endless black.
Dom unsnaps his buckles. In a heartbeat he’s kneeling in front of me, his intense gaze locked on mine. The air between us charges with something deep and unspoken. He lifts his hand, resting it gently on my cheek, and the simple touch sends a shiver down my spine.
“Law-rah,” he murmurs, his voice low and steady, carrying that familiar, cherished way he says my name. His gaze never wavers, and I feel as if he’s searching for something in me, some silent permission.
“Hi,” I say, flushing. Shy? I can't be shy right now!
But this is Dom, and I don't want to mess this up.
He entwines our fingers. “You won't.”
Argh. “Sorry. Guess I was broadcasting.”
“Yes. But you'll get better with practice.”
Fuck, Laura. Say it. Just say it. “I love you. I love how kind you are, how empathetic you are, how much you give. I love how you put up with my control issues, how well we fit together. I love you for that and more, so much more.”
His eyes gleam, bright as polished amethysts. “I love you too, Law-rah. With everything I am.”
My heart pounds. Say it! “Will you marry me?”
His nostrils flare. “You mean mate with you?”
“Yes.” I swallow hard. “Forever and ever.”
Purple pulses across the mind-sync, along with a wave of warmth. But then it grows still. “How many males will you want to include in the mating?”
I throw my arms around him. “Just you. Only you. Oh, and Nevare and Arik are welcome mentally, of course. Nevare comes first, I understand that.”
“I'm committed to Nevare and Arik, as my… career.” His arms hold me tight. “But you, Law-rah… you are my everything. So yes. A million times and a million ways, yes, I want to be your mate. No lav-en-dar.”
I close the small distance between us, my eyes fluttering shut just as his lips press gently against mine.
Something in my chest bursts, a dam giving way after so many years of holding back.
My whole body trembles—not with fear this time, but with a rush of joy so intense it’s almost painful.
My heart feels too big for my ribcage, each beat hammering against my skin as if trying to escape.
My fingers clutch at his back, and warmth spreads out from where our bodies meet, a glow that climbs up my throat, until I’m blinking through tears I didn’t even know were there.
In our mind, the doors fling open. Our new playroom is bigger, the perfect office for work and play. It even has heavy duty beams I can dangle my strong alien from. Most of all, it has enough space for us and for Arik and Nevare to find safe harbor when they need to.