41. Eden’s Gate
FORTY-ONE
EDEN’S GATE
Syasku
As the ship lands, silence falls between us once more. Holding Audrin tightly in the crook of my arm, and no longer annoyed by the humans’ constant chatter, I make another vow.
No more ships.
After this, I will never enter another, and if I must, I will have Vivian make the same oath.
The sky is not for me. I belong on the ground and in the water, where I can better control the fates of myself and those around me.
In the final minutes of our descent, Muffin enters the room and checks Vivian and the baby one last time. When he cannot convince us to stay and join the recolonizing effort, he gives Vivian a small package of medicine and, with a warning hiss from me, wraps his arms around her and begs for her forgiveness. He had never wanted to hurt her. Vivian hugs him back, and seemingly satisfied by her reaction, he steps away to wish us luck on the journey ahead.
After he leaves, Vivian tries to hide her tears, and when she looks at me, forgiveness now glistening in her eyes, I realize she could not forgive him because she has not yet forgiven herself. I cup her cheeks and shake my head, telling her without words she should not worry so much.
I have no intention of forgiving her. I have nothing to forgive her for.
If anything, I am the one who needs to be forgiven. I am the one who wanted her badly enough to steal the only freedom she had. I have been selfish when it comes to her, and that changes now.
After that, we are quiet.
When the freighter hits ground, the permeating silence breaks into nervous whispering in the cafeteria. It takes a few minutes for the ship to stop rattling and for it to settle.
Omari’s people have left all they have known for a new start—now what? I can sense their anxiety, excitement, and fear.
I peer down at Vivian, who is quietly swaying our son back to sleep. Leaning forward, I curl my arm around her and pull her into me, burying my face into her soft hair.
Whatever happens to the humans, it is not our problem. This is where our paths diverge and Vivian and I leave the rest behind. She is the only human I care to protect—the others will have to find nagas of their own.
It is time for me to prove to Vivian there not only is no better mate than I. She may have seen me break Asera, but I am eager for her to see me against a stronger opponent.
We wait in the storage room with the door cracked open as Omari addresses her people and divides them into groups based on their skills. As the humans file out, Vivian and I gather our few supplies deciding it is time for us to leave as well.
We find Kyle and Omari waiting for us.
“Syasku, Vivian,” Omari states in greeting as we approach. “You have done us a great service in helping us escape.” She waves at someone behind her, and a male carrying a backpack full of supplies walks over to us. He warily hands it to me.
“This is for you,” Omari says, patting the backpack. “There isn’t much, but it’s the least I can do.” She cocks a brow as her eyes slide to Vivian. “Unless I can convince you two to stay.”
I shoulder the bag. “No.”
“We wish to leave—now,” Vivian adds. “Does the pack have a pair of shoes?”
Omari hesitates and shakes her head. “Sorry, it doesn’t.” Her expression falls momentarily. “I had to try.”
“Thank you for allowing us on your ship,” Vivian says to her. “And for the extra clothes and blankets for the journey here. I really appreciated those.”
“You are most welcome. If you’re not staying, I’d recommend heading out before more ships arrive. Some have followed us—and that may impede your travels.” She steps away. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m needed elsewhere. Safe journey to you.” She tilts her head.
As she turns to leave, I call out. “Nagas will come,” I warn. “They will be curious.”
She pauses, her face grave as she considers the implications of that happening. “Thank you for the warning.” After that, she disappears into the ship.
“Well, are you guys ready? Because I am,” Kyle quips, shouldering a pack of his own.
I stare at him.
“You’re… coming with us?” Vivian asks, pulling away from me. “You’re not going to stay and help them?”
He chuckles like the answer to her questions are obvious. “You know I have some friends out there I’d like to check up on, and like medicine, I hate politics. I hate a lot of things truthfully. You weren’t on the bridge these last two days. Omari’s got an uphill battle ahead of her and I’m not sticking around for that shitshow.”
“Laura?” Vivian asks, her voice low.
Kyle’s face falls, noticing the sadness in Vivian’s response. “If she’s here, I’m intent on finding her. But I am also on the lookout for my old squad leader as well. I want to make sure she’s okay. Last time I saw her she was—” his eyes drop to Vivian’s stomach and he swallows “—pregnant.”
He visibly shudders like the idea unnerves him.
Vivian’s brow furrows, then her eyes widen in surprise.
“You are not coming with ussss,” I hiss, before she considers inviting him along.
She shoots me a look. “Syasku…”
“I will not have another male?—”
“Don’t be ridiculous. He’s my… cousin. And he’s helped us both. The least we can?—”
“No.”
Kyle may have grown on me, but I have waited far too long to be alone with Vivian—truly alone.
He lifts his hands. “Look, I understand, you’re a big bad male naga and not the first one I’ve met who’s all worked up over some woman, but I think you’re going to change your mind once you take a gander outside and see where we are.”
Vivian and I share a look.
Kyle waves us after him. “I’ll show you. Follow me.”
We leave the bleak confines of the freighter behind, Vivian and the baby between Kyle and me. The hatch we fled through days prior is already open and as we pass through, the humans that are guarding it step back, clearing our way forward.
Sunlight blinds me as I suck in the first breath of clean air I have had in months. Trembling from it, a soft breeze blows in from the right and whips my blood-crusted hair. My shoulders relax and the tightness in my chest eases. Feeling the grass under my tail, I exhale with relief.
Home.
Looking over at Vivian, she is frozen at my side, gazing at the world before her.
All around me, humans are frozen, awestruck.
The freighter landed in a meadow beside a lake. Behind it, and in the distance, mountains pepper the horizon. There are thick swathes of forest spanning the distance between them and more mountains to either side. Lush and vast, I am overcome as well.
The sun is bright, the sky blue, and there is not a single cloud in sight.
My lips flatten as understanding hits. We have landed on the outskirts, between the forest and the wastes.
And I have no idea where.
Peering down at Vivian, who is still frozen next to me, I place a hand on her shoulder. Startling, she looks up, her eyes wide.
“Let’s go?—”
Wordlessly, she hands me Audrin and pivots away. She finds a clear patch of grass, kneels in it, and sinks her hands into the blades. Shifting her fingers through them, her mouth breaks into a smile.
She tilts her head searching for something else to explore.
“It’s nice isn’t it?” Kyle hums next to me.
Unable to look away from Vivian, I watch her like I always do, fascinated.
Her skin prickles as she turns her face to the sky. A tremble goes through her as she spreads her arms and laughs. She glances back at me, joy gleaming in her warm brown eyes.
Afterward, she heads straight for the lake in the distance.
Cracking my neck, and scanning the landscape for danger, I follow her through the fields and to the bank. On either side and down the shore are a few other humans who have ended up here.
On her knees, Vivian plunges her hand into the water. “Cold,” she whispers, yanking her hand out and looking at it.
Moving to her side, I grab her wrist and bring her hand to my mouth. Licking the water off of her, her eyes hood.
Kyle stomps to my side, and I let her go. “It’s incredible, isn’t it? I never saw it like this. When my squad arrived, it was at night, and we’d landed in the forest. It wasn’t until much later I saw something other than trees.”
Vivian stands, dries her hand on her pants, and joins us. Reaching for Audrin, she takes him from me and cuddles into him. “I’m ready.”
Without wasting another second, fearing another surprise, I take off to our left.
Kyle chases after me and shows me a thin, rectangular device. “Unless you know where we are, you’re going to need my navigational expertise. Lucky for you, I know exactly where we’ve landed.”
Exhaling, I stop and glare down at him.
He grins and continues walking. Vivian smiles and shrugs before passing me as well.
Sighing, I head after them.
As we leave Omari’s people behind, the first ship of many makes its landing next to hers.
No one dares to look back.