CHAPTER 19
Ishtar’s eyes pricked, despite having cried so many tears since discovering Reece dead upon the rooftop. Upon seeing his stiff body, she’d screamed, “Why did you come?” She’d only wanted to spare him when she’d left on her mission to destroy the Kukakk.
But being the heroic type, he’d ended up on Mars, and while she didn’t know what happened at the very end, her restored memories not possessing those final moments, she could imagine. Her last clone lay not far from Reece, dead.
Upon stepping out of the tank she’d known the bomb had deployed due to a message flashing on her screen and the resulting blast indicated success.
But the surprise didn’t end there. The readings also showed a sudden dramatic increase in magneticity, the sight of which almost stopped her nearly beating heart.
And then set it to fluttering in panic!
She’d not bothered to rinse the fluid from her time in the tank. Barely took the time to throw on clothes before racing to the nearest elevator, only to curse as she noticed her suit missing from the ready room. It led to her wasting time finding another before she finally emerged onto the rooftop.
While she might have spent eons trying to restore Mars, in that moment, she didn’t care there was a glowing ring surrounding her planet or that the sky had shifted color.
She could only focus on Reece. She’d dragged him inside, hiccupping with sobs one minute, cursing the next.
For the first time in her life, her hands shook as she had to prep him for the transfer of consciousness. If she made a mistake…
But all had gone perfectly. His tissue sample replicated without issue.
His mind, the personality that made Reece special, ended up saved.
However, she’d never done the process on a human before.
While their genetics were very similar, would it work the same?
Would his time as an avatar cause issue?
Would he…remember her?
His arms around her now, his words, the emotions filling her now, finally let her believe they’d succeeded. And what should a queen do when a long-awaited victory finally occurred? Celebrate.
She turned in his grip and lifted her face. “I don’t know about you, but I could use a shower.”
His arms tightened around her. “Agreed, but I also don’t want to let you out of my sight.”
“Then don’t. My shower is big enough for two.”
Big enough for them to not only bathe the residue from their flesh but to touch and gasp. Their consciousness quickly adapted to their new bodies, and as it did, their movements became smoother, the sensation of touch more intense.
When they came together, his body thrusting into hers, she reached the same heights of pleasure—and went higher. Their acceptance of each other, their love, their willingness to do anything for the other—even die—cementing their bond.
Later they lay snuggled in her bed, the shutters wide, showing a glorious sunset, and he whispered, “I’m hungry.”
She giggled, because she was, too, and the normalcy of it proved to be the most wonderful moment.
Because eating, making love, laughing… She was finally truly alive.