Chapter 16
APODIS
Guilt weighed on Apodis like a collapsed star, pressing against his conscience despite each joyful moment he spent with Gemini.
Though his comm was silenced, he caught each new missed call as it popped up on the screen—obviously left by Gemini’s colleagues and getting more frequent every day. If they could just make it to the Bloomveil, perhaps she would see how serious he was about her staying.
Gemini didn’t want offspring, which relieved much of his doubts, as did the easy way they seemed to get along. She fit right in… with the cabin, with Zenith, with him, making his life better in every possible way.
There were no more lonely nights, just Gemini cuddled up with him in front of the fireplace, petting Zenith like the three of them had always belonged together.
Back in Aerumi, many of the younger Oslieths lived a much faster life, always glued to their comms and looking for the next big thing to get to.
But Gemini seemed to enjoy stillness of the mistforest, just like him.
She had spent hours digging up the haphazard garden he’d tried to start, making sure to remove any invasive species and saving the ones that were edible.
They cooked dinners together and swam in the river, though nights remained as chaste as they were before her heat. If you could call the clear tension that had been straining between them chaste.
It was undeniably pleasant, holding her in his arms as they fell asleep, breathing in her floral essence and feeling the warmth of her body pressed against his.
She scented him each morning, though he was still sure she wasn’t aware of what she was doing, and pet Zenith while she ate her breakfast in bed.
The act of being able to dote on Gemini’s needs filled him with satisfaction, like it was what he had been made to do.
It was his duty as an alpha to care for his mate, though he hadn’t truly understood what that meant until now.
She was his goddess, and he was her mere servant, a responsibility he gladly accepted.
“I’m excited about tomorrow,” Gemini said as she traced a finger down his chest, snuggled up against him after another beautiful day.
She was growing stronger, and though he felt more sure that she would be okay if she returned to Earth, the thought still prickled his skin with anxiety.
She needed to be here, with him and Zenith, though of course it would always be her choice, no matter how much it would devastate him if she left.
“Me too. I’ve never been to a Bloomveil before,” he replied, nuzzling his nose into her hair and breathing in her scent.
She seemed to enjoy when he did that, her body wriggling in his arms as they reclined on the bed, a contented purr rumbling in her chest.
“Never?” she asked, moving her head so she could gaze into his eyes with that sweetly seductive look that drove him crazy.
“No. It is not a particularly popular celebration, more of a niche thing, really. But I’m happy to take you and see what you think.”
“Well, I can’t wait,” she said, biting her lip into a pout.
“Is something wrong?” he asked, sensing her anxiety, the frown marring the lovely features of her face.
“No. I mean. Not really. I don’t know. I’m not very eager to go back to camp.”
Apodis nodded, understanding the same complex thoughts roiling through himself.
He wanted her to stay more than anything in the galaxy, but she clearly had a life on Earth.
And whether she was keen to return or not didn’t change the fact that staying with him would be an immense transition, and not one she would make lightly.
“They haven’t even called to see if I’m okay,” Gemini continued, the statement like a punch to his gut as his shame swelled once again. “And I’m supposed to go back like nothing happened? Like things are completely normal?”
He squeezed her tighter, relishing the way she sighed into his touch, like his presence relaxed her. Because it did. He didn’t believe in fate like some Oslieths, but he knew they were supposed to be together. And maybe after the Bloomveil, she would finally see that.
Despite the ways he had wronged her.
“I think everything will work out the way it’s supposed to,” he said, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips, which caused her to smile.
“You know what? Maybe you’re right. Maybe it will all work out,” Gemini said, snuggling back into the crook of his neck.
“I think so,” Apodis replied, pulling her closer and vowing to remember this moment forever.