Chapter 32 Choice
Choice
We stayed wrapped in each other on the grass, his chest my pillow, his hair my blanket, and our legs intertwined for lazy minutes that I didn’t care to count.
“Do you believe in soulmates?” I broke the comfortable silence, fingers gliding along his pec. “A special someone chosen for you by the Gods or Nature?”
“I believe that Nature brought you to me–and that you’re mine, just as I’m yours.” Karim’s hand, which had been running through my hair, paused. “Do you believe?”
I planted a kiss over his heart. “Yes. You’re it for me, Mr. Perfect Feet.”
His steady breathing faltered.
Had I said too much too early? “By the way, the edelweiss is thriving,” I blurted out.
“It is alive?”
I giggled and propped my chin on his pec to look up at him. “Didn’t you notice? The little one was right there when you came home.”
“You were right there when I came home. I didn’t have eyes for anything else,” he said softly, his fingers playing with a curl of mine. “When I returned and didn’t find you in the other chambers, I feared you had been taken or had left me.”
He suddenly looked haunted, and my heart ached for him. “Where would I go? To say hi to my guards in the gardens, because I miss Mr. Barky and Pouty McPoutface?”
His smile was a sad one. “You could go to your friend’s homecloud.”
I went speechless. He’d overheard Sue and me, after all.
“Where they have cake and ice cream, no constant danger to your life, no walls to imprison you. Where the sun can touch your skin and make it shine like gold every single day.”
“Karim.” I pushed up to sit so he could see from my face that I meant every word. “If you’ve heard what Sue told me, you’ve also heard that I refused to go with her. I chose you.”
He sat up, close enough for our chests to be brushing, and cupped my face. “This world is harsh, my flower. You wouldn’t thrive here. You should reconsider your friend’s offer.”
I flinched. “Why are you saying this? Did I disappoint you just now? I know there are differences between our… styles, but we have time to learn–Unless… you don’t want to give us time?”
He shook his head. “Jasmine, the problem is not that I don’t want you here. The problem is I want you right where you are. For as long as I live.”
His admission left me at a loss for words again. “That’s not a problem,” I finally managed to say. “More like the sweetest love confession.”
Karim placed a palm over my heart. “You deserve better than this underground home, and now thanks to King Xaniban and Queen Sue, such an alternative exists. If I kept you here with me forever, what kind of selfish male would that make me?”
I frowned. “What are you saying?”
“You have a choice, Jasmine. If you choose to leave, I will make it happen, even if it breaks me. Anything for you to be happy and thriving.”
I studied his face; so much inner turmoil was evident in his eyes. Tears brimmed in my own. “I cannot be happy without you, Karim.” I put my hand over his heart, mirroring him. “Life is hard and new to me in this world, yes, but as long as I have you by my side, I’ll make it work.”
He shook his head. “You might wither–”
“French marigolds are resilient, remember?” The more I talked, the more confident I became.
“Think of the edelweiss–it’s not native to this place, and yet it has taken root here.
I want to do the same. I want to help the other humans who choose this kingdom over King Xaniban’s.
I want to help improve the gardens’ yield with my knowledge, to show your people our kinds can be allies.
I want to build a life here, with you.” I brushed his chin up, the way he did to me so often. “What do you want?”
Determination shone in his dark gaze. “I want to wake up every single night with you on my moss. I want to fill this garden with life we’ve planted together.
I want to smile and laugh and cry with you as we brave the world together.
I want to link my braid to yours and keep you with me until Nature claims my last breath. ”
The tears that slid down my cheeks were happy ones. “Well, in that case,” my smile wobbled, “I’ll have to grow my hair much longer.”
An answering smile broke on his face, and he kissed my tears away.
Then his lips sought mine with urgency, and he had me up in his arms and out of the garden in a matter of seconds.
I giggled as soon as my brain caught up with what was happening. “I think I got you a tad more excited than intended. I need a little more recovery time, Karim.”
“Worry not, I’m not taking you to the moss,” he informed me with an enigmatic smile as he carried me down the corridor. “We’ll get there after.”
Our destination turned out to be the bathing chamber, where Karim took us both into the pool straight away. “The water should help with the soreness.” He lowered me down until I could wrap my legs around his waist. “It will also reveal the magic of your hair.”
“Oh?” I slid my hands along the smooth expanse of his chest. I was not letting him go anytime soon.
“Deidre told me before we parted ways earlier. Your hair can change shape and length with water.” He swallowed my bubbling laughter with a kiss. “I wish to know how long we have to wait until we can link our braids.”
“Mmm,” I nipped his bottom lip. “Now that is something I want to find out, too.”