158. Vameer
Vameer
The sky is painted orange as the sun sets.
And it’s completely different from the last time I arrived here.
Last time, I was alone.
Last time, I didn’t know how long I’d been gone.
Last time, I was dressed in my too-small robe.
This time, I’m dressed in tailored clothing and a custom robe.
This time, I know when and where I am.
This time, I am not alone.
I’m with my mate.
Holding her close, I drop us toward the ground.
Rune is learning to control her gravito, but we both prefer to travel clinging to each other. So when my feet connect with the sidewalk, I drag her down my body as I lower Rune to my side.
She smooths out the skirt of her dress, then nods. “Ready.”
I curl my fingers around the door handle and pause. “Oh, by the way. Humans cannot see where we are looking. So if you find yourself talking to more than one, just adjust the angle of your head so they know who you are speaking to.”
Rune blinks at me. “Wait. What?”
“The black eyes.” I point to my face, then hers.
Her mouth opens and closes. “I don’t…” She furrows her brows. “But I’ve always…”
“Sí. Because you have always been mine.” I reach for her with my free hand. “Now come, meet my friends.”
Rune lets out a disbelieving laugh as she steps closer to me.
And I inhale her apples.
Last time, I hid behind the building, waiting for someone to come out.
This time, I open the front door and guide my mate inside.
I follow, ducking through the doorway behind her. And I drape my arm over her shoulders as the door shuts.
The room goes silent, save for the music playing overhead.
A dozen patrons stare.
A glass breaks behind the bar. And I let the corner of my mouth lift as my three friends stare across the room at us.
Jack is the first to round the end of the bar, striding toward us.
His grin is wide, and his eyes are shiny as he stops before me.
“Hello, Jack.”
He shakes his head. “Nice of ya to drop in… Vameer.”
I match his grin. “Got place for two more?”
He nods. “For a friend and his girl? Yeah.”
I hold my fist between us. And in an Irish accent, I use the phrase that’s been relevant every day since waking in that cave. “Fucking nuts.”