Dero wanted to carry Tarihn from Sloan’s tent to their own, but she insisted on walking despite of his protests. She went right to Eas and leaned against him, resting her head on his back and draping her arms over him. Dero watched as his bird, the one he’d raised from a fledgling, purred and rested its head against her.
“I think she broke your zareb,” Warrick said with a chuckle as he joined him.
“I’m just happy she’s well. If I have to train another zareb because he wants to be hers, then that’s okay.”
Tarihn didn’t lift her head from Eas’ back when she said, “I don’t think he’s mine or yours. I think he’s ours.”
Dero chuckled. “If Eas will forgive me for nearly killing him.”
Dero’s father joined them. “We found a nest of stalig eggs in the pasture. They were laid in a shallow hole and hidden under leaves. There was a female with the eggs.”
“Then the male was protecting his nest and mate,” Dero said.
Nelari nodded. “Some of our males are going over the area again just to be sure it’s the only nest, but I do believe it was just a coincidence that Tarihn was grooming the zarebs near the nest and the stalig felt threatened. The eggs and female have been destroyed, and we’ve put listanstone powder in the hole and surrounding area before filling it back up with dirt.”
“What’s listanstone powder?” Tarihn asked.
“It will keep any other staligs from trying to make a nest there. Since the male and female were killed, it’s unlikely that any others would come this way to make a nest, but if they do, they’ll move on because the powder burns them.”
“But it’s okay for the zarebs?”
Dero smiled at his soul mate. “Yes, ilora.”
She said something softly to Eas, who ruffled his feathers and cawed. Storvi squawked several times at her side, and she giggled.
“What’s so humorous, my soul mate?” Dero called out.
“Just talking to my boys,” she said. She straightened, leaving one arm on Eas’s back and resting her hand on Storvi’s head. “I want to go to the stars tonight. We still can, can’t we?”
“If Sloan says it’s safe for you. You were injured recently,” he reminded her.
“I’m aware,” she said dryly, rolling her eyes.
After checking with Sloan that it was safe for Tarihn to fly, they said goodbye and walked with the zarebs to the tent stable. He opened the gate for them and Tarihn strode into the tent, returning with a brush and the woven basket she collected fur in.
“I thought you might like to rest,” he said, leaning against the top rail of the fence. She entered through the other gate. Eas and Storvi moved right to her, making soft, happy sounds as she began to groom Eas.
“I wanted to finish what I started.” She moved the brush confidently over his glossy, furred back, but Dero saw her gaze dart periodically to the ground.
“The staligs are gone, ilora.”
“I know. I’m just checking,” she said, smiling at him. “Join me?”
He went into the stable, grabbed a brush, then selected another of the zarebs from a stall and brought him into the fenced area. He stood near Tarihn, brushing the zareb with firm strokes.
“You know what?” she asked after several minutes of silence had passed.
“What, ilora?”
“I think Eas and Storvi adopted me.”
He paused and looked at her over the back of the zareb. “What?”
“They’re still acting protective. Look at how Storvi is watching the ground. They’re guarding me.”
He walked over to them and put his hand on Eas’s neck. Eas looked down at him, his dark gaze unwavering. “You did well, Eas. You saved my soul mate. I’m sorry I nearly killed you.”
“Do you think he understands?” Tarihn asked.
Eas dropped his head and butted lightly against Dero’s shoulder. He chuckled. “I think he does.”
“Aw. My males are so sweet together.”
Dero made a face. “As long as I’m your favorite male.”
She wiggled her brows. “You know you are.”
* * *
After the evening meal, when the sun had set and the twin moons rose in the sky, Dero saddled Eas for their star-watching trip. He’d enlarged the saddle he normally used with Eas to make it easier for Tarihn to ride with him. It was cool and would be chillier up high in the sky, so they dressed warmly. Tarihn wore hide trousers and a long tunic, and had wrapped a blanket around her shoulders. She’d tied her hair back in a braid and was bouncing with excitement as he finished getting Eas ready.
Storvi was too young to fly, so Tarihn rubbed his head and kissed his beak before saying goodbye. Dero helped her into the saddle and climbed up behind her, gathering the reins in both hands.
“Ready?” he asked.
She turned her head and kissed him. “Yes!”
He chuckled as he snapped the reins, giving the command for Eas to take to the sky. Eas cawed loudly before running swiftly and flapping his wings as he lifted them off the ground. Tarihn squeaked in surprise as they moved into the air, grasping Dero’s forearm with one hand and holding the pommel with the other.
Her squeak turned into a gasp as they crested the tops of the trees and rose higher into the sky. The stars were bright, twinkling lights above them, and as Eas slowly flapped his wings and leveled out, Dero transferred the reins into one hand and wrapped his arm around Tarihn’s waist.
“It’s so beautiful up here. I would never have seen this if you hadn’t found me.”
“I would give you the stars if I could, ilora,” he murmured into her ear. “Finding you was the best thing that ever happened to me, my sweet soul mate. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
She leaned back against him and rested her hand on top of his. “I’m so glad I’m yours and you’re mine. It’s kind of sad, isn’t it?”
“What is?”
“That my people are traveling to distant planets to find soul mates when they are on the other side of the mountains. So much closer. But they’ll never know because the government has filled their minds with lies.”
“We all have to make our own choices on what we believe. I’m sorry that your people didn’t think you were valuable. You’re more precious to me than all the stars in the sky.”
“I feel like the luckiest female on the planet. Fate brought us together, and I have a life now. A real life. Because of you.”
“Didn’t I tell you I’d do anything to make you happy?” he asked.
“You did,” she said with a laugh. “I just didn’t know it was possible to be so happy. If I’d known that I could have everything if I went over the mountain, I’d have climbed it years ago.”
“Me, too, ilora,” he said, kissing her neck. “Are you ready to go home?”
“Let’s stay up in the stars a little while longer. I’m not ready to be on the ground just yet.”
“Whatever my soul mate wants.”
“Just you and the stars,” she said. “That’s all I need.”