I interlace my fingers with Ravok’s, savoring the warmth of his skin against mine. Even in these strange circumstances, a feeling of ‘home’ washes over me.
“Stay at my side,” Koko instructs us, her stern gaze like molten steel. “I’ll keep you shielded,” she promises, her tone unwavering. She then says something else in a guttural language that I assume is Ravok’s native tongue.
Ravok startles at my side but rumbles an answer back in the same language.
The air hums around us, electric and thrilling in its intensity. I can feel the weight of Ravok’s anticipation standing beside me.
“Ravok,” Koko starts, her voice a soothing harmony amidst the tense atmosphere. “I am going to create a vision for the agents. They are going to see a facsimile of you boarding your ship, that should keep their attention away from us. Once you see your duplicate board the vessel, have your nanites close the hatch, and then launch the ship.”
Ravok nods, his eyes filling with understanding. He laces his fingers with mine, interlocking our hands reassuringly.
“Here we go. Stay by my side,” Koko reminds us. “Khast, Ravok. Go,” she instructs.
Around us, time unfreezes as suddenly as it halted. The startling normalcy of noise – the shouts and screams, even the sounds of birds’ calls – assaults my senses, bringing me back to the terrifying reality of the situation.
Staying still is difficult; every instinct screams for me to take action, but I stay rooted, our fates hinging on this moment. The agents return to life, picking up exactly where they left off. All three of them bellow for Ravok to freeze. The agent with the gun shoots at the fake Ravok again. The faux Ravok moves with a fluidity that leaves me breathless, ducking below the bullet with ease. He runs toward the ship and dives into the hatch, disappearing from view.
The real Ravok’s hand tightens around mine as the hatch slides closed. Koko gives a reassuring nod, her eyes sending a silent go-ahead.
The ship rumbles and shifts before shooting off into the atmosphere. It blasts upwards like a streak, leaving a scorching trail of incandescent light. A collective gasp of awe rises from the shocked agents, accompanied by a scant trace of smoke lingering in the air.
As the ship disappears, my heart lurches with a strange sense of poignancy. I look at Koko, then back to the sky, and finally settle my gaze on Ravok. The reality of it all, the raw emotions, the thrill… it is too much, but it feels oddly right. I hope we’ve done enough; only time will tell.
We watch silently from the darkened garage as the three agents argue for a minute before getting in the car and driving away. We wait in silence until the red of their car’s taillights disappear into the night.
“Well… what an exciting night, huh?” Koko announces, in the same tone of voice I might use to comment on a busy day at work.
My mouth opens but nothing comes out.
“Sorry, darlings, I need to get going. I have other items to attend to tonight,” Koko says, her voice dropping with a hint of mischief. Her eyes glint with a sparkle that suggests she knows just a bit too much. “I’ll leave you two to your own devices tonight.”
“However,” she continues with a dramatic flare, her eyes landing on Ravok and me, “we need to have you both participate in a small welcoming ceremony soon. It’ll cement your residency in Lublin Harbor and afford you my divine protection.”
“We’ll talk in the next few days to schedule everything.” With a wink, she adds, “Have a nice night, you two. I’ll call you soon.”
Before we get a chance to respond, Koko lifts into the star-dotted night sky, floating away like a celestial Mary Poppins. She disappears from sight, leaving Ravok and me standing in stunned shock, staring after her.
“Holy shit,” I murmur, “what just happened?”
Ravok blinks at me, his white eyes reflecting the same feelings of shock, befuddlement, and, strangely, amusement I’m experiencing. He gestures towards the cabin door, and together, we head inside. We collapse onto the couch, completely floored by the rapid turn of events.
I open my mouth to say something; someone has to, but every thought jets away faster than I can catch it. Too unexpected, too shocking, too… lucky? I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that goddesses exist. And I now get to spend the rest of my life with Ravok. I was sure I would never see him again less than a half hour earlier. I think I have whiplash.
After several attempts to speak, I only manage to muster a tired sigh. Ravok turns on the couch, facing me, his face glowing with happiness. “My Leelee. I thought I was going to lose you.”
“Me too,” I reply, my throat suddenly dry at the thought of how close I came to dying.
“I love you. You will never regret choosing a life with me. You will never regret agreeing to be my mate, not ever. I will do everything in my power to make you happy, I promise.”
“You already make me happy. And I love you too. So much.”
I immediately recognize the hot look in Ravok’s eyes. My body immediately revs up in response.
Ravok starts to reach for me when Mango leaps into the small space between us on the couch, interrupting our embrace.
“Mrow!” Mango complains, his tail lashing back and forth, displaying his ire. “MrowWWWWW!”
Ravok scoops up my spoiled feline and scratches Mango under his chin. As he apologizes to Mango for leaving him alone for so many hours, I watch them together with a smile. I have my future.
I saved an injured alien, and, as a reward, I got the love of my life.
EPILOGUE
Lily
“Welcome Lilith and Rav Blackwell, the newest citizens of Lublin Harbor!” Koko cries out, her voice echoing throughout the brightly sunlit town square. The cheering crowd, which appears to be the entire town’s population, is a sea of clapping hands and cheering. Everyone’s faces are split into wide, warm smiles. As the words hang in the airy atmosphere, it’s like something crackles in the air.
Koko turns to us, holding out an arm toward the gathered crowd. “My friends… Now you can see us in our true forms. Welcome to Lublin Harbor.”
The world around us suddenly blurs before crystallizing into something inexplicably… otherworldly. I blink, struggling to comprehend the sudden shift. The gathered crowd begins to morph, their human facades fading away to reveal their true forms.
More than half of the crowd turns into mythological creatures. I stare in shock. My mouth opens but words fail me. I spot several werewolves. Then, I see a green-skinned ogre standing next to what appears to be an enormous gargoyle. Next, my attention is grabbed by the sight of a beautiful woman with gleaming green snakes undulating around her head instead of hair. A gorgon! Just like I imagined from Greek legend. Sema leaps up from the crowd and flies away. What. The. Hell. The dog’s wings were real all along.
I try to take it all in – all the strange and wonderful creatures but I get distracted when Ravok grabs my hand, curling his fingers around mine. I look over at him and startle.
I’m holding hands with a man I’ve never seen before. I stare at the lumberjack-like behemoth beside me, my heartbeat erratic in my chest. The man’s face is covered in a neatly trimmed black beard. His hair is long and the same midnight shade as his beard. It is pulled back into a thick man bun at the top of his head. His skin is a deep olive complexion. The man returns my stare, his eyes a brown so dark they’re almost black. The thick slash of his brows drop in concern at my startled gasp. He frowns at me, and I’d know that frown anywhere, even on a human man’s face.
