Zandian Lights (Zandian Brides 4)

It’s honestly the most lovely thing I’ve seen—with the exception of Kianna. If I can’t see her face, hold her, I think I’ll die.

“Kianna!” My voice carries, and many beings turn to look.

“Kianna!” I keep shouting, as if I can summon her with the force of my desire.

Suddenly I see her—she’s standing with Mirelle, Lanz and Dom. They’re across the grotto, but she’s here: Not on some ship bound for the Outlander program, but here. I still have a chance.

“Kianna.” I come up to her and touch her shoulder. My whole body thrums with need.

When she turns and her gaze falls on me, her whole body changes. “Mykl?” The thin note of hope in her voice slays me. “What are you doing here?” She looks behind me. “Where’s Alena? Are you mated already?” She bites her lip. “I’d like to offer you my sincere congratu—”

“No. I’m not mating her today. Not ever.” I reach for her hands.

“Oh, Mother Earth,” she gasps, and sinks down. Mirelle grabs at her, but I get her first. Now I’m sitting on the ground, holding her in my arms, while the light from the crystals starts to spin and glisten, reflecting off every surface. Mirelle smiles and steps back to her mates, leaving me and Kianna alone.

“Listen to me,” I beg. “I vowed to carry on my genes with the Zandian who is best suited to me. But the Zandian best suited is you. You’re human, but you belong to Zandia. And you get me. The way you helped me traverse the solar bands? It was like we were one being. We meshed perfectly. Didn’t you feel that?”

“I did! But… but… then you came back with her in your arms. You asked her to mate you.” The pain in her voice crushes me.

I pull her closer to me. In my arms, she’s warm and soft. She feels so right. “And I was wrong, Kianna. All along, I wanted you but tried to convince myself I didn’t, because I thought I had to mate a full-blooded Zandian. But that wasn’t making me happy or her, either.”

“And suddenly you think I’ll make you happy?” Her voice falters. Like she can’t believe what she’s hearing.

“I know it. You already have.” I think of how dull my life was before she sashayed into my lab and turned my existence on its head. She teased and flirted and coaxed me out of my stodgy resistance, even though I gave her no reason to persist. She is smart and resilient. Beautiful and strong.

I take her face in both hands and look into her eyes. “I’m positive.”

“But your promise?” She nibbles her lip.

“I’m fulfilling it, Kianna. My father asked me to choose the best one to carry my skills forward. I’m doing that. You are the best one for me. Together, we’ll be a great team. I truly believe that our young will be perfect. Because how could they not? We will work so well together.”

She tightens in my arms, and I add, “But it’s not just about the young. It’s about you. I…” I struggle to find the words. I have never allowed myself to feel such emotions, and it’s difficult to do it. As I speak, it becomes easier. “It’s about you. And me. I simply… want you. I… love you.” Once it’s out, I know it was the right thing to say, because the look in her eyes, of such joy, is immediate.

Still, she hesitates. “But for so long you said—”

“Listen.” I touch her face. “All these months, I’ve craved your laugh. Enjoyed your little remarks. Learned to appreciate your humor. You changed me, little by little. Allowed me to open up. It was only because of you that I was able to reach into myself and do what I needed to rescue Alena. She’s going to be perfect for Zandia… and for someone else. But for me? It’s been you all along, Kianna. You’re my destiny. I just didn’t see it.”

“Mykl.” Her voice is so full of emotion that I grab her more tightly.

“Please. I love you. Tell me it’s not too late. That you didn’t stop loving me.”

She hesitates, and I think I’m going to die.

Then, she makes everything all right again when she whispers, “I never stopped. I love you, too.”

“Then be my mate. Love me forever. Just me and you. I can’t share you—I won’t. Say yes.” My voice trembles and I don’t care.

“Yes.”

She says it just as the crystal beams burst like fireworks above us, and as the crowd roars with appreciation, I bend down and kiss her. A perfect kiss, as perfect as she is. The light goes through us and into us, and I know that Kianna and I are meant to be together, forever. A perfect match.

Chapter 10

Kianna

* * *

All I know is that he’s carrying me home, in his strong arms. His gait is determined, his grip secure. The light still shimmers all around us, and I feel drunk on the rays. Maybe I’m just gripped with emotion for Mykl; I can’t yet believe it’s true: he chose me.