Epilogue
The women of the small, rocky planet were assembled on the grass of the wide park-like area of the Mothership. Some of them murmured together and many were holding hands with the new males in their lives—the Jor’gen Kindred they had been dream-sharing with. But all were assembled for a purpose—they were watching their home world on the large viewscreen which had been set up. Watching and waiting to see the fate of their planet.
Suddenly, silently, a vast chunk of rock and ice slammed into the little world. The fragile ball flew apart, smashed into a million, trillion pieces in the blink of an eye, causing a collective gasp to go up from the assembled women.
“The world-killer,” Alanah heard one of them murmur. “It was true—all true. It really did come.”
“If we hadn’t left when we did…if we hadn’t gone with the Kindred…” whispered another and shook her head, a look of awe and horror on her face.
“The Elder Witch didn’t leave. She was there when it hit,” someone else pointed out.
“Good—let her die with our world. She killed our men—she deserves what she got!”
Alanah had heard enough. Squeezing Jenla’s hand, she got up and went to face the crowd gathered in the park.
“My people,” she said, loudly and clearly. “I felt like it was important for us to assemble and see this—to see the death of our world. But it isn’t just death I want to talk about but life—a new life for all of us.”
“Long live the Princess!” one of the women shouted. “She saved us!”
“Long live Princess Alanah!”
“Long may she live!”
Alanah smiled and raised her hands for silence.
“Thank you,” she said, smiling. “But now I want to talk about the future. There is, as Captain Bram told you, another planet which can support life in our solar system. Those who wish it can be dropped off there. But I hope that most of you will want to stay here, aboard the Kindred Mothership. Would anyone like to be taken to the other planet? Please speak up or raise your hand if so.”
Not a single voice was raised and not a single hand went up. Alanah felt a swell of gladness. Her people were here to stay—none of them wished to leave.
“Good,” she said, smiling at all of them. “Now that’s settled, we can move on to other business.” She cleared her throat. “I do not stand before you as a Princess today, but as a bride.” Out from behind the viewscreen stepped Bram. He was completely healed of the red-eyed death and looked extremely handsome in his dress uniform.
A collective gasp arose and then the women began to murmur.
“The giant—he’s well! The plague didn’t kill him!”
“The Kindred cured him somehow! He is well!”
“Yes, my beloved is fully recovered,” Alanah told them, smiling. “And we are bonded—which is something I’m certain many of you will soon be experiencing as well. And to show you all that I am committed to our new life here aboard the Mothership, I wanted to invite you all to my wedding.”
“And mine!” Jenla stood up beside her and Alanah put an arm around her best friend’s shoulders and gave her a hug. Ren held Jenla’s other hand and beamed at her, the light of devotion glowing in his emerald eyes.
“This day isn’t about endings,” she told her people. “It’s about new beginnings. A new beginning for all of us!”
A cheer rose from the crowd and Alanah knew that her people were well and would be taken care of.
Papa, she thought as she watched the last bright fragments of her old home world float away on the viewscreen. I hope you’re proud of me. I did the best I could for our people. I know we’ll all be happy here on the Mothership, living as Brides of the Kindred.
The End
And now, here's a Sneak Peek at the next Kindred Tales novel, Bridging the Distance, coming out next month…
Bridging the Distance: A Kindred Tales novel
Lorelei Daniels is having a terrible day--her self-driving car repossesses itself, she loses her job, and she's about to get kicked out of her apartment. What else could happen? How about a visit from a huge Kindred warrior begging her to come help him rescue his twin brother who has been turned into a Cyborg?
Bound Tight is a Light Twin of a Twin Kindred pair. Bound's brother, Torn Deep, is the Dark Twin and his other half--without him, Bound is incomplete. He desperately needs help to get Torn back--but will the beautiful little Earth female help him rescue his twin?
Because of her advanced degree in Artificial Intelligence Psychology, Lorelei is uniquely qualified to help with the Cyborg problem. But no matter how handsome Bound is, she's determined this is just a business transaction. However, when they rescue Torn, his twin brother, he has lost all memory of his past. It's up to Lorelei to try and bring the brothers back together in the only way she can--by using her body as a bridge between them.
Can Lorelei keep things businesslike as she brings the two brother back together? Or will she end up losing her heart as she is Bridging the Distance between the estranged Bound and Torn?