Kattlyn

 

My heart danced with happiness. I felt whole, complete, and I didn’t want anyone or anything to mess it up. I didn’t want to face Father, or Jakke’s, scrutiny. I didn’t want to see Jussin—who knew what he might do if he smelled Alan all over me. The best thing we could do was to stay away from everyone.

An idea popped into my head. It could be the best idea possible or the most foolish thing I’d ever done.

“Let’s grab something from the replicator and then visit Kepa.”

“The outlanders?”

I shrugged. It was probably a harebrained idea, but we couldn’t stay around the castle. The only other solution was to visit Risshi, and I didn’t know how he’d react. I would hope he would understand, but right now, I couldn’t take that chance, and I didn’t want to. I wanted Alan all to myself without any outside influences.

“Well.” Alan’s eyes widened a little when his eyebrows lifted. “I guess if you’re up for it.”

“Great!”

Creeping through the castle like two kids up to mischief, hiding and avoiding everyone, we headed outside to the hover vehicle. When we climbed inside, I giggled. “That was fun.”

Alan smirked and shook his head. “It’s been a long time since I’ve snuck around.”

After I programmed the coordinates, the vehicle roared to life and headed away from the castle.

“This is amazing,” Alan said as he checked the hover vehicle over. “There are no controls, just a computer panel.”

“Why would you need controls and what would you do with them?”

“Never mind.”

I tried to imagine a vehicle with controls, but nothing readily came to mind.

The farther we traveled away from the castle, the more I started to worry. I’d never visited the outlanders and hadn’t seen Kepa in a long time. What if things had changed and we were no longer welcome?

“This is amazing!”

I glanced over at Alan who was staring in awe out of the looking glass. He had a large smile that reached his eyes. The look of happiness on his face as he reacted to everything made me forget the doubts.

“I am glad you like Azziar.”

“I would love to explore. I’ve only seen the castle, the surrounding forest, and the marketplace. That’s not much.”

His eyes sparkled with excitement.

“It’s not. I can go with you.”

He reached out to lightly touch my leg. “I’d like that.”

The closer we got to the pre-set coordinates the more worry seeped in. What if Kepa wasn’t there? What then? I was the daughter of the king after all.

When we finally reached our destination, we climbed out and took a look around.

“This looks like a subdivision back home.”

“A sub what?”

“All these houses . . .”

I scanned the dwellings, trying to see what he saw. Common houses made of wood dotted the countryside, most sitting close together. No one was outside. It looked deserted.

Nervously, I took his extended hand as we walked toward the center. My heart pounded with each uncertain step. He squeezed my hand, and when I looked over at him, he grinned. He didn’t look nervous at all, which for some strange reason made me feel better. We’d figure it out.

One lone figure stepped outside onto a small porch and squinted. “Kattlyn? Is that you?”

I briefly closed my eyes and thanked the gods. “Hi, Kepa.”

He strolled over and started to pull me into a hug before thinking better of it. “Is everything all right?”

His white hair had turned mostly silver. He looked older than I remembered.

“Kepa, I’d like you to meet Alan.”

His eyes darted to Alan’s in quick acknowledgment— “Alan”—before turning back to me. “What has happened?”

Others started to trickle outside now that they realized there was no threat. I glanced nervously around. Everyone was staring at us.

“Is there somewhere private we can talk?”

“Yes . . . yes. Come.”

We followed him inside his dwelling. An older female that reminded me of my mother stood just inside the door. She didn’t look very happy at first but her features finally softened a little. Kepa introduced the two of us.

“Ettha, this is Kattlyn, daughter to the king. And this”—he stepped to the side— “is Alan.”

Ettha stepped forward, her eyes never leaving Alan.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Ettha,” Alan said.

She walked tight circles around him, looking him over. “What are you?”

“Ettha,” Kepa said, shooting her a look that warned not to be disrespectful.

Alan held up his hand. “It’s all right.” He smiled at Ettha. “I am human.”

“Remember, dear, I told you that some of the princes now had Human mates?”

“Yes”—she briefly pulled her gaze away from Alan— “but I’ve never seen one.”

When Alan laughed, everyone visibly relaxed.

“Ettha, dear, can you fetch us some theil.” When she hurried from the room, Kepa motioned us to the couch. “Now, tell me what brings you here.”

I started at the beginning and told him everything. The arranged mating, meeting Alan, the entire story. “And now we’re here. I hope it is all right.”

“Of course it is. Stay as long as you wish.”

“Thank you. I just didn’t know what else to do, where to go.”

He scoffed. “It doesn’t surprise me that Mallik refuses to abandon tradition.” He sounded angry and then his voice softened when he repeated, “You can stay as long as you want.”

Ettha came in carrying refreshments. When Alan sipped from his cup, he grinned. “This tastes like tea.”

“Not tea, it’s theil.” Ettha said as she sat down on the couch and took a sip of her own.

Alan chuckled, but never offered anything else.

“I like him,” Ettha said with a grin.

“So do I.”

“Well this is uncomfortable,” Kepa chimed in. Everyone chuckled and when the laughter died down, he continued. “We have an empty dwelling out back that you are welcome to use. No one should bother you there.”

“Thank you.”

We talked for a while as we sipped our theil, not really talking about anything of importance.  When we finished our drink, we thanked Ettha for her hospitality, and followed Kepa to the empty dwelling. He opened the door, but before I entered, I gave him a quick hug. “Thank you so much, Kepa.”

“You’re welcome. It’s not much, certainly nothing like you’re used to, but it does have a bathing room and a replicator.”

“It’s perfect.”

He smiled down at me. “I will alert the others to your presence and tell them they are to leave you be.” A brief look of worry passed over his face, but he quickly hid it with a pleasant smile.

“Thanks again, Kepa.”