Epilogue
Two weeks later
Vala stood with Thorin at her side, waiting for the light to beep twice so that they could open the hatch and finally set foot on Jasvar. As much as she’d enjoyed spending a couple of peaceful weeks with Thorin, she was anxious to get her new life started.
Thorin chuckled. “Shuffling your feet isn’t going to make the door open any faster.”
She glanced up at him. “Maybe not, but I bet I’ll be the first one out the door when it opens.”
He raised his brows. “Are you challenging me to a race?”
“Maybe.”
“You’ll lose, zyla. I’m not about to allow you to win just because you’re my bride.”
Even though she’d heard Thorin call her his bride many times over the last two weeks, it still made her smile. “If I tore off my dress and ran naked, I bet it would distract you.”
“Perhaps, if it were a surprise. However, I’m now aware of your plan and can mentally prepare myself.”
She stuck out her tongue. “Sometimes your logic is irritating.”
He shrugged. “You love me anyway.” Taking her hand, Thorin kissed the back of it. “Besides, any male who sees your naked body will soon have a meeting with my fist.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not sure Prince Kason will take kindly to that, no matter how much his brother wants you to work with him.”
“I can handle Prince Kason.”
At his clipped tone, Vala turned toward him and laid a hand on Thorin’s chest. “Of course you can. But I just want to make sure I have a lord to come home to every night. I can’t do that if you land yourself in prison.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist. “It won’t come to that.” He kissed her. “No matter what happens, coming home to you will always be my top priority.”
“Oh, Thorin. If you’re not careful, you’re going to ruin your hardened warrior image.”
His eyes glowed blue. “I don’t care.”
She was just about to kiss him when the doors started to open. After patting his chest, she moved to stand at his side.
Bit by bit the pink daytime sky, the purple trees, and the blue mountains of Jasvar came into view. Once the doors opened completely, Vala scanned the area until she spotted a row of people not that far away. In addition to Kalahn and Taryn, Prince Kason, Ryven Xanna, and a few others she recognized but couldn’t name were standing there.
As Kalahn and Taryn waved, her first impulse was to run to her friends. However, she took Thorin’s hand and tugged. “Ready?”
He grunted and she led him out of the ship, down the stairs, and toward the crowd.
Her heart pounded with each step. On her previous ship, few people had liked Thorin and his cool, dismissive manner. She only hoped everyone else came to understand why he’d acted that way—to protect his secret—and saw the changes in him that she did. If the news of his role in the Tallarian incident had reached Jasvar, then it should be easier to convince them to give her warrior a chance. After all, everyone who had been kidnapped had been recovered alive.
Kalahn was the first to greet them. “Vala, I’m so glad you finally made it.” Kalahn looked to Thorin, their hands, and back to Vala. “It looks like there’s a lot for us to catch up on. Good thing I won some wine off Nova. I’ve saved it for an occasion such as this.”
Vala was just about to ask who Nova was when Taryn joined them. “Welcome,” she said in accented Kelderan.
Vala’s CEL wasn’t very good, but she still managed to say, “Thank you. Good to be home.”
Taryn smiled. “Yes, home.”
Taryn looked over her shoulder and frowned. Kason walked slowly, but when his bride motioned for him to come, he closed the distance in no time.
When Kason reached them, Thorin nodded. “Prince Kason.”
“Thorin.” Kason looked to Vala. “I hope he hasn’t kept you from your flight simulations.”
Thorin growled, but Vala squeezed his hand and answered, “It was hard to do when I was detained by the Tallarians, but I practiced on my way here.”
Kalahn rolled her eyes and lightly pushed her brother Kason. “Sometimes, Kason, I wonder about you.” Kalahn looked back to Vala. “We heard the basics of your capture and a bit from Ryven about what happened on the colony transport ship. It all sounds so exciting. Hopefully you can fill us in with the remaining details.”
Thorin spoke up. “It’s been a long journey. We should settle into our new quarters and rest.”
Vala looked up at her lord. “Resting is about the last thing I want to do. After all, we’ve been cooped up in that ship for two weeks.” She stood on her tiptoes and whispered into his ear. “Besides, the sooner we not only answer questions but fill in the prince and princess with Keltor’s message, the sooner we can visit that waterfall you wanted to see.”
Thorin had told her of his fantasy and Vala was determined to make it true, especially since Thorin’s violent visions hadn’t reappeared since their claiming ceremony. She was convinced that happiness helped to keep them away and she was determined to make as many happy memories as possible.
Her male looked back to Kason. “Actually, my bride is curious for a tour and to visit with her friends. At your earliest opportunity, we also need to speak with you and the princess regarding official matters.”
Kason opened his mouth, but Kalahn beat him to it. “Please call me Kalahn here. I’m sure Kason feels the same way about dropping ‘prince.’ Am I right, Kason?”
Taryn jumped in, her Kelderan accent strange. “He does.”
Vala frowned. She didn’t think Taryn’s Kelderan was good enough to follow their conversation.
Taryn pointed to her ear, “I can understand, but speaking hard.”
Kalahn smiled. “What she’s trying to say is that she has a device in her ear that interprets. So, she can understand everything we say, but replying is hard. Maybe one day the Earth Colony Alliance will provide us with more of those devices. It would definitely make things easier.”
Kason looked to his sister. “It would just get you out of teaching.”
Kalahn waved a hand in dismissal. “We can talk about teaching later.” The princess moved to Vala’s side and threaded her arm through her free one. “Taryn and I can take you on a tour while Kason shows Thorin the warrior things he needs to help set up.”
She looked up at Thorin. “What do you want to do?”
Not caring about who was watching, he leaned down and gave a gentle kiss. “Enjoy your friends. I’ll be waiting for you when you’re done.”
Vala hesitated. Logically, she knew she’d have to let Thorin out of her sight once she’d stepped foot on Jasvar. But sometimes she still felt as if everything were a dream and if she looked away, it would fade.
Thorin brought her hand up to his lips. “I love you, Vala, but it’s time for you to visit with your friends.”
After brushing his lips against her skin one more time, he released her hand. Kalahn sighed at her side. “He’s so devoted to you, Vala. It’s hard to believe we thought him a bastard. I guess a good female inspires devotion, as well as manners, in her male.”
Blood rushed to her cheeks. “He is my lord, that’s all. Any lord would do the same.”
Taryn shook her head. “Don’t like lord.”
Kason nodded in approval. “See, it doesn’t bother her, Taryn. It’s much better than ‘partner.’”
As Taryn spoke quickly in CEL and Kason argued back, Kalahn whispered, “They’re always like this, but they usually disappear soon afterward to make up. It’s going to be just you and me for now, Vala. I hope that’s okay.”
She shared a smile with Thorin before looking to the princess. “I imagine you’ll find the same fire in your life someday, Kalahn.”
Kalahn darted a glance to Ryven Xanna, who was laughing at Kason and Taryn’s argument.
Vala sensed there was a story there.
However, before she could ask about it, Kalahn tugged her in one direction. Vala looked over her shoulder and managed to mouth the words, “I love you” to Thorin before she had to focus on her feet and matching Kalahn’s pace.
As the princess chatted about the colonists and plans for the future, it was hard to believe that a few months ago Vala had merely been a Barren female in awe of her first assignment on a spaceship.
Now, she not only had a lord who loved her but friends in both a princess and a human. Not to mention an important role in helping the colony, other Barren, and any partial Brevkan Kelderans she could find.
Vala Yarlen was lucky indeed. It made her believe that anyone could find a happy ending and she was determined to help as many people as she could to find the same.
*~*~*~*
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As you’ve probably guessed, the next Kelderan book will be about Prince Keltor and Azalyn. The third book is called The Heir and will be out in January 2018. Originally, I had planned Kalahn’s book to be third, but Prince Keltor insisted and I couldn’t say no to him. ;) If my imagination cooperates, Kalahn’s book will be the fourth book in the series. To keep up-to-date on releases, . However, while you wait, you might want to check out some of my other series. Turn the page for a glimpse of my other works.