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“Little warrior,” Imuch I love you, Kailani”

She gasps and wraps her legs around ht Her eyes shimmer with tears “I love you, Master Khrys My mate”

Her mate

Veck

I’m lost

I brace one hand on the ainst hers, our panting breathsFor a few ether—the balance point of love and lust and need and everything wonderful Then, need topples the scales, and I plow into her even harder,her scream my name until she’s hoarse, and we both pitch off the precipice into satisfaction

Her tight channel squeezesit for its rainbow-hued essence I kiss her face, her eyelids, her soft, silky hair “I love you, Kailani,” I h love is ined I’d know

“I love you”

She lifts her small hand and strokes my face “I love you, too”

I drop beside her, and we spoon, looking at the waterfall and the rotto I search for and find another perfect crystal on the ground and hand it to her

“Is this the crystal that fuels your bodies?”

“Yes Zandian crystal It’s used in laser technology and is only found on our planet, so it’s what makes us rich Which is also why our species was nearly wiped out”

“When your planet was invaded”

“Yes, when I was young”

“And your brother died taking it back”