Chapter 39:
“What? No!” I replied silently, though I couldn’t shake the thought.
Maybe I was.
Their closeness reminded me of the empty space in my life, the one reserved for a mate.
Beyond the love of my parents, my heart yearned for something more—a partner to spend forever with, someone I could share every moment without regret.
“Are you okay, darling?” My mother’s voice broke my thoughts, her brows furrowing in concern.
“I’m fine,” I reassured her with a smile, though my gaze fell to her body. She was already dressed.
Tired of standing, I sank to the ground, letting my tense body relax on the wet soil. I didn’t care about the dirt or the tiny insects; I just wanted to unwind under the full moon with my parents.
The air was still as we enjoyed the gentle evening breeze, the only sounds being the birds and crickets, whose songs filled the air with melody.
What more could I ask for?
“Isn’t the sky beautiful?” she said, her eyes getting lost in the splendor of the full moon and twinkling stars.
The evening was perfect. My parents’ presence made everything shine with joy.
For the first time in a long time, I felt complete.
Was this what it felt like to have a family?
I couldn’t wait to experience this every day with them.
“I see a sweet little kitten up there,” she said, stretching her hand toward the twinkling stars before turning to face me. “What do you see, Rory?” Her smile quickly faded into concern as I sensed her nervousness. “Are you okay with us calling you that?”
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“It sounds perfect on your lips,” I assured her, earning a sigh of relief from both of them.
“So, what do you think is up there?” she asked softly, giving me a quick glance before returning her gaze to the dark sky.
Silence stretched for a moment as I connected the stars. “I see a powerful woman, ready to fight for her people,” I replied, my voice filled with determination, squinting as I traced the scattered stars to form shapes.
“That’s different from what I saw, but I like it,” she complimented, pulling herself closer to me, seeking warmth.
“I see a sword instead,” my father added, causing laughter to erupt between us.
“That’s even worse,” my mother teased, making us laugh again.
A comfortable silence settled over us as we lost ourselves in thought. I didn’t mind if ants walked across my bare skin—being with my parents was enough.
I shifted closer, resting my head on my father’s shoulder.
Relief washed over me as I felt him relax beneath my touch.
“Could you tell us a story, Dad?” I asked, giving him my best puppy-dog eyes, hoping he’d indulge me.
“What kind of story would you like to hear?” he replied gruffly, but I could tell he was willing.
