The story so far:

----Xan learns from Aija what really happened to him; he feels hurt. He wants to warn his family about the experiments to save his siblings. Goldstar finds out Vincent is Ytean-human. And that he was responsible for his reputation. He is upset. He chooses to leave behind 'Goldstar' and be Rei. It is Ze's wedding day. Ruyanir's and Ze's wedding takes place. Ze challenges Na'thwir for the position of Zayr chief. Thieron goes to Zya'ara with everyone. Meets his family after years. The Company is on their way to attack again. Aija and Thieron fight with the Zya'araeans against the Wy'sith. Aija gets dragged away from Thieron. Nala and Luka struggle to shield Eiva and Afe. Nala is losing control over her shield. Zuri arrives to help. Thieron panics when he loses Aija. The ji'var attack him, but Aija finds him. Together they manage to kill the metal-controller, but when the Utzrn withdraw, Thieron realises it's to drown them. Aija calls Tai'un for help, and tells him she'll do anything in return for help. Tai'un uses the Avo to help them. Xan meets Vaughn, they spend time in Sier Ghat. Aa'di Irih'va has lunch with his grandfather, who tells him about his parents.

----Zuri waits for Aija to wake. When she goes to check on Luka, she hears Nala talking to Z'our. Thieron tells Aija he's in love with her. Aija tells him she hates him. Thieron is stunned by Aija's non-acceptance of him. Thieron accepts Irih'va's offer to work for the Crown. Rei gets back with Vincent. Wiet publicly executes Gale members, Rei is upset that he isn't able to do more for his people. Luka speaks with his former mentor and tells him he's quitting the Ithi'hra. Aija and Irhi'va speak in the Throne Room. When Irih'va kisses her she kisses him back but realises she cares more for Thieron. Irih'va is devastated when Aija leaves. Ruyanir is scared for Ze. She hopes he wins. Ze wins against Na'thwir.

---- Zuri and Nala attend the Red-Moon festival.

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****29.3 AIJA****

Thieron.

The first time Aija's world had overturned was when she'd seen Rez's Harvest and gotten dragged into the world of the Ytai. The second, when she'd learnt Thieron was good and had meant to protect her. The third time Aija's world capsized was when Thieron confessed his love for her. The fourth, when she acknowledged she was in love with him. She didn't want the fifth to arrive with her denial. She had to remedy it; only, she didn't know how.

Aija's breath caught in her lungs, watching him walk the length of the pond on the opposite side from where she sat. He kept his eyes lowered, but he must've noticed her. She had her eyes glued on him; he covered the length of the pond, crossed over to her side, and inched closer to her.

Black was a colour invented for Thieron. He wore it gorgeously; no one else, nothing else looked spectacular in the colour.

He raised his eyes to meet hers and halted a reasonable distance from her. It made her sad that he didn't step closer; she'd done it to herself. The moment he focused on the dress, his breath hitched. That dress was scandalous.

Thieron turned away, focussing on the moon. Aija glared at him as if it'd make him face her and then quit when he didn't turn at all. She saw him bite his lower lip, hands fidgety though he'd tied them at the back. Aija hadn't seen him in days, hadn't spoken to him since his confession. She hadn't gone to him even after she'd walked away from the Emperor. It'd been hard to see Aa'di Irih'va's heart break with her own eyes. Aija did love him, but not like she did this idiot avoiding her now. She'd hated him for so long; it had taken longer to accept how she felt. It was hard to stay away from him, harder still to see him ignoring her.

"Ignoring me?"

Thieron swivelled to her so fast, he lost balance and swayed before regaining his footing. Lips parted, eyes rounded, he stared at her for a moment. Then, he slowly closed the distance between them to stand before her. Thieron's black robe was left unbuttoned, hair combed back, eyes rimmed black.

"You hate me," he noted, voice low; it kissed shivers over her skin.

Yes, she'd told him that.

Aija studied Thieron's boots; she saw them move forward. She lifted her head as Thieron wedged himself between her knees. Her breathing quickened as her body grew aware of his a breath away. She felt his heat on her skin, warmth in winter, his eyes on fire, one of his own creation. All Aija wanted was to pull him closer, closer...

"Do you hate me for that?

"No, never," he whispered, voice husky, sonorous, vibrating through her bones.

Her lightning danced in her blood with Thieron so close.

"Te'i va lh'ean, Aija,"

Aija's breath caught in her lungs. She had the translation-rune but didn't need it to know the meaning; it'd imprinted itself in her memory.

"Te'i va lh'ean," Thieron whispered again.

You're my life.

Aija put her shivering hands on the edges of his robes, desperate for touch. Thieron took her hands in his, lifting them. He placed soft brushes of kisses on her fingers, eyes never wavering from hers. Purple sparks skittered off her skin into the air, fizzing brightly. A knot formed low in her navel. Thieron let her hands down and put his on her cheeks. Aija put her hands on his bare chest, drawing a gasp from him. She trailed her hands down till they stopped at his waist. Desire burned in his eyes much like it sung in her blood. She wanted to let his fire singe her walls and light her bones afire.

Thieron lifted her face cupped in his hands. Aija leaned forward, her heart unruly in her chest. She closed her eyes as he bent forward. Thieron kissed Aija in the little dip between the peaks of her upper lips and pulled away. Aija opened her eyes, heart maddened for more, more, more. His eyes roamed over her face; Aija pulled him to her. Thieron growled deep in his throat, placing a trail of kisses on her cheeks, jaws, nipped at her neck, making her heart skip a wild beat, and kissed her in the hollow of her collarbone.

Thieron's lips were soft on Aija's skin, drawing pleasured tingles from her, overtaking all other senses. Aija pulled him closer; he obliged her with a kiss on her lips. It was soft, a barely-there brush of his lips on hers. But it lit her alive.

She peered into his eyes, craving more. He seemed wary, possibly of hurting her. But nothing mattered anymore. She'd surrendered to his fire, his touch; she'd give him all of her.

Thieron, at last, kissed her with abandon. Aija kissed him back, the universe around them disappearing. His slow kisses turned hurried; his hands went lower, lower to her waist. He placed them on her exposed skin, making her gasp from the lightning between them. He pushed her back, his whole body on hers; her back gently hit the stone-wall. Thieron nipped at her lips; Aija moaned. He did it again, biting her upper lip harder, making her moan louder. He grunted. Aija put her arms around him until they were wholly against the other, both breathless.

Thieron pulled away; Aija needed more of him. Thieron felt right, everything she'd ever been searching for.

One of his hands held her tightly across her waist; the other went to the nape of her neck, stroking her. "Aija, Aija, Aija," he whispered, his lips against hers, each utterance a hymn to her soul.

"Ah'n," she crooned, making him view her with reverence.

Thieron kissed her again, this time even fiercer than the last. Aija let herself surrender to him; nothing existed but them. Thieron bit her lips lightly, his tasting much like the candy she'd been eating.

Thieron kissed Aija until she felt feverish for more. He kissed into her the good of the universe and the light of the stars; starlight, starlight, starlight until Aija was herself starlight.

Aija was the universe, and Thieron kissed into her darkness his light.

Their sparks sizzled in the air around them, little fireworks in celebration.

Aija hummed in desire as Thieron's hand on her waist slipped into her dress, his touch gentle. Aija clutched his arms tightly as she felt herself winding tighter, tighter in his embrace.

"Aija," Thieron purred, his breath tickling her ears.

Aija lifted her eyes to his; a tear-streaked his cheek, and she wiped it away with her thumb. He placed a kiss on the tip of her nose.

Light above them caught her attention. Aija gasped, her eyes going skywards. Thieron looked up too. Over the sky, millions of fiery lights streaked across, falling groundwards.

Star-fall.

It was an ethereal sight. Aija knew they weren't technically stars, but they appeared so; they were called star-fall for a reason.

Thieron gazed at her, face flushed; she knew hers was too.

Thieron kissed her. "Va oan. Va lh'ean, Aija,"

My love. My life, Aija.

She felt safe; she felt free. 

At last, in Thieron's arms, with the stars falling over them, Aija felt at home.

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