The story so far:

----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. The Gale releases their video on the Main-Lands. They bring the Leadership down. Mike Wiet escapes, Rei asks Je'ai to catch him. Aija accepts Thieron.

----Ze is blessed and becomes the Ema'i of the Zayr. Thieron gives Aija the blade-blessings. Irih'va tells Thieron Ea tried to destroy Earth. Aija and the others go to Earth. Wiet is captured, Rei talks to him. Aija, Xan, Nala, and Luka go to Zuri's home.

----Thieron talks to Ea. Avo is with Rei, who tells he'll give it in a day after they seize the In'ealk.

✽✽✽

****38.1 AIJA****

The door to her room was slightly ajar.

Aija entered soundlessly, closing the door behind her.

Thieron sat at the edge of the bed, face nested in his palms, elbows rested on his knees. His eyes went to her as she went to him. His hair appeared ruffled, like he'd run his hands through it numerous times. Thieron pulled Aija onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her. Aija put her arms around him, resting her head on his chest. They stayed that way for a very long time; Aija's breaths slowed to Thieron's, his warmth coating her with a sense of security. This was what coming home felt like; Aija wanted to hold onto it forever.

"Are you alright?"

Thieron shook his head nestled in the crook of her neck. She held him tighter.

"Where were you?"

"Zuri's hometown,"

"Was it nice?"

"Her family was," Aija pulled away, taking Thieron's face in her hands. "I was worried about you. What happened?"

"I missed you, Aija."

Aija smiled. "I meant with Ea,"

"I know," Thieron grinned, revealing his dimples. Aija poked her fingers at them, making him smile, eyes crinkled at the corners. Thieron pulled her closer to himself; she put her hands on his chest, clutching handfuls of soft fabric of his shirt.

Thieron told her everything from Ea's early refusal to talk to her revelations and Rei's condition to giving the Àvo.

"Let me talk to Rei,"

"What about?"

"I can convince him to let you go right away. It's not safe to have Ea or the Àvo here."

Thieron regarded her, thoughts sprinting in his mind. "Then, you'll stay here?"

"Until you return, it'll make Rei happy, and you can get the Àvo away. I don't have a good feeling having Ea here."

"That...that sounds good; I'd have saved time if I'd thought of this earlier."

"Don't work yourself over it. I know my brother; I can handle him."

"Do us all a favour and don't tell you know how to deal with Rei; we need the edge over him. Okay?"

Aija laughed.

"My smart girl," he placed a kiss on the tip of her nose. He touched his forehead to hers, eyes closed.

"Ah'n,"

"Hmmm,"

"Va lh'eanè te,"

Aija felt Thieron stiffen. He didn't open his eyes, forehead still pressed to hers. She felt his breath quicken, tickling her lips. Aija had memorized the words every time he'd told them to her. On the way to the room, she'd repeated them, hoping to not get them wrong. Thieron, still frozen, made her worry. Had she said it wrong? What went through his mind? Was he angry it took her o long? But she hadn't wanted it to be insincere.

Slowly, Thieron's eyes opened. He put a hand over the nape of her neck, pulling her in for a kiss. "Aija," he whispered, his lips still on hers. "Va lh'ean,"

"Te'i va lh'ean, Ah'n,"

Aija kissed him. Thieron smiled against her lips, their lightning sparking. When they broke their kiss, Aija wiped the tear running down his cheeks with her thumb.

"Stay with me always,"

"Yes," Aija purred.

Thieron drew an object out of his pant-pocket. A hair-comb. He handed it to her. Aija examined the gorgeous gold of the hair-comb glinting under the light. A Ro'ein made with black and red stones embellished it. Roè Eiva often wore one exactly like this. An'ri and proposed to Brun with a similar one.

"Marry me, Aija."

Aija glanced from the hair-comb to the desire contained in Thieron's eyes, heart blissfully feral in her chest.

"You don't have to answer right away. I know you're only eighteen. One day, I hope you'll marry me."

Aija's attention returned to the hair-comb, breath caught in her lungs.

"It was my mother's," Thieron said.

Aija slid the hair-comb onto her hair next to the simpler one Eiva had given her, and she always wore. "Yes,"

"What?" he seemed genuinely surprised. "Take your time, Aija; we have time. It's a huge commitment."

"I don't need time on something I'm certain of. I will marry you, Ah'n. I feel like I was made only for you. Forever, no matter the time or age. It's a feeling that keeps persisting in my heart. I'm only yours, ever, and ever."

The smile Thieron gave her lit his eyes and warmed her heart; the sun to her galaxy.

"Where?" he asked. "Ytèan, Ierne, or Earth?"

"Right now, in this room, if that's what you want,"

Thieron kissed her. "Then, once I'm back from Ierne, oan,"

"Yes,"

"Ru Aija," he declared. "Mine," he kissed her.

****

The heady euphoria from Thieron's proposal made itself at home in Aija's mind, heart, and soul, lighting up her senses.

She wove her way through the Core, searching for Rei, her skin tingling, the lightning in her blood singing.

Ru Aija. Mine.

The word invoked joyous heat over her cheeks and chest. Aija hadn't been this happy for as long as she could remember. She knew she'd decided right in agreeing to marry Thieron. The universe had writ his name on her bones the moment she'd come into existence. She was certain of it; she was his.

Thieron had gone to get Ayr'i, Luka, and Nala to help him take Ea and the Àvo to Ierne. Aija went to retrieve the device from Rei. She'd give Thieron the ist'we stone, and they'd leave. And when they returned, she and Thieron would get married.

Married.

Aija couldn't believe it. Was this how Ze felt marrying Ruyanir? So sure of it at seventeen? Ecstatic?

Aija found Rei in the Newsroom with many others, watching Reports on the Main-Land. Mike Wiet's words returned to her, making her tremble for some unknown reason. She brushed the feeling aside and went to her brother seated next to their father.

"You're rare," Ena alleged.

"Sorry," Aija said, comprehending she'd marry someone her parents hadn't met. She'd better introduce Thieron to them before she broke the news of her wedding and hoped that Rei hadn't caused much damage to Thieron's reputation. She hoped it was, at the minimum, salvageable.

"Rei, we need to talk,"

Both Ena and Rei set looks of concern on her.

"It's nothing to worry over. It's not about me, but it's urgent Rei."

"Okay,"

Aija eased slowly out of the room, Rei limping. He didn't use crutches, but it did look painful still. Aija had noticed the missing finger; he'd told her it was from when Wiet ha attacked the Cores. With all that happened, Rei soldiered on resolutely. Aija was proud of him. While Aija had tried to save Earth from aliens, Rei had protected humans from other humans. Aija knew he'd handle all future issues as well. He was Rei Rao-Oshiro, after all.

"Are you well?" Rei queried once out.

"Yes, of course,"

Rei put a hand over her forehead. "Your face is flushed; you seem feverish."

"I'm fine," Aija averred. "It's about the Àvo."

"Did Ah'n send you?"

"Ah'n?"

Rei shrugged, sheepish.

When had it gone from Thieron to Ah'n?

"No. It was my idea. Before you say no, know that I'm staying. I'm staying, Rei."

"Okay,"

"Give Ah'n the Àvo and send Ea with hi. I don't like them still here."

Rei considered it.

"They'll drop them on Ierne and come. In the meantime, the In'ealk's useless without a device and by the time they figure they need another one, we can seize the In'ealk. Only Ah'n, Ayr'i, Luka, Nala will go."

"Were you always this sensible?"

Aija glowered at her brother.

Rei grinned. "I was joking, Ai. You always were. That's a good plan. I'll send Ea and the Àvo."

"Thanks, Rei."

Rei shook his head. "Thank you for staying longer."

Aija nodded.

"Aija,"

"Yes,"

Rei hesitated, then spoke, "I'm okay with Ah'n. If that's what you want."

Aija regarded her brother, bemused. "I do," 

Rei smiled. "Okay. Wait for me in the Hall."

✽✽✽