Recommended for ages 13+ because of the use of elevated language and subject matter.

Chapter 1: Dai'Ahnah (FREE)

Chapter 2: Mah'Keht (Support Squad Only)

Chapter 3: Dai'Ahnah (Support Squad Only)

Chapter 4: Mah'Keht (Support Squad Only)

Chapter 5: Dai'Ahnah (Support Squad Only)

Chapter 6: Mah'Keht (Support Squad Only)

Chapter 7: Dai'Ahnah (Support Squad Only)

Chapter 8: Mah'Keht (Support Squad Only)

Chapter 9: Dai'Ahnah (Support Squad Only)

Chapter 10: Mah'Keht (Support Squad Only)

Chapter 1: Dai’Ahnah

“May we thrive in a union that cannot be undone.”

The small crowd of Di’Ehtis who've gathered on the shores of Kah’Noh whoop and cheer as I watch Deh’Mi, the immortal of mischief, brings his new wife into his arms and kisses her with a fierce intensity. Kah’Muae’s blue skin tinges pink as Deh’Mi twirls her off the ground, Koh’Ahnti’s wind sprites showering them in multi-colored rose petals. It seems like several lifetimes ago that they fell in love. Everything seems ancient after that destructive war on the surface.

I much prefer our younger years when Lu’Nah and I would watch the boys get scolded by Uncle Bai’Yah for misplanting the harvest. Deh’Mi was always sneaking off to plan his latest prank while his brothers failed to cover for him properly. Now he’s married and stepping into the role of emperor of an entire Rehlm. Meanwhile, I feel like I haven’t changed at all since I was brought into Kri’Aeshon, like I’m nothing more than a shadow of the moon playing amongst the stars.

Even now I have the urge to fly back to my perch on the Dark Moon of Eh’Fi and make a constellation of this moment. No one would even realise that I was gone. Until the war, most of the other Di’Ehtis didn’t know that Lu’Nah and I existed. I guess the Empress of Oh’Shun never mentioned us outside of her siblings. Not that I’m starving for company. My sprite-like twin has enough energy for me to deal with. But with Lu'Nah’s mastery outside of Eh’Fi taking up more of her time these days, things have gotten awfully quiet in the ether.

“Whatcha doin’ way back here?”

His voice rattles through the core of my being, deep and sure. I do my best to keep my features neutral as I meet the fiery gaze of one of the newest immortals of the Universe.

“Lord Mah’Keht,” I nod.

“Lord?” He crinkles his brow in curiosity. “Since when are we so formal with each other?”

“I don’t believe we’ve ever spoken outside of war orders.”

“Well, today’s union should dismiss any airs of formalities, don’t ‘cha think?”

“Well-” I step back to widen the distance between us and bump into a nearby palm tree. “You know-”

“Do I make you nervous, Lady Dai’Ahnah?”

Mah’Keht’s smile only grows as a blush forms across my face. I refuse to be bested by him and dare to lean closer to straighten the golden pendant hanging at the center of his chest.

“I’ve become accustomed to watching others from a distance.”

“That sounds less enticing than participating, don’t ‘cha think?”

“Outside of today, the pleasure of participation has eluded me.”

“How so?”

I glance up at him, my hands lingering on the sash covering his chest. “No one has ever looked up at the sky and noticed me. Only my constellations.”

“Well, I find that very hard to believe.” Mah’Keht tucks a dark finger under my chin. “For you, my dear, are breathtaking in a way that’s hard not to notice. Or forget.”

My focus has become completely consumed by his darkness. Everything about him from his skin to his horns is as black as night. Aside from those amber eyes and flaming hair, he’s like a walking shadow. Different than Deh’Mi's untamable black flames, that's for sure. A darkness all his own. What is it about this being that magnetizes me? I’m one of the original grandchildren, for Gai’Ah’s sake. Beautiful words shouldn’t easily influence me. And yet…

Another eruption of cheers from the crowd gives me enough sense to release my wandering hands from Mah’Keht’s chest and float away toward the ether. “I really should be going. That constellation isn’t gonna make itself and-”

“Mind if I tag along?”

“Um,” I search those glowing embers with a torn expression, causing them to tinge with mischief.

“Unless I’m too much of a distraction for you.”

I bite my tongue with a smirk, a short chuckle all I’m willing to give in response as I float further away. Mah’Keht's presence lingers beside me but I don't bother to protest. I doubt he'd stay put no matter what I'd say anyway. Soon enough the sounds of Planet Iti’Bah’s three minor Rehlms are muted by the sweet silence of the ether. I drag my fingertips across my favorite constellations as I fly over to the Dark Moon with a sigh of relief. Finally. Home sweet home. I unpin my thick black waves from captivity, the starlit ball gown Lu’Nah made me earlier falling away in favor of my favorite nebula cloak and simple starlit romper. Bits of stardust from my last constellation still cling to my black sleeves but I don't bother brushing them away. What's the point if I'm about to make another masterpiece?

“So, this is the real you.”

I jump at his words, causing the energy of the Dark Moon to ripple and push Mah’Keht back with a defensive force.

“Sorry, sorry,” I shift the moon’s energy back into a place of neutrality. “Like I said before. I’m not used to visitors.”

“So you built a defense system?”

“I am the defense system,” I respond dryly. “It’s the reason my sister and I were made in the first place. Protect our Rehlm and Planet Iti’Bah at all costs.”

“Well I doubt your Kri’Aetor had planned for in fighting,” Mah’Keht chuckles.

He hovers a breath away with a divine aura of red outlining his form, his gaze piercing. “Mind if I too get comfortable? Formal wear isn’t my style.”

“And what is your style?” I muse.

Mah’Keht doesn’t bother to move away as his dark sash and regal cloak are replaced with a tattered black hunter’s hood. His lower robes transform into free-flowing pants that flicker like the low embers of a fire. I watch in silence as he gathers his mane of flames and ties them back into a topknot behind his horns. The darkness of the ether highlights the finer details of his immortality, the wisps of smoke curling around his horns now visible—a pure being of flame down to the tips of his wings.

“The sunlight doesn’t do you justice.”

Mah’Kehts eyes widen and I clamp a hand over my mouth with a deep blush. Thoughts in the ether might as well be spoken out loud. The stronger they are, the louder you can hear them. And mine just sounded deafening.

“I’ve always been drawn to the darkness,” he growls, a devious grin growing as he flies closer. “And you?”

“And me what?” I breathe.

“What allures you?”

I glance up at a few of my favorite constellations and smile. “I guess I’m drawn to capturing the best moments of Eh’Fi.”

“Will you capture this moment?”

I shrug and turn toward my pile of stardust. “Who knows.”

His gaze follows me as I look down at Kah’Noh, the festivities now in full swing as Ichi passes out goblets of swirling golden liquid. I grab a handful of stardust and rub it into my palms with my fingertips. I’ve never made a constellation with anyone else around. Not even Lu’Nah is allowed anywhere near my moon when I’m “in the zone” as she calls it. Something about Mah’Keht’s energy urges me to make this constellation outshine all the others. And I refuse to disappoint my first audience.

I close my eyes and feel my energy welling at my fingertips. The stardust becomes an extension of my being as I outline the edges of Deh’Mi’s form from the moment he kissed Kah’Muae. I recall the energy that radiated off them as they pledged their love for each other. Love. Such a new concept in our Rehlm, yet familiar all the same. They make it seem so easy. Effortless in a way that immortality doesn’t fully grasp on its own.

“Beautiful.”

Mah’Keht’s words echo in my mind and I steal a glance at my masterpiece. “The rough shape is there, yeah. But it’s far from finished. There are so many details that I need to focus on-”

“Not them. You.”

His voice is directly behind me, each word tickling my neck as his chin fits perfectly in the curve of my shoulder. When did he get so close so quickly? His arms slide around my waist but I don’t shy away. Instead, I lean into him and add little details here and there to my constellation, his energy melting into mine. He’s warm. The kind of warmth that heats you from the inside out. Slowly. Tenderly.

“Oh, Mah’Keht. Not you too!”

I jump at Drah’Koh’s voice outside my orbit and quickly readjust the Dark Moon’s energy before it fully pushes him and his twin across the ether. Mah’Keht’s wings guard my body as they fly closer, Drah’Koh’s eyes scanning our merging energies through judgy slits of green.

“This Rehlm makes me sick. Everyone seems to be catching this love stuff. It’s disgusting.”

“Aw, don’t be like that,” Mahn’Ji slurs, leaning on his brother’s shoulder with half a cup of golden liquid still clenched in his fist. “I think love is nice. It’s warm. And sexy.”

“Sexy?” Mah’Keht’s short burst of laughter vibrates through my being as he looks at Mahn’Ji with amused concern. “How much Liki Gohld have you had, man?”

“Enough to irritate me, that’s for sure,” Drah’Koh mumbles.

Mahn’Ji jumps on his brother’s back, flapping his purple-scaled wings with a pout. “Aww, don’t be like that. You know you love me.”

“I’d love for you to get off of me!” Drah’Koh snaps, fluttering his pointed green-scaled wings to shoo his brother away.

Mahn’Ji flies over to my rough draft and nods with authority. “Another masterpiece I see is in the works. It’s you two, right?”

“What?” I balk. “No, this is Deh’Mi and Kah’Muae. Ya know, the two that just got married.”

“Oh, believe me, I’m not too far gone to forget that nauseating display of affection,” Mahn’Ji squints at my constellation before looking at me. “But this is clearly you two. A premonition written in the stars perhaps?”

“Was there a reason you two so rudely dropped by?” Mah’Keht snaps, holding me close.

“We’re goin’ to Brae’Yah for the afterparty,” Mahn’Ji cheers. “Ichi promises more rounds of Liki Gohld. Coming with?”

“Is that supposed to entice me?” Mah’Keht asks.

“It usually would,” Drah’Koh grumbles. “Come on, Mahnj. Let’s get out of here before we catch their ick.”

Mahn’Ji flies backward, pointing at Mah’Keht. “Linger in our Rehlm later if you’re not too busy falling in love with Dai.”

Mah’Keht doesn’t say anything in response as the twins fly further away but I feel a different kind of heat growing between us.

“You sure you don’t want to go with them?” I ask.

He nestles his face in my neck. “I have everything I need right here.”

“But you were just gifted your own Rehlm. Shouldn’t you be more excited to prepare?”

“Are you trying to get rid of me, Lady Dai’Ahnah?”

His voice rumbles through me as I turn to face him. “I just don’t want to feel like I’m holding you up in my orbit. There’s no need to rush things between us.”

“Is there something between us?”

I feel my blush grow but I force myself to hold his gaze. “I’d like to think so.”

“I like the way you think.” He takes my hands in his and kisses my knuckles. “Well, since we have all of eternity to get acquainted, I guess I should straighten up my Rehlm before I invite you for a proper visit.”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary.”

Mah’Keht’s brow crinkles in confusion. “Do you not want a tour of my Rehlm?”

“Of course I do,” I sigh. “But my being is tethered to the Dark Moon and maintains the Mithri lines surrounding the Planet. The form that you feel is but a manifestation of my energy. An apparition of my soul’s true form.”

“The most beautiful apparition I’ve ever seen,” he murmurs in my ear before fully letting me go. “I promise to return here soon.”

I wiggle my fingers with a smirk. “I’ll be right here playing with the stars.”

Mah’Keht glances at me over his shoulder before flying further away from my orbit. His warmth still lingers on my back as I rub more stardust into my palms and refocus on my constellation. All I can do now is hope that he’ll return and believe this blissful moment between us won’t evaporate into another cluster of stars.