“You think I am your Destin? As in, destiny?”
“Yes. You are my Fated One. The Chosen. My Destin.”
Daphne put a hand to her forehead and tottered to the side. She grabbed the fountain’s edge for steadiness.
“How is that possible?”
“I don’t know, Daphne. But, I have come to admire you. You are special. You truly are. Destiny is incredibly important in Curan culture. For all of Farian, actually. And you are mine…” I laid my hand on her shoulder and we endured the stunning shock of the touch together. It began to amp up and she started to shake visibly, shivering beneath my touch. She looked up at me, her hand dropping from her forehead to touch the top of my hand. I gasped at the physical tremor, a tendril of desire that shot from her fingertip into my hand and through my body.
I turned my hand over to clasp hers. I pulled her into me, so that our bodies were pressed into each other. I tilted her chin back, looking into her deep brown eyes. She was trembling all over. Even the golden ringlets on her head were shaking, the sun making little rays of light bounce off her hair and onto my black chest armor. I placed one arm all the way around her, hugging her into me. As I tilted her head back, I waited for her to speak.
Finally, she did. “If I am your Destin, will I be with you forever?”
“Yes. You will have no need to return to Earth. If you choose. You can be with me forever. There is a ceremony that we can do, so that you can become more like us. You will be able to live, love, fight, and grow beside me. It will make us both stronger. You are not only my Destin, I am yours. It is our tradition.”
“But, if I choose to, I can return to Earth. You won’t force me.”
“That’s right, Daphne. I will let you leave me, if you must. But…”
“But, you want me to stay.”
“More than anything.” My heart was racing. I couldn’t believe I was saying these words. How did she have such power over me? I flexed my fingertips into her back, trying to keep my hands from shaking. All the while, the electric trigger between us had been amplifying. We were both short of breath and sweat was breaking out on our foreheads. It was as if there was a buildup of a storm that was about to explode.
“I don’t know what to do, Kajo…How can I leave my home?”
“Just think of it, Daphne…Please, just think of being with me…” Her brown eyes were deep pools and I wondered if my eyes looked as mesmerized by her as hers seemed to be of mine. I bent my head down lower and she gasped expectantly. I gently pressed my lips to hers, a tender pressure. The electric charge between us sparked a shock and then our mouths were trembling into each other and she was squeezing me tight.
I don’t know how long we stood like that, but we finally broke apart for air and one of my bodyguards was standing near me.
“Your Highness? I am sorry, but we must go. Commander Sasrin is waiting for you.”
“Yes.” I swallowed deep. “Of course.” I held my hand out to Daphne. “Would you please return with me to the castle? Tomorrow is the Day of Joy and I have much to prepare. You can decide tomorrow after the celebration. Does that sound all right? Stay with us that long. See some of our customs.”
“And see you honored, right?” There was a twinkle of jest in her eyes as she took my hand and squeezed it. I smiled and squeezed it back.
“I’m just a lowly King.”
“Ha!”
Then we were back in the hovercraft speeding to the castle, waving over the edges of the craft to the townspeople. Daphne snuggled close to me on the flight and she never let go of my hand. The trilling of Destin had faded a little, just leaving butterflies in my stomach and a quick gasp whenever I looked into her eyes. I was sure the heavy jolt would be back, again, if I was ever able to do more than kiss her.
Oh, how I wanted to do more than kiss her…
Maybe tomorrow, I would get to.
As long as Rhone didn’t kill me first.
Ten
Daphne
It was the Day of Joy.
I woke up and changed into the special ceremonial clothing Delicha had brought to my room late that night. Instead of being the blue and black of Curan culture, they were red, black, and blue, a symbol of unity for Curan and Bordash. I was going to be standing beside Kajo. Not as his Destin, but as a prized guest. Delicha explained, with some contempt, that there would be many people who would be upset by my presence. She had given me a translator, not only so I could understand those speaking to me, but so they could understand me, too. I would actually be able to speak to the people I saw in the streets worshipping King Kajo.
We took a large hovercraft to the celebration site, which was a huge coliseum where feats of strength, intelligence, and beauty would be judged. Kajo would begin the ceremony and kick-off the parade with a short speech. The night before, he had noticed me reading a book of Curan poetry and he had asked me to
