Pets in Space 5 - SE Smith Page 0,1

beside him, not actually touching the cobblestones.

“Do you mind if I ask where your kingdom is? I have never heard of it before,” he politely inquired.

Arosa gave him a startled glance and then quickly looked away. “It is in—the woods,” she answered in a hesitant voice.

“Where though? The forests are just now growing back. How did you survive after the Tasiers were taken?” he asked, mentioning the small, furry rodents hunted almost to extinction by off-world traders.

“Not far. There is a forest that survived—to the west. That way,” she said, with a wave of her hand, “on the other side of this mountain.”

“That is north,” he replied.

Arosa scowled at him. “Well, it is to the north,” she said, floating a few steps ahead of him.

Tamblin tightened his grip on her hand and twirled her around. Arosa gasped when their bodies collided. He slowly lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers.

“Tia has never mentioned Wood Fairies before,” he said.

“King Tamblin,” Arosa began.

“Please, call me Tamblin. As I said, Tia has never mentioned the Wood Fairies, but… I also have never asked about them,” he continued.

Arosa nodded. “Then, that is why you haven’t heard of me,” she breathlessly replied.

“Queen Arosa, it would be an honor to show you my Kingdom, if you would permit me,” he said, with a slight bow.

Arosa nodded again. Tamblin took a deep breath, released her hand, and held out his arm for her. She gave him an uncertain look before she threaded her arm through his.

A satisfied smiled curved his lips when she tightened her grasp on his arm. They continued along the path as it curved through a small mushroom forest to a gazebo by the river. When he needed a quiet place to sit and think, he often came here.

“How did you find your way to Glitter?” he inquired.

Arosa frowned. “I followed the men. They were looking for the King of the Leprechauns,” she replied.

Tamblin’s lips twitched at her tone. She sounded almost pleased with herself. He couldn’t discern if she was telling him the truth or not. From the way she glanced at him, he suspected she was—but with a touch of exaggeration.

He chuckled and guided her up the steps into the gazebo. She released his arm and walked over to a small deck built over the water. He studied her face as she stared down at the colorful fish.

“Paul explained a little of what happened to them. It is a very interesting story.” He paused when he heard the faint sound of music. “Would you like to dance?” he asked.

Arosa turned and faced him. Her wide eyes were filled with uncertainty. He walked over to her and held out his hand when she didn’t reject his request. She hesitantly lifted her hand and placed her palm against his as he drew her other hand to his shoulder. He pulled her closer to him as they danced.

The magic of the night filled him with a sense of freedom he hadn’t felt in years. Their steps were slow at first as she tried to follow his movements. He led, guiding her in the simple steps. They twirled, moving in a graceful circle. All around them, the bioluminescent spores rose into the air like floating candles while fish splashed in the water, trying to gobble up those that drifted too close to the surface.

The colors of the night danced across her lovely face, and Arosa appeared to glow. Her eyes shone with her joy, and her radiant beauty took his breath away.

He drew them to a stop when the music faded. His heart pounded in his chest as he released her hand and wrapped his arms around her waist. She looked at him with wide eyes and parted lips.

“I hope you don’t think I’m too forward for what I’m about to do,” he said in a low voice.

“What are you about to do?” she breathlessly asked.

Tamblin smiled and lowered his head. “This,” he replied, capturing her parted lips with his.

Arosa stood frozen, unsure of what was happening or what to do when Tamblin kissed her. Well, she understood in theory what Tamblin was doing. She knew that to reproduce, species needed to interact physically.

She and her sister, Arilla, had lived among the dragons of Valdier and visited enough worlds to understand that the species developed affections for each other. In fact, she felt genuine affection for the dragonlings, the group of young children from the planet Valdier, and their friends from the worlds