Lirien's POV
The days were passing faster than I wanted them to.
Only two days left until the big farewell party. And only five days until we reached Earth.
I stood in front of the mirror in Vael's quarters, holding the black and silver mask he had brought me. It was elegant, it covered my eyes and the upper half of my face, leaving only my mouth and jaw visible. The silver details around the edges shimmered when the light hit them.
I put it on and looked at myself.
Vael came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. He rested his chin on my shoulder and looked at our reflection together. His own mask was simpler,deep black with sharp, clean lines that made him look even more commanding.
"You look beautiful," he said softly against my ear.
I felt my cheeks warm. "I still feel nervous. What if someone recognizes me? What if I say something wrong?"
Vael turned me around gently so I was facing him. He lifted my chin with his fingers.
"No one will recognize you," he reassured me. "The lights will be low, everyone will be wearing masks, and most people will be drinking and dancing. You'll stay close to me the whole night. And if you feel overwhelmed at any point, we can leave early. Okay?"
I nodded and leaned into his chest. "Okay."
He held me, rubbing slow circles on my back. These quiet, gentle moments with him had become my favorite part of the day.
"Jax and Theo will be there too," he added. "They're excited to see you again. Especially Theo. He said you're easy to talk to."
That made me smile a little. I had really liked talking to Theo last night. He felt calm and understanding, even though he was an Alpha.
Vael pulled back slightly and looked into my eyes.
"There's something else," he said, his voice a little more serious. "I've been thinking about us. About what happens after we land on Earth."
My heart skipped.
"I don't want us to go back to hiding once we're there," he continued. "I want to take you on real dates. I want to hold your hand in public. I want more with you, Lirien. When the time feels right during the party, I want to show you how serious I am about us. If you want that too."
I stared at him, my chest feeling tight with emotion.
"I want that too," I said softly. "I want to be with you."
Vael's eyes softened. He leaned in and kissed my forehead gently.
"Good," he whispered. "Then we'll take it one step at a time."
I hugged him tightly, burying my face in his chest. His scent wrapped around me like a blanket.
Two more days.
In two days, we would go to the party together. In five days, we would step onto Earth together.
It all felt like a dream I was afraid to wake up from.
"I'm really happy," I whispered against his uniform. "Even though I'm scared… I'm really happy, Vael."
He kissed the top of my head and held me even tighter.
"Me too," he said quietly. "Me too."