out in unison. Their muscles collapsed and they lay entwined in the silk blankets, panting and indulging in the calm.
Chapter Seven
Arriana was Leus’ world. For almost two hundred years, he doted on her and took care of her every whim. He made sure that there were no limitations to what she could have or achieve, despite being leanthan. It was a difficult task since the leanthan community didn’t develop at the quick pace of the human world.
Ten years after they met, the two married in the traditional leanthan way. They made a blood bond in front of their high priest and all the members of the leanthan colony and vowed to love each other, stay faithful, and take care of each other for all time and to have a family and to help the species grow.
Leus preferred to spend all his time with his beloved wife. He would leave the colony only to procure supplies or to take his bride out on the town in the human world, always during the day under the guise of sunglasses. Time ticked by this way with nothing to disturb their happiness, as they made a life for themselves and raised a family. They had three children, two boys, Marius and Aron and, their youngest, a beautiful girl named Deanna, the spitting image of her mother.
Foolishly, Leus believed that it could last forever. That the happiness he would never have guessed possible before the day they had met would never go away. He believed he had a perfect life until the terrible night she was murdered. It was three years ago yesterday. Leus remembered that night as vividly as if it were today.
Awaiting his meeting with Arratta, he sat in his small basement apartment. He called the apartment his home since the day of the murder. It was too hard for him to return to the home they shared or even the leanthan colony itself. The place they’d built so many memories. He didn’t even have the strength to attend the funeral or comfort his children. He could only think of himself, how much he hurt and how he needed revenge.
Leus clutched the ivory lace scarf that Arriana had tucked in her bosom on their wedding day in case her emotions go the best of her, which they often did. It was a habit he’d developed only recently since, with each passing day, he feared losing memories of the woman he loved. Now he tortured himself with those memories because at least this way, he felt closer to the love he lost. Not to mention the added benefit. By keeping the pain fresh he fueled his taste for vengeance.
October 20 th . That was the date. It was Arriana’s birthday. She wanted to go to the new restaurant that had opened in the city, an hour away and Leus gave Arriana everything she ever wanted. The children were long grown, his eldest son already having a family of his own. Now was the time for the two lovers to enjoy their long lives and delight in everything new that came along. They relished each other’s company above all others.
Today it was the restaurant that caught her eye. The reviews were in and it was unanimous. It was the hottest place in town. The spot played host to celebrities and billionaires alike.
Leus made reservations two weeks ago, the first time Arriana mentioned it in passing. She always left clues to what she wanted, and then she’d leave him to follow through, as if it were his idea alone. That was one of many things that he loved about her, there was no guessing. He always knew exactly how to please her and pleasing her is what made his life worth living.
The night started as planned with a trip in a town car, and the two lovers in their finest clothes. He even paid out a large bribe to some big-time leanthan scientists who had a prototype of contact lenses that disguised the leanthan eyes as human, all except for the size that is, but it was enough to guarantee them an undisturbed evening in the city.
The black Lincoln pulled up in front of Electrica’s gold veranda. The valet opened the back door for Arriana to step out as Leus let himself
Chapter Seven
Arriana was Leus’ world. For almost two hundred years, he doted on her and took care of her every whim. He made sure that there were no limitations to what she could have or achieve, despite being leanthan. It was a difficult task since the leanthan community didn’t develop at the quick pace of the human world.
Ten years after they met, the two married in the traditional leanthan way. They made a blood bond in front of their high priest and all the members of the leanthan colony and vowed to love each other, stay faithful, and take care of each other for all time and to have a family and to help the species grow.
Leus preferred to spend all his time with his beloved wife. He would leave the colony only to procure supplies or to take his bride out on the town in the human world, always during the day under the guise of sunglasses. Time ticked by this way with nothing to disturb their happiness, as they made a life for themselves and raised a family. They had three children, two boys, Marius and Aron and, their youngest, a beautiful girl named Deanna, the spitting image of her mother.
Foolishly, Leus believed that it could last forever. That the happiness he would never have guessed possible before the day they had met would never go away. He believed he had a perfect life until the terrible night she was murdered. It was three years ago yesterday. Leus remembered that night as vividly as if it were today.
Awaiting his meeting with Arratta, he sat in his small basement apartment. He called the apartment his home since the day of the murder. It was too hard for him to return to the home they shared or even the leanthan colony itself. The place they’d built so many memories. He didn’t even have the strength to attend the funeral or comfort his children. He could only think of himself, how much he hurt and how he needed revenge.
Leus clutched the ivory lace scarf that Arriana had tucked in her bosom on their wedding day in case her emotions go the best of her, which they often did. It was a habit he’d developed only recently since, with each passing day, he feared losing memories of the woman he loved. Now he tortured himself with those memories because at least this way, he felt closer to the love he lost. Not to mention the added benefit. By keeping the pain fresh he fueled his taste for vengeance.
October 20 th . That was the date. It was Arriana’s birthday. She wanted to go to the new restaurant that had opened in the city, an hour away and Leus gave Arriana everything she ever wanted. The children were long grown, his eldest son already having a family of his own. Now was the time for the two lovers to enjoy their long lives and delight in everything new that came along. They relished each other’s company above all others.
Today it was the restaurant that caught her eye. The reviews were in and it was unanimous. It was the hottest place in town. The spot played host to celebrities and billionaires alike.
Leus made reservations two weeks ago, the first time Arriana mentioned it in passing. She always left clues to what she wanted, and then she’d leave him to follow through, as if it were his idea alone. That was one of many things that he loved about her, there was no guessing. He always knew exactly how to please her and pleasing her is what made his life worth living.
The night started as planned with a trip in a town car, and the two lovers in their finest clothes. He even paid out a large bribe to some big-time leanthan scientists who had a prototype of contact lenses that disguised the leanthan eyes as human, all except for the size that is, but it was enough to guarantee them an undisturbed evening in the city.
The black Lincoln pulled up in front of Electrica’s gold veranda. The valet opened the back door for Arriana to step out as Leus let himself
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