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“The medpod will ensure it’s safe,” Bruin reassured me, still looking incredibly guilty. “How can I make it up to you?”
“I don’t suppose you’d take me home?”
His sad puppy eyes were answer enough.
This time, I went into the medpod voluntarily. The gel-like substance was warm, wrapping itself around me. I felt it permeate my clothes, but it wasn’t the same sensation as wearing wet clothes. The gel was unlike anything I’d ever encountered. It likely had some fancy, complicated name.
When the lid closed above me, I fought a wave of claustrophobia. Bruin waved at me through the translucent lid.
“Try and stay still while the medpod attempts to reimplant your IDD.”
“IUD,” I muttered, but did as instructed. I did not want the coil to end up in my ovaries.
“All done,” he said a minute later. “I triple-checked that it works. Copper release is a strange method of contraception, but if that’s what you prefer, I fully support you. And if you ever want to switch to something more modern, it’s quick and easy. Any medpod can do it.”
The lid opened. Bruin stretched out a hand to help me out, but I ignored him and climbed out myself. The gel stayed behind, leaving my clothes spotless.
A loud whinny reminded me that the medpod was in An’tia’s domain. The unicorn stood on the other side of the hangar, watching curiously. She wasn’t quite interested enough to walk over – I’d quickly learned that An’tia was a lazy lady who didn’t move unless she absolutely had to.
As soon as I reached her, she pointed her horn at the biggest brush on the table. I took it, but then reconsidered.
“Before I start, I need to ask you a question. Did you stab Bruin on purpose? To make him leave his planet? To find me?”
An’tia snorted and a cloud of golden dust exploded from her nostrils. Was that a yes? No?
I had to know.
“I think you understand me,” I told her. “If you think Bruin and I are mates, pick up the cloth.”
The stabhorn looked at me as if I was stupid, then turned to the table and lifted the polishing cloth with her teeth. Since that could have been a coincidence, I tried again.
“If you instigated all this, if you stabbed Bruin so that he would find me, kick the table.”
She shot me an exasperated look before knocking over the table. Brushes and tools flew to the floor, while the stabhorn looked on with glee.
“Why haven’t you communicated with me before?” I asked in wonder.
I bet she would have rolled her eyes if she could have. Because I hadn’t asked the right questions. I’d treated her like a horse, assuming her intelligence matched an Earth animal. It was all on me.
The stipulations of what I’d just discovered sent shockwaves through my mind. Bruin really was my soulmate. I didn’t believe it from his lips, but An’tia was different. She was a unicorn. I trusted her. She’d stabbed Bruin to get him to me, risked his death just to play matchmaker. If that was how far she went to instigate a meeting, I didn’t know what she’d do to ensure we stayed together.
It was strange how my entire outlook had suddenly changed. I’d never believed in fate, but I did believe in unicorns now. If An’tia thought Bruin and I were supposed to be together, I was willing to try.
I turned to Bruin, who’d stayed a few steps behind, watching us. Hurrying over to him, I looked into his smouldering eyes. “Is this real?”
Instead of an answer, he put a hand on my shoulder. My skin felt hot where he touched me. Tingles ran down my spine.
“Do you feel the connection?” he asked softly. “Are you ready to accept it?”
Was I ready? I’d spent a week fighting it. The idea of having a predetermined soulmate went against all my principles of self-determination, but at the same time, I couldn’t deny that there was something between us.
“Yes,” I admitted. “I feel it. I’m not sure I want to, but I do.”
An’tia whinnied from behind us. Matchmaker and cheerleader. Our stabhorn was multi-talented.
Bruin moved his hand to my cheek, but it was only the faintest touch, as if he was scared of my reaction. I leaned into his touch, revelling in how soft his palm felt against my cheek.
“I would like to kiss you,” he whispered hoarsely.
