Starcrossed - Bianca D'Arc Page 0,11

felt the way I felt when I first saw your beautiful face or breathed in your delicate scent. No other woman has ever made me want her from first glance, and after kissing you, I know no other ever will. You were made for me, Ginny. As I was made for you.”

“You know all that from a single kiss?” She wasn’t really buying it, though it was awfully romantic. It sounded crazy, but she’d felt the magic of their first kiss. She’d felt a tingle she couldn’t ever remember experiencing before.

“For jit’suku warriors, the nij-ta is all it takes. For my own part, I believe the Mother Goddess put you in my path, at this time, as a sign. Many warriors search their whole lives and never find their true mates. When I went into exile with the Zenai, I thought I would dedicate my life to the Goddess and never marry. With Elius on the throne, I could not have children. They would have thrown doubt over Elius and his heirs by their mere existence. I was fine with all of that. For all his faults, I loved Elius.”

“You gave up your throne for him,” Ginny observed. “You must have loved him a great deal.”

“We were twins. He was the other half of me for many years. Some might say now, he was the bad half, but I don’t like to believe that. He wanted the throne while I did not. I thought to give it to him, to give my brother the one thing in the universe denied him by an accident of birth.”

“Did you ever stop to think that your Goddess allowed you to be born first for a reason? Perhaps Elius was never meant to rule.”

Tigh’s expression actually hurt her. It held all the pain, the torment and doubt that he held at bay when in public. For the first time, she saw him as a man who had lost as much, if not more, than they all had. He had suffered the loss of his twin and the disillusionment of learning his brother had been a monster. His sister-in-law and nieces were gone, as were many others she didn’t know. His life’s work on the Zenai mountain was in ruins. He couldn’t go back and do what he wanted. He had to pick up where his brother left off and try to salvage the situation the best way he could.

This proud warrior had surrendered.

That, in itself, should have told her the character of the man who now faced her with such grief in his eyes. He had suffered too. Both their galaxies were shattered, and it was up to them to pick up the pieces.

“Oh, Tigh.” Ginny moved the final distance between them, pulling one of her hands from beneath his to cup his cheek. “I’m so sorry.” Her whisper hung between them as they gazed into each other’s eyes, sharing their pain for a long moment. Finally, Ginny turned her head and laid it over his heart, hugging him, offering comfort.

Tigh’s arms went around her and drew her close. He bent his head, and she felt his lips nuzzle into her neck, but not in a loverly way. Their embrace was about compassion, not desire. Not at that moment. Though, she could feel that the warmth of his arms could easily ignite a fire in her blood that would be hard to quench. It had been so long since she’d just been held by a man.

She felt him kiss her hair, his big hands stroking her back with soothing motions. She didn’t ever want to leave the safety of his arms, and the thought surprised her. She hadn’t felt this way since she was a young girl in the first throes of love. But she didn’t know Tigh well enough to love him. Did she?

“Your heart is as gentle as your spirit is strong, sweet Ginny.” His words rumbled past her ear, igniting a little shiver that she was loath to let develop any further. She pulled back, putting a little space between them as she looked into his eyes.

“You really think I’m the woman for you? That isn’t just a line?”

He seemed puzzled. “Not a line, as you put it. I have found my mate in you, Ginny, as the Mother Goddess willed.”

“I wish I had your faith. It’s not so easy for humans, you know. We don’t have the kind of instant recognition you seem to believe in.”

“I have faith enough for