Excerpt
At first, the carving looked like a circle; then Mirin made out the entwining limbs, the heads bowed to meet each other, their features only suggestions. The sculpture of an embrace depicted the action more than the actors. It gave the impression not of stillness, but endurance; the lovers weren’t frozen but had found some eternal refuge.
“Thank you.” The wood was so smooth it felt slick in his hands. Energy seemed to flow from it, sinking into Mirin’s fingers as he traced a long curve. “Who’s the artist?”
“The one we have to thank for getting me on a ship out of there.” Van’s voice had a certain softness.
Mirin studied the sculpture thoughtfully in light of that familiar sound. Maybe it explained some of the warmth still flowing into his hands. “And you fell in love with…”
Van supplied the pronoun with a smile. “Them. They fell in love with you, too. They were already fans of your music, and when they found out I knew you personally—we exchanged stories while listening to your recordings. During the downtime between sessions, and… afterward, while we waited for things to blow over. And when things didn’t blow over, we listened through earbuds while waiting in a service tunnel for one of their friends to start her shift in spaceport security.”
“I always intended my music to reach out to people in hard times,” Mirin said dryly.
About the Anthology
Whether amidst ancient ruins, on distant planets, or within realms untouched by time, these tales prove that love—like the stars—shines brightest in the dark. In Starlight & Shadow brings together science fiction and fantasy romance from new and established authors, exploring love across strange worlds and uncertain futures. Through stories and poetry, it captures relationships shaped by magic, technology, and the unknown.
Read In Starlight and Shadow:
If this kinky, romantic science-fiction love story appeals to you, Van and Mirin are also the protagonists of “What He Brought Home.”
