SITTING NAKED ON the sand with the waterfall rumbling nearby, Render leaned against a large rock. Sitting behind him, Daris braided his hair. The light was warm, and he tipped his head back as his skin air-dried from the water.

It was strange to have the next king of the Dagerstanteens weaving his hair like a servant, but at the same time, Render wouldn’t want this any other way. In a relatively short amount of time, he’d grown accustomed to the alien’s touch.

Today had ...